Talk about making an entrance!

Ginez debuts with a time that would have won 2005 GMC meet

By: Redd E. Patrick
   A talented runner in his day at Old Bridge High School and now a successful coach at South Brunswick, Wilfredo Rivera can spot a natural when he sees one.
   But even Rivera could never have predicted what happened on Tuesday when freshman Sophia Ginez won a tri-meet against GMC powers Old Bridge and East Brunswick at Thompson Park.
   Ginez, who shattered several records at Crossroads Middle School last year, ran a time of 19:28 to wallop the talent-laden field. To put that in perspective, that time would have won last year’s GMC Championship meet, which was also held at Thompson, by 20 seconds.
   Most importantly, Ginez led the Vikings to victory over both known opponents, 24-31 over Old Bridge and 23-34 over East Brunswick. Old Bridge has won the GMC Championship and the GMC Red Division the past five years At least one of those streaks was snapped with the Red Division loss to South Brunswick.
   "I knew Sophia was good, but I never imagined this in her first race," beamed Rivera, who became just the second head coach in South Brunswick girls history after program founder Brian Jost retired last season. ""She beat (Sarah) Root of Old Bridge, who is a former GMC champ and she beat (Erin) Comerford of East Brunswick, who was the GMC champion last spring in the two-mile.
   "Sophia is a tough kid with a lot of confidence. She works hard because she wants to get better."
   Ginez and Comerford ran neck and neck for two miles on Thompson’s fairly flat 3.1-mile layout. At that point, the freshman phenom took off. Comerford wound second in 19:48, 19 seconds behind Ginez.
   "Sophia just left her," Rivera said. "She knew what she wanted to do, she had a plan and she stuck to it. She really ran a great race."
   In order to beat teams with the talent of Old Bridge and East Brunswick, it takes more than one person. Junior Megan Behrend took that to heart as she ran 21:40 to finish third vs. Old Bridge, while Jenny Smilgas, another freshman, came up big by taking fourth in 21:44.
   Junior Jess Engel placed seventh overall for the Vikings, running 22:15, then senior Jessica Bellizio sealed the verdict by running 22:32 for ninth place overall.
   Jade Wolk (22:56) and Lindsey Sample (23:04) provided depth for South Brunswick.
   "The kids came in knowing they had a chance," Rivera said. "They have been working really hard, they’re a real tight group and what can I say? They took care of business. They were hyped after the race too because after all, Old Bridge is the standard. Now we just have to keep working because we’re going to face these teams again in the GMCs and State Sectionals."
   The Vikings will train this weekend before taking part in the Bernie Magee Invitational Class Meet at Warinanco Park the following Saturday.