Senior looks to advance at CJ IVs
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Nora Heck didn’t totally appreciate the significance of advancing beyond the sectionals in her first three cross country seasons.
It is all she has left now.
The Montgomery High School senior lines up for her final Central Jersey Group IV meet Saturday at Thompson Park. She is hoping it’s not also her final cross country race before college.
”We’ve made it to states since I was a freshman,” Heck said. “It would be upsetting to everyone if we didn’t make it.”
Heck, whose asthma is at its worst when the temperature and allergens are up in the beginning of the season, has made a history of running well at traditionally cooler sectionals. She was third for the Cougars in both her freshman and sophomore seasons and last year helped the Cougars finish fourth to advance to the Group IV meet.
The top five teams make the group meet out of each section. West Windsor-Plainsboro South’s teams will also compete in CJ IV. Princeton and WW-P North will compete in the Central Jersey Group III meet.
”Now it means so much more to make it to states,” Heck said. “When I was a freshman, I thought it was important, but I didn’t really understand it. I’m crossing my fingers. We all want to go to states.
”When I was a freshman, I cared how I did. I cared about the different meets, but I didn’t know what they meant. I didn’t know how big it was moving from sectionals on to states. These are the meets that really count.”
The Cougars have faced the likes of powers Hillsborough, Voorhees and Ridge in a tough schedule that has prepared them for the sectionals weekend. MHS also has experience. Heck isn’t the only one who has only known sectional advancement. So have Jillian Prentice, Lara Shegosky and Danielle Baginsky. Heck is helping to boost their chances of doing so again even after the losses of Amanda Herrmann and Rachel Holt.
”She’s really progressed a lot,” said MHS head coach Jim Goodfriend of Heck. “Nora has run really well. She’s definitely stepped up. Her asthma early in the season has always been a problem, but she’s way ahead of where she was last year. The two kids really running great are Nora and Shegosky. You always expect it from Prentice.”
Heck is expecting a lot of herself Saturday. It is her final crack at Thompson Park’s course.
”I hope to PR because I’ve PR’d at a lot of courses this year,” she said. “I’ve trained my hardest this season. I’m hoping to do my best and I’m hoping our team makes it onto states.”
Heck was bolstered coming into this season by finding a more effective asthma medication and by doing more of her training indoors at gym away from the heat and allergens. It gave her a bigger base than usual, which is benefiting her down the stretch.
”I knew I had to do really well for us to go onto states because we did lose those good people,” Heck said. “We have Jill who’s strong, and Lara, and Dani is amazing and hopefully our No. 5 girl can do really well on Saturday and we’ll make it states.”
Added Goodfriend: “This meet is all about qualifying. There are six good teams and five spots. It’s possible, we just can’t have any mess-ups.”
Whether they advance or not, Nora Heck is treasuring her final races with the Montgomery girls’ cross country team. She just hopes there are a couple more big meets together.
”It’s been a great experience,” she said. “I wouldn’t trade it in for anything. I love the team. We all motivate each other and we always want each other to do well. It’s a great experience to be on the team with those girls.”

