It is that time of the cross-country season when teams want to be peaking. That seems to be the case for who else? Christian Brothers Academy.
Tom Heath’s Colts put together their best team average of the season, 16:52.60, in regaining the Shore Conference Championship on Oct. 29 at Holmdel Park.
The Colts stacked their runners within 38 seconds of each other enabling to beat 2006 champion Jackson, 80-89.
Vin Ferrer was first to the line for the Colts in 10th place (16:39). He was trailed closely by Kyle Havard (16:44), Brendon Pierson (16:53) and Ben Horel (17:00) in 10th, 13th, 16th and 20th overall. Brendan Swan clinched the win in 26th (17:07).
In team scoring, the Colts were 10-12- 15-19-24. They had their five runners home before Jackson’s fourth offsetting Austin Sanntillo’s seventh place up front for Jackson (16:27).
Mater Dei’s Patrick O’Boyle matched his strong run at the Monmouth County Championships by finishing third in a Holmdel Park pb 16:15.
Only Brick Memorial’s Andrew Brodeur (16:00) and Manalapan’s Robby Andrews (16:11) were quicker than the Seraph junior.
With teammate Curtis Jensen only three second behind (16:18) in fifth, Mater Dei placed eighth (214). They did have the best one-two finish of any team at the meet.
Holmdel rode George Galasso’s ninth place (16:34) to a fourth place (188). Charles Santos (17:12) and Oliver Song (17:21) were 32nd and 36th for the Hornets.
Middletown South was eighth (223) led by the trio of Shaun McGeever (17:21), Jay Malejki (17:22) and Ryan Ure (17:25) who were 35-37-40.
Matawan’s Ryan Montaperto was 29th (17:09) and Middletown North’s Andrew MacLane, 44th (17:29).
For the area girls, Holmdel finished seventh (178). The Hornets were led by the trio of Cathay Zhao (19:49), Shannon Nelson (19:53) and Jessica Silverman (20:16) who were 15-16-26 overall.
Midd South was ninth (291) as it packed its five scorers within 12 seconds of each other. Grace Watter (21:02) and Katie Brookes (21:03) were at the front of the Eagle group finishing 55th and 56th overall.
St. John Vianney’s Chelsea Delaney was the top local finisher in ninth place after running the course in 19:34. Mater Dei’s Liz Shaw was next in 11th place (19:41)
Ocean County champion Jillian Smith won the SC title in 18:15 and Monsignor Donovan was the team champion (129).
Holmdel boys, girls win CJ titles
Runners took their first steps towards the Nov. 17 Meet of Champions Saturday at the NJSIAA Central Jersey Championships held at Thompson Park in Jamesburg. The top five teams and top 10 individuals advance to Saturday’s State Group meet at Holmdel Park.
Leading the charge were Holmdel’s boys and girls who both won the Central Jersey Group II sectional title.
The boys edged Red Bank Regional by four points, 60-64.
George Galasso led the Hornets with his second place behind Somerville’s Dan Stiles, 16:19.80-16:26.70.
The Hornets, though, would win the title by spacing its second through fifth runners from 12th to 19th. RBR would have their fourth runner in before Holmdel’s No. 2, but, with Robert Hoffman (17:13.98), Oliver Song (17:20.43) and Sean Monga (17:21.13) running 12th, 13th and 14th and Charles Santo finishing 19th (17:31.07), Hornets overcame that disadvantage to win it.
Matawan is moving on thanks to its fourth place (101). Ryan Montaperto was sixth (17:00.46) for the Huskies.
Holmdel’s girls won a little more convincingly, by 41 points, 41-81, over Rumson Fair Haven.
Shannon Nelson (19:28.53) and Cathy Zhao (19:42.38) got the victory parade off to a good start taking second and fourth.
Rachel Williams (20:05.57) and Jessica Silverman (21:19.00) were 10th and 11th.
Fifth scorer Lilia Xie was 14th
(20:45.70).
Matawan’s girls were third (110) led by Lauren Pica
(19:58.01) in eighth and Patricia Affriol in 12th (20:36.24).
Middletown South’s girls
were second to Hopewell Valley
in CJ III, 54-71.
The Eagles had their five scorers finish within 41 seconds of
each other, but, Hopewell dominated up top with overall winner Clare Buck (18:57.71) and third and fourth place finishes as well.
Freshman Grace Watters was first to the line for M South in 10th place (20:27.27). Teammate Kirstin Anderson was right behind her in 11th (20:28.22). Katie Brookes was 13th (20:38.23), Lauren Marron, 16th (20:50.90) and Kaite Abeltin (21:08.88) was 22nd overall and 21st in team scoring.
Middletown South’s boys are also headed to Holmdel Park on Saturday. They were third (92) in their race using the same formula as the girls, a strong pack. They had all five scorers within 18 seconds of each other.
Shaun McGeever (17:10.95) and David Liepa (17:11.28) finished 14th and 15th for the Eagles. Behind them, Ryan Ure (17:23.88), Joseph Malejki (17:28.11) and James Geant (17:28.52) finished in order, 20, 21 and 22.
Middletown North’s Kristen Johnson extended her season by finishing 10th in CJ IV (19:46.23).
While the public schools were competing in the state sectionals, the parochial schools had the New Jersey Catholic Conference Championships at Warinanco Park in Elizabeth. It was another statement win for the Colts as CBA beat Delbarton by 43 points, 50-93.
A 6-7-8 trifecta by Havard (16:53.5), Pierson (16:53.5) and Rich Grandelli (17:00.1) paved the way for CBA’s triumph. Ferrer (17:06.02) and Horel (17:07.03) were not far behind in 14th and 15th.
The Warinanco Park layout is 3.25 miles.
Mater Dei’s Liz Shaw (19:43.6) and Meghan Corless (19:51.9) were sixth and ninth as the Seraph girls finished fourth (149). Red Bank Catholic won the heavyweight race with Monsignor Donovan, 80- 81, for the team championship.