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PHS XC eyeing big races

Hartmanshenn adds to depth

By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
   Clara Hartmanshenn is evidence of how much potential the Princeton High School girls’ cross country team has this fall.
   The sophomore is much improved since last season when she finished as high as third for the Little Tigers, yet she is running fifth in the early going for PHS.
   ”I’m really excited to see what will happen in counties and sectionals,” Hartmanshenn said. “We didn’t lose too many seniors and we got a lot of people from spring track and some freshmen runners. I’m excited.”
   Hartmanshenn along with top-five regulars Molly Lynch and Mina Juhn — both seniors — have returned for PHS, which finished fourth at the Mercer County Championships last year and reached the Group III state meet. Added to the group are newcomers Jenna Cody, a freshman who is the Little Tigers’ new top finisher, and Alicia Fenley, a junior who joined her sister Andreia, a sophomore, in coming out for cross country this year.
   ”Both are good runners who made the varsity,” Hartmanshenn said. “They’re encouraging the team.”
   The Little Tigers will get a look at where they compare in the state at Saturday’s Shore Coaches Invitational at Holmdel Park, the same site of the state group meet and the Meet of Champions.
   ”We had a really good practice last Saturday when we went to see the course,” Hartmanshenn said. “Every runner had a good practice. We worked on the up hills and down hills. I think we’ll be pretty confident.”
   Hartmanshenn certainly figures to be less nervous than she was last year. Due to college placement testing, Hartmanshenn didn’t have her regular accompaniment that helped bring her along quickly.
   ”Last year was my first year running cross country,” said Hartmanshenn, who did run track at John Witherspoon Middle School. “It was kind of surprising. I was really lucky. I had Molly Johnson and Lena Frey pulling me. I was lucky to have them pulling me.”
   Hartmanshenn was the Little Tigers’ second finisher last year’s Shore Coaches in 22:32. Travel plans kept her from returning to Holmdel for the Group III state meet, but she is looking forward to racing there again.
   ”It’s a challenging course but it’s really good,” Hartmanshenn said. “The second mile, with the Bowl which is legendary, it shows who has the most guts. The third mile is interesting because of the enormous downhill. It’s a good variation.”
   Her improvement since last year is evident in that she was fourth in the sophomore race at the Monmouth Battlefield Class Meet on Sept. 20. Last year, she was seventh in the freshman race, but she is far more confident in herself with her improvements.
   ”I think running as a team, that was something I really had to work on last year,” Hartmanshenn said. “I feel like I’ve improved in learning how to run with other teammates.”
   She did so perfectly last year in her big moment when she ran a personal record 19:57 for third among the Little Tigers at the county championships. She was also the third freshman finisher overall. It capped quite a year, and she is looking to be just as important this year as she runs in the final scoring spot for PHS.
   ”I take it as a challenge,” Hartmanshenn said. “Last year, when the two seniors that were helping me left, I was scared. I didn’t know if I could catch up to the two captains (Lynch and Juhn). With Alicia and Jenna, I take that as a challenge. I really want to get better and get up with them and help them.”
   For now, she is fulfilling a crucial role in helping the Little Tigers develop as a team.
   ”I talked to Coach (Jim) Smirk at the end of spring track last year, and one of the goals was to pull the middle crew along,” Hartmanshenn said. “They’re going to become important in the upcoming years.
   ”It’s really nice to have more experience,” she added. “I like helping the younger runners, like all the freshmen. It feels good to be more a part of the team.”
   Especially this PHS team. The Shore Coaches meet is just the first big test in the early portion of the season. Hartmanshenn and the Little Tigers are looking at it as another chance to test themselves.
   ”I think we are definitely better than last year,” she said. “I actually think we have a shot at counties. We have so many good runners and we have a good atmosphere. I’m really excited for counties this year.”