By: Sean Moylan Sports Writer
Although the Northern Burlington County Regional High boys’ varsity cross country team fell just short of its ultimate team goal of winning the Liberty Division at the BCSL Divisional Meet at New Egypt, the Greyhounds were pleased to see Mike Bowden and Ryan Ramirez place first and second in the race.
For the third year in a row, Bowden won the individual Liberty Division title. He ran an outstanding 15:49 time, which was the best overall time of the day. Ramirez took home the silver with a 16:04 time.
“Mike’s (Bowden) unflappable. He’s excited that he won but he’s not the type of kid that’s going to jump up and down,” said Steve Alustiza, the longtime head coach of NBC’s varsity cross country program.
Alustiza suggested that Bowden may have shown more emotion had NBC been able to top Moorestown as a team because he has developed into such a great quiet leader this year and team goals are very important to him. Unfortunately, the Quakers had five runners place in the Top 10 and they edged the Greyhounds 31-34.
Coming into the race, NBC knew Bowden and Ramirez would do well. Alustiza also knew he would have to get a great race out of Dylan Kurowsky if his team had any chance of beating Moorestown. And Kurowsky actually did come through with a magnificent 16:47 time for seventh place, but the Quakers still found a way to edge the Greyhounds. Andre Dupuis (17:25 for 11th place), Jordan Andrade (17:25 for 13th place), Jon Grossman (17:57 for 20th place) and Huntley Nolan (18:07 for 24th place) also ran well for Northern Burlington, which took second overall in the Liberty.
“It was an awesome meet to be at given that their (the Quakers) head coach said ‘I don’t want to see you guys again.’ Billy Kostenko (NBC’s assistant coach) and I get along very well with Lorenzo Eagles (Moorestown’s head coach) and Bob Bickel and I said to them ‘I just wanted to beat you once and I thought this was the year we were going to do it,’”said Alustiza, whose team came about as close as it can come to winning it without winning it.
In the Patriot Division Bordentown’s Zane Smith posted a 19:43 time to place 17th.
On the girls’ side, NBC placed third out of five teams. Lydia Nolan was Northern Burlington top runner with a 21:37 12th place mark. Emma Rosenwinkel was right behind with a 21:48 13th place time.
NBC’s best runner Tanya Doschyk was coming off an injury and had a stomach ache and still ran a fine 22:48 time for 18th place.
“She knows that she’s two minutes faster than the time she ran,” said Alustiza of Doschyk, who should be at full strength by Sectionals in two weeks.
NBC’s Sara Morris (23:21), Selena Senachai (23:32), Megan Lynch (23:34) and Brittany Michaels (24:23) all ran personal record times.
The NBC girls’ varsity cross country squad (7-5) and the boys (14-2) both had great regular seasons.
“The boys can’t wait for Sectional,” said Alustiza.
With two weeks to get ready there’s no telling what kind of heights Bowden will reach in this year’s state tournament. He’s already had a record-shattering senior year and his times should only get better. Also look for Ramirez to do something special in the state tourney.

