LHS competes in MCT

CROSS COUNTRY

By Tim Falls, Sports Editor
   The Lawrence High School boys and girls cross country teams took eighth and ninth in their respective races for strong showings at the Mercer County Championships Friday at Washington Crossing Park.
   Marcin Truszkowski led the Lawrence boys as a medalist in the top 25. The Cardinal senior improved his own school record on the course by taking 21st in 17:05.
   Rafal Truszkowski took 42nd in the event in 17:53, while Scott Figatner claimed 45th in 17:57.
   Justin Wisniewski raced for 57th in 18:34, while Solomon Park placed 66th in 18:46. Abel McDaniels competed for the Cardinals, taking 88th in 19:43, while Ethan Schindel claimed 99th in 21:17.
   Lawrence sophomores Park and McDaniels recorded personal bests on the course as both took 20 seconds off their previous top times.
   Like last season, Lawrence finished eighth in the team scoring with 230 pints.
   Marcin Truszkowski led Lawrence last season, taking 38th in the race in 17:31 at the much quicker Veterans Park course.
   This season the Mercer County Championships were moved to the more challenging Washington Cross Park. While both courses are 3.1 miles long, the Washington Crossing course is regarded as more difficult with more hills and longer grass.
   The Cardinal girls improved on their finish from last season, with a strong race by Natalie Falk, who finished 43rd in 22:48.Lawrence coach Tim Collins said Falk had a fantastic race, especially since she wasn’t feeling her best the week before the race.
   ”She had been hurting real bad all week,” said Collins. “the shin where she had a stress fracture was acting up again, so we had to force her to take days off and just bike. She responded very well and led the girls to their best finish in years.”
   The Cardinals claimed ninth with 270 points after placing 12th last season.
   Andrea Tunndard finished 58th as Lawrence’s second runner in 23:52 and posted her best time of the season.
   Laura Brehm and Lydia Falk finished 61st and 62nd, respectively, in 24:26 and 24:55, while Elizabeth marsh placed 65th in 25:08.
   While the Lawrence girls finished one of their strongest seasons in years with a ninth-place finish at the Mercer County Championships, the Cardinal boys are hoping to improve on last year’s 12th-place sectional finish at the NJSIAA Sectional meet at Thompson Park on Saturday.