Hunt’s boys run to 7-2

By: Kyle and Sean Moylan
   By sweeping its meet against Steinert (23-32) and Hightstown (15-45) back on Tuesday, October 3, the Allentown High School boys’ cross country team improved to 7-2 and clinched a winning season.
   Beating these two teams was vital to the cause of finishing over .500 because Allentown is scheduled to finish the regular season with two very difficult meets.
   John Solewin was first (18:00) and Dan DiRocco second (18:08) in the sweep over Steinert and Hightstown. Garth DeBlasio’s fifth (18:27) and Matt Henderson’s 18:47 also played a big role in the win.
   Adam Flesischacker, a sophomore in his first year on the team, ran an 18:52. Pace Nalbone (19:35) and Steve Monticello (19:42) also came across the finish line in under 20 minutes.
   With a lot of kids out for the team, Allentown Coach Doug Hunt ran them. Gersain Alvarado (20:13), Joey Jonas (20:16), Patrick Weaver (20:23), Zach Burns (20:28), Brant Leach (20:30), Matt Mueller (20:30), Adam Duffy (20:48), Kyle Ondy (20:57), Vince Uccio (21:07), Eric LaCroix (21:16), John LoPorto (21:21), Zach Wishbow (21:43), Dan Zaffos (21:45), Chris Boss (21:53), Keith Yaturo (22:07), Isaac Nissam (22:34), Luke Lamb (22:37), Garrett Miller (23:56), Oldak (24:04), Mike Nordin (25:19), Nishit Patel (25:19), Jarred DeMonte (27:14) and Mike Girandola (30:55) also competed in the race.
   "I thought the guys ran very well," Hunt said.
   Allentown competed in the Shore Coaches Meet this past Saturday and finished 20th out of 31 teams in a very competitive Boys Varsity D Division race.
   According to Hunt, three of the 50 fastest times ever on the course came from this race.
   "The CVC (Colonial Valley Conference) did really well," Hunt noted. "Hopewell and West Windsor North won their divisions."
   Despite finishing in the middle of the pack, Allentown did manage a very good average time of 18:46.
   "We were 19:15 as a team last year, which isn’t bad," Hunt said. "It was definitely a good meet for us."
   Competing in the varsity race for Allentown were John Solewin (18:26), Dan DiRocco (18:34), Gart DeBlasio (18:34), Adam Fleischacker (18:56), Matt Henderson (19:16), Pace Nalbone (19:59) and Gersain Alvarado (20:18).
   Running in the JV race for Allentown were Patrick Weaver (20:09), Steve Monticello (20:13), Joey Jonas (20:15), Brant Leach (20:19), John LoPorto (22:03) and Vince Uccio (22:12).
   The runners in the Freshman race were Matt Mueller (13:23), Zach Wishbow (13:23), Jarred DeMonte (16:13) and Nishit Patel (16:52).
   "Matt Mueller and Zach Wishbow both just missed medalling," Hunt noted.
   Allentown came into action this week with a 7-2 record, but faces three of its toughest challenges. It was scheduled to run against West Windsor North this past Tuesday at Mercer County Park. Next Tuesday, Allentown will run against Hopewell, Princeton and Robbinsville.
   Based on the times run by the teams, Hunt expects to beat Robbinsville and finish with an 8-5 mark. Allentown was 7-5 last year.
   "Ideally, that’s the way you way to finish the regular season (against the strongest teams on the schedule)," Hunt said. It gives the runners a better feel for what the Mercer County Championships and the Group meet will be like.
   "The year has been going pretty good," Hunt said. "We’re all right."
   NEHS

   By sweeping a batch meet on Tuesday, October 3, the New Egypt High School boys’ cross country team improved to 17-2 on the year.
   New Egypt defeated Burlington City (15-50), BCIT (15-47), Rancocas Valley (18-37) and Maple Shade 20-38.
   Sean Vazquez won the race in a time of 17:45. Brian Whitely was third (18:33), Matt Smith fourth (18:44), Andrew Prendergast (19:03), Jimmy Bolton ninth (19:34) and Billy Mitchell 15th (20:18).
   Patrick Hampson (21:12), Dan Sepp (21:59), Andrew Hinger (22:11), Rocco Natalicchio (27:14), Kim Howard (25:04) and Nicole Volk (27:36) also competed for New Egypt.
   New Egypt was scheduled to host the BCSL championships this past Tuesday.
   RHS

   The Robbinsville High 9th graders made a huge statement with a third-place finish in the Freshmen C race at the Shore Coaches Tournament at Holmdel this past Saturday.
   "The team (Summit) that won was a solid Group 2 team," said Robbinsville head coach Mike Walker. "They’re (the Ravens) pretty happy with their finish."
   Nick Lachman, who has already developed into a standout at the varsity level, posted the Ravens’ best time with a 12:53 mark in the 2-mile race, which placed him 11th overall. Although Lachman was the only Raven to medal, Walker was pleased with the way the rest of his team ran.
   "They just packed it in and they got the whole team concept of running together," Walker remarked.
   Daniel Orlak (45th place) and Tyler Muir (46th) even ran identical times of 13:57. Walker was very pleasantly surprised with Ryan Bottin’s time of 14:02 (49th). Tim Brazelton (14:11 for 58th place), Brian Siekerka (14:34 for 78th place) and Matt Banziger (15:15 for 95th place) also did well in the freshmen race.
   In the 5k varsity race Robbinsville’s John Harmon placed 83rd with a time of 19:41.
   "On our varsity team we had a couple of kids sick," noted Walker. "So I ran only five and they all (had personal records) for Holmdel (and its infamous bowl)."
   Mike Schendenwolf (20:34), Andrew McLaughlin (21:48), John Paulino (21:53) and Zach Matuzsan (23:25) were the Ravens other finishers. Matuzsan ran so well he cut over six minutes off his previous best time. Robbinsville placed 28th out of the 36 teams competing in the race.
   On the girls’ side, Robbinsville’s Gina Norato and Holly Lovering, who dropped five seconds off her previous best mark with a 26:51 time, each competed in the varsity race.
   "Gina Norato just missed medalling. She had it with 400 meters to go," said Walker. "But she ran a big PR of 22:50. I was happy she could PR at Holmdel."
   At Holmdel, Norato just had trouble breaking through the pack to grab a medal. But in last Tuesday’s batch race at Veteran’s Park, Norato didn’t experience that particular problem because she simply ran ahead of the pack and won the race with a fine 21:35 time.
   "Winning was good for her. I can talk and talk and talk about what she can do, but it all comes down to her performing, which is what she did," noted Walker.
   On the boys’ side, a tired Robbinsville team lost to both Hightstown and Steinert.
   However, Harmon placed 9th (19:36) against the teams the Ravens were scoring against while Lachman was right behind him in 10th (19:40). Schindenwolf (20:08) also ran a solid race.
   The Robbinsville boys’ team (2-6) was scheduled to have competed in a batch race at Lawrence this past Tuesday. On Saturday, Robbinsville is scheduled to compete in the Old Bridge Classic.