Little Tigers XC ends South’s CVC run
By: Justin Feil
HAMILTON The last time that the Princeton High School girls’ cross country team defeated West Windsor-Plainsboro South, there was a Lynch leading the way.
Meaghan Lynch was the standout senior captain with the PHS team that beat the Pirates in 2003 in a dual meet. But the Little Tigers lost to WW-P South in the Mercer County Championship showdown that season and did not beat them in dual meet competition again until Tuesday.
That’s when Molly Lynch, Meaghan’s younger sister who is in her first season with the PHS cross country team, helped pace the Little Tigers to a 21-40 win over the Pirates, the first Colonial Valley Conference loss for WW-P South in more than two seasons.
"It was an amazing win for us," said Lynch, who was second overall. "We really came through strong.
"Our team has been working really hard all season. I was really confident in everyone going into this race. We all tried our best and it paid off."
Katie Kellner led the field that also included runners from Allentown. The WW-P South sophomore was first in 19:04 But Lynch led the way as PHS had seven of the next eight finishers, including an impressive kick at the line by the Little Tigers’ Libby Bliss for fifth overall.
"This is a big meet for us," said PHS head coach Jim Smirk, whose team improved to 4-0. "We’ve been talking about it a lot. We had a little pep rally and we asked what these girls wanted, the one thing they said was they wanted to beat South.
"One of the things we wanted to do this year is be more competitive against the top teams. We wanted to step up."
It is still early, but the Little Tigers will open eyes with the win. PHS figured to have a strong year after bringing back seven runners from the varsity that went 9-2 in dual meets last season. To that mix, PHS added Lynch.
"What having Molly on the team does," Smirk said, "is for the last couple years, Susanne Hansen was the only person up front. By having Molly, it frees them both up to take some chances and really race. With Susanne, it used to be she had to get this place or else. Now she has some freedom.
"Now they can take a risk. In the worst case scenario, they know if they fall off the other person is there. It goes hand in hand with knowing that that next pack is right behind them."
PHS impressively put in its top seven runners all within 1:14 of each other. It was too much depth even for the Pirates, whose strength has been unbeatable depth in recent years. Lynch, who ran the first two miles with Hansen before taking a slight lead over the final mile, came aboard this year after playing soccer as a freshman.
"I really liked soccer," she said. "I had a really fun season last year. I just was a little uncomfortable coming out for this (cross country) last year."
Lynch, however, had a solid track season and this year followed in her older sister’s footsteps. As with her sister, Lynch’s footsteps come quicker than most runners.
"I saw a couple of her races," Lynch said of Meaghan, who is now running as a junior at Colorado College. "I was in awe of how good she was. With her leading the way for me, I thought I could succeed."
The level to which Lynch has risen this year even surprises her. She came in with high hopes, but has already exceeded them.
"I knew I’d do pretty well," Lynch said. "I was pretty surprised that I was the top runner though.
"I know I have so many people behind me for support. They really helped me pull through. With them behind me, I can really succeed."
There was a certain unknown coming into Tuesday’s meet. Neither PHS nor WW-P South had run its hardest in easy wins the week before in dual meets. Neither could afford to hold back in the first big showdown this year.
Said Lynch, "I think we all put out our best effort because we knew we were running against South."
The win, however, sets the bar a little higher for the Little Tigers. Hopewell Valley, another perennial power and the only other team to beat PHS last season, remains on the schedule. PHS will compete in the Battle of Monmouth on Saturday.
"As a coach, I really don’t know how far we can go," Smirk said. "I think that every coach has that dilemma now. We’re bringing some things together. Having Molly as a sophomore, having an experienced racing crew, having all these kids at the same time is a special thing.
"They all come from different backgrounds. Libby has a track background and she is doing well. We wanted her to stay in the race and work on that last half mile. She did a great job. This is a big step in believing what we can do."
Lynch has found it easy to fit in on a team that has been close knit since running together last year. It made it easier for her to join this year.
"I really like this team," Lynch said. "They really support each other during the track season. I felt if I came to this team, they’d support me well. I thought I could be a positive to this team."
In her first season of cross country, Lynch has proven early what a help she can be. She helped the Little Tigers live up to their own big goals with a win over WW-P South, something that hasn’t happened since her sister was a senior at PHS.
"Today was a big step for us," Smirk said. "I wasn’t completely sure we could win. But I felt like we had to make a mistake to lose today. I didn’t have too many doubts. With this group of kids and their experience, I felt confident."
Especially with a Lynch in the line up once again for the Little Tiger girls’ cross country team.

