Harriers learn on different courses

MUSTANG ROUNDUP

By: Rudy Brandl
   
   The Manville High cross country team endured its share of ups and downs on three different courses during September.
   Last week, the Mustangs traveled to Warren Municipal Field and navigated another challenging terrain. It wasn’t as hilly as the North Warren course but it still caused a few problems for the MHS runners.
   "It was a little longer with a lot of sharp turns," Manville head coach Jim O’Connor said. "It was a little bit difficult for them."
   Most of the Mustangs ran slower times than the previous week, but almost everyone finished the course. The MHS boys fell to 0-7 with a 15-50 loss to South Hunterdon and 15-49 setback to Delaware Valley. The MHS girls dropped to 0-6 with 15-50 losses to Mount St. Mary and Del Val.
   Junior Sasa Todorovic was the only Manville runner in either race to crack the top 10. Todorovic placed 10th in the boys’ race in a time of 19:51.
   Other MHS boys who finished the race included Erik Lubas (23:13), David Le (23:21), Andrew Franko (25:03), Jason Pfoutz (26:21), Nick Pillsbury (27:23) and Emils Stopins (28:42). Pillsbury and Stopins ran personal-best times and Le posted a faster time than the previous race.
   Five Manville girls completed the race in Warren. Casey Shields continued to lead the pack, hitting the wire in 25:02. She was followed by Dominika Lastovickova (29:31), Arielle Mizov (31:01), Alissa Teodorczy (36:35) and Jen Gomez (36:36).
   Manville was set to complete the regular season with its only home meet of the season Wednesday, but the event was held at Pleasant Valley Park in Bernards. O’Connor wanted his runners to get a race on the Somerset County and Skyland Conference race course before the big meets later in October. Bernards, Hackettstown and Belvidere were scheduled to race with the Mustangs.
Soccer teams keep
struggling to score
   
Both MHS varsity soccer teams were shut out by Hackettstown and North Warren last week. They were also blanked and eliminated from the Somerset County Tournament in Saturday’s opening round.
   Marta Fabiyan made 36 saves overall in the 3-0 losses for the Manville girls, who have not scored since winning back-to-back games Sept. 18-19. Fabiyan shut out North Warren in the first half before the visitors connected three times after the break.
   The Mustang boys lost both their regular season games by 5-0 scores. Goalkeeper Andrew Saultz made 11 saves in the home loss to Hackettstown.
   Manville’s teams were scheduled to face Belvidere early this week before taking on different schools Thursday. The MHS boys host Del Val, while the girls go on the road in Middlesex County to face Highland Park.