The Rumson-Fair Haven girls cross country team bears watching this fall because of the wealth of talent it has assembled.
“We return a good team,” said Tim McLoone, who coaches the RFH cross country teams with Henry Mercer.
The Bulldogs lost only one starter from last year’s public schools Shore Conference A Central Division champions and Central Jersey Group II runner-up.
Heading the pack for the Bulldogs is last year’s top harrier, Hannah Satzke. The junior finished third at the state sectional in ’06. She is one of the tri-captains along with senior Taryn Berry and Ashley Hopkins.
Samantha O’Brien, who was 12th in the CJ sectional last year, is also back along with Katy Hellman and Caroline Saba.
The Bulldogs are looking to improve on last year’s success and the returners provide a sound nucleus for the Bulldogs to build on.
The Bulldogs are also worth noting because of the addition of four track stars who are running cross country for the first time. Gabby Kelly and Jaime Carroll are sprinters on the sub-4:00 4×400 relay team that qualified for the nationals. They are looking to increase range on the track, and the cross-country season will help them build up their base. They could also turn out to be diamonds in the rough that make a strong team even stronger.
“It’s exciting to have them,” said McLoone. “They are very, very tough competitors who have a nose for the finish line.”
Courtney Armstrong and Madeline Shebell could also make an impact on the team as they make the transition from the track to cross country.
The Bulldogs got their season off to a good start, finishing second in their season debut at the Randolph Cross Country Invitational held at Freedom Park on Sept. 7. Rumson’s team score of 52 was bettered only by Holy Angels’ 34, and the Bulldogs were without Satzke, who is nursing shin splints.
The girls placed six runners inside the top 20 led by O’Brien. The sophomore toured the 5K course in 20:31.70 to place third overall.
Hopkins was 11th (21:41.26) followed closely by Hellman (22:23.17) and Berry (22:30.66), who were 14th and 15th. Saba (23:02.96) and Kelly (23:04.20) finished 18th and 19th overall. In team scoring, they were ninth, 12th, 13th, 16th and 17th.
Rumson’s boys finished eighth at the meet (180) with Max Sparshatt the first across the line in 17:44.0.
The Bulldogs, who were 3-3 in dual meets last year, are a young team on the way up, led by Sparshatt, a junior. Sophomores Stephen Fuschetti, Patrick Hill, Ryan Quinn and Stephen Biga are the core of the underclassmen who are the team’s future.
Eric Cohen and Eric Lewin, are the seniors providing experience and leadership.
In other local action, Red Bank Catholic’s boys, who are looking for a return trip to the MOC, were second in Randolph. Morris Hills topped the Caseys, 39-53.
Junior Bobby McGann finished second to lead the RBC effort. He posted a 16:41.97 finishing behind Morris Hills’ Sean Pohorence (16:33.37).
Nick Bond (17:17.02) and James Galatola (17:32.63) were fifth and sixth for the Caseys. Jon Cusik (17:47.51) and Brenden Mulhern (18:12.06) rounded out the RBC scorers in 16th and 24th.
Saturday, RBC’s girls, ranked No. 8 in the Northeast, won the St. Dominic Academy Invitational held in Jersey City’s Lincoln Park. The Caseys topped runner-up Morristown by 25 points, 48-73.
Sophomore Michelle Capozzi was out front for RBC, running the 5,350-meter course in 20:46.74 to finish fifth overall. Just seven seconds back in seventh was Emily Rooney (20:53.63).
Junior Janine Louie was 10th (21:19.26) followed closely by freshman Molly McNamara (21:29.32).
Katie Rochford (21:49.62) and Katie Andree (21:58.05) were 14th and 16th for the winners.
There was a spread of 1:03 between the Caseys’ top five runners.
The cross country scene shifts to Monmouth County tomorrow with the Shore Coaches Battle of Monmouth Class Meet at Battlefield State Park in Manalapan.