Ravens place 9th at Cherokee Challenge

BY: Sean Moylan Sports Writer
    The Robbinsville High girls’ cross country team was expecting to have its best season to date this fall. However, even coach Mike Walker was pleasantly surprised by his team’s strong showing at this past Saturday’s Cherokee Challenge.
    “We had a few medalists and the team finished ninth overall. We finished with 125 points. Finishing ahead of West Windsor-Plainsboro South was a real eye-opener. I didn’t think our girls would be this good this early,” said Walker, whose clubs (he also coaches the Robbinsville boys’) competed against roughly 90 schools and 2,000 runners in the Cherokee Challenge.
    Robbinsville’s top finisher on the girls’ side was Megan Flynn, who finished the 2-mile race with an 11:44 time.
    “Megan Flynn placed seventh in the junior race and it was another solid performance on her part,” said Walker, who enjoyed watching his new runners run in such a big exciting event.
    Jackie Lazzaro placed 18th in the freshmen race.
    “Jackie Lazzaro was so good I gave her the Performance of the Meet,” noted Walker, who also got a stellar 25th place showing out of Rachel Balint in the senior race. “She (Balint) ran 20 seconds faster than Gina Norato (who has since graduated) ran last year (in the Cherokee Challenge) and we all know how good Gina did.”
    On the boys’ side, freshman Constantine Moraitis was the Ravens’ undisputed star with a 10:58 seventh place time in the freshmen race.
    “Constantine (Moraitis) was the only one of the guys to finish the race under 11 minutes,” said Walker, who expected big things out of the budding freshman star. “He’s a kid that in middle school he either won every race he was in or he might have lost just one.”
    In the sophomore race, Brian O’Toole took 66th place with an 11:28 time. And in the junior race Robbinsville’s Ryan Bottin (63rd place; 11:09 time), Tim Brazelton (75th place; 11:18), Dan Orlak (79th place; 11:20) and Tyler Muir (96th place; 11:30) ran in a nice tight group and did well.
    Robbinsville also tasted success on both sides in last week’s first regular season batch race, which was held at Washington Crossing on September 16th. The Robbinsville girls’ cross country team defeated Hamilton West (15-50) and upset Notre Dame (25-30) but lost to West Windsor-Plainsboro North
    “West Windsor Plainsboro North beat us 23-32. That’s a lot closer than we have against them in the past,” said Walker.
    Flynn won last Tuesday’s batch race with a stellar 19:44 time.
    “She ran fast and she was going hard but she’s still working on race strategies for later on in the season. But it was business as usual for Flynn,” said Walker, who was very proud of the way Robbinsville’s other top runners stuck to their pre-
race plans even when it seemed as though they were falling hopelessly behind in the race. “For Rachel Balint (Robbinsville’s second best finisher) and all of us it was a nice day. A mile and a quarter into the race Notre Dame had eight girls in front of our second (best runner). Then they all moved up and they trusted themselves that they can pick it up when they have to and we beat Notre Dame.”
    Lazzaro was Robbinsville’s third best finisher while Amber Rylak and Alicia Norato rounded out the Ravens’ top five on the day.
    “Alicia Norato was our fifth best runner of the day and that was a good sign because I held her out of the Knights’ Invitational (with a knee injury),” added Walker. “She was our girl “Performer of the Meet.”
    Julie Swift and Lisa Leszcynski also competed.
    On the boys’ side, Robbinsville creamed Hamilton West, 15-50. Notre Dame beat Robbinsville 15-44 and West Windsor-Plainsboro North won a 15-50 decision.
    Bottin posted a team-best 18:26 time for Robbinsville.
    Both Robbinsville teams are scheduled to compete against Hightstown and Steinert at Mercer County Park next Tuesday.