Sophomore, Cougars take on CJ IV challenge
By: Justin Feil
Nora Heck picked the perfect time for a breakout race last year.
Then a Montgomery High freshman, Heck bettered her personal record by two minutes in the sectional championships. Her climb helped the Cougars finish fifth and reach the Group III state meet.
"I just remember my team really needed me to do well," Heck said. "I was saying, come on, Nora, I need to get up there. I couldn’t believe it. I beat one of my teammates I had never beaten. I had this huge adrenaline rush. I remember thinking I couldn’t believe how well I did. My teammates really helped me out. I never had a team like that before."
More is expected of Heck and the Cougars even as they make the move up to Central Jersey Group IV. That will put them against the likes of West Windsor-Plainsboro South. Heck will look for another personal best as MHS races at Thompson Park, where they last won the Old Bridge Classic, when the sectionals are hosted there for the first time Saturday. In CJ III, West Windsor-Plainsboro North and Princeton High’s boys and girls teams will compete.
"It’s going to be tough," said MHS coach Jim Goodfriend. "We can’t win. We can’t beat the No. 1 team in the state. It’ll be difficult against Howell. It’ll be difficult against Hunterdon Central and Jackson. Those four are gong to be tough. It’s between us and Middletown North and maybe even South Brunswick. It’s going to be tough. If we run average, we may not make it. If we run better than average, we should make it. Hopefully, everybody runs well."
For Heck, the difference can be as simple as the weather due to her asthma.
"I actually had to take a year off in eighth grade," Heck said. "It started in eighth grade. I couldn’t run a half-mile without stopping or wheezing. I went to different doctors. At first they thought I had exercise asthma. This year, it’s been a lot better. They figured out I have regular asthma. I just take my inhaler before races and I’m like any other runner. Every runner has issues, knees or ankles. I have asthma."
She credits coming around last year to starting to manage her asthma better as well as working into peak condition at the right time. She has become more serious about her running in a years time.
"People expected a lot from me more this year," Heck said. "Last year, I didn’t start off very good. I had trouble with asthma. By the end I really caught up. I got into really good shape. That was good. This year, I hope to do better in my race.
"My asthma, it’s gotten a lot better. It’s a relief. I’m still working on handling it. Breathing techniques and different food choices help me do well. I’ve been more concerned with that this year. Last year I learned how to handle it."
She did so just in time to produce for the Cougars. Now, there is no more perfect time for Heck to produce another big personal record. She fully intends to improve on the 22:04 she ran at Thompson Park at the Old Bridge Classic.
"That was a bad day for me," Heck said. "I didn’t do so well in that one. There was a lot of dust. We got there a little late. I didn’t know what to expect. None of us did. We ran it not knowing what it was going to be like. I didn’t really like the course. Everyone said it was flat and then in the middle, there’s this huge hill out of nowhere.
"I will definitely be ready for sectionals. I know the course. I’ve run there before. It should be perfect. I want to prove to my team that I’m better than this. I want to come back strong. I guess I’m more motivated. I get more serious about my race and I get really into it. I do everything I can to do my best."
Heck, who is a top half-miler in the winter and spring track seasons, has continued to produce new bests in her second year of cross country. She has already run more than 30 seconds faster than she did last year.
"Her times have all dropped," Goodfriend said. "She’s a lot stronger than she was. Her problem is the way the weather is. Last time at Thompson Park, the weather was bad. But she ran pretty well at the counties. Hopefully she does that again. We have to have someone step up, either (Amanda) Herrmann or Heck."
Said Heck: "I’m really nervous. Last year, Goody was like, if we don’t get it, it’s not a big deal. This year, he said, you really need to get our places. Last year, I guess I felt more at ease. This year, there are tons of good girls."
MHS has proven it has a team of good girls as well. The Cougars went 7-0 in the regular season to win their conference crown and won the Old Bridge Classic, a first for a race at that level. As much as they’ve accomplished already, the sectionals is their biggest race to date.
"If we don’t make it out of Central, the season’s not been that good," Goodfriend said. "Even though we’ve won two things. For it to be a good season, we have to make it out. It’s tough."
Heck is looking forward to a big finish to the season. Her second year has built on a promising finish at last year’s sectionals and a big finish to her first year of high school. Now, she’s hoping to do the same to finish up her sophomore fall.
"I’m very happy," Heck said. "My team, we haven’t lost yet. I’m happy with how I’ve done. My asthma is slowing me down in certain races. It depends on the course or the weather. But overall, I’ve been really pleased with how I’ve done. I PR’d by 45 seconds at Pleasant Valley, I think. I’ve been happy."

