North boys, Kellner seek titles
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Jeff McKee couldn’t hide his emotions following the Group IV boys’ race at Holmdel Park on Sunday.
It seemed as though the West Windsor-Plainsboro South senior’s cross country season had ended in disappointment when the Pirates lost one runner during the race to illness and then missed by one spot the final automatic qualifying berth to the Meet of Champions.
”At the moment,” McKee said, “I was pretty upset.”
After all, few had put more into their season than McKee. He had a high week of 92 miles in the summer, then kept his training at 80 miles per week through the beginning of the season, before finally tapering below 70 miles per week after the Mercer County Championships.
”From a mental standpoint, I know I’ve run more than everyone,” McKee said. “It gives me confidence.”
Then came a chance at redemption. Shortly after the final race of the day, the Group III boys’ race, the Pirates got the news that they had qualified for the MOC as a wild card for the second straight year. WW-P South earned a wild card berth for having one of the two best average times, 17:18.60, of all remaining teams to not automatically qualify. Group IV fifth-place finisher Ridgewood (17:20.00 average) is the other wild card.
”It was sort of relief,” McKee said of his feelings. “We have the chance to redeem ourselves. Maybe we didn’t run as well as we should have, but at least we get another chance at it.”
The boys’ race is at 10 a.m. at Holmdel. West Windsor-Plainsboro North is among the favorite teams, while the Pirates are a dark horse. The girls run at 10:45 a.m. Only area individuals have advanced with Katie and Caroline Kellner representing WW-P South, Trish Reilly running for WW-P North and Jillian Prentice representing Montgomery High.
”Our goals from the beginning of the season were to be top five in the state,” said Pirate boys’ coach Kurt Wayton. “So we’re saying, let’s compete with the best. Let’s get out and hang tough and chase our dreams the last quarter of the race. Despite Kevin Foy having mono, Sam (Macaluso) having this sickness, Nick Schmidt having this horrible virus that is hanging on and has taken it out of him, Sameer Jaywant having Lyme disease, the goal is still in sight. There are plenty of reasons why we shouldn’t have gotten there, but we’re there.”
It will be the final chance for McKee, who has seen the program improve steadily over the last two years, just as his own running has taken off. McKee was 57th while averaging 5:45 per mile as a sophomore when the Pirates finished 10th at sectionals. Last year, he averaged 5:30 as the Pirates finished third in the sectionals before earning a wild card entry to the MOC where they finished seventh. McKee covered the Holmdel course in 17:27 that day.
”Wayton has really transformed our program,” McKee said. “We went from being mediocre to one of the top teams in the state.”
Wayton, though, is quick to credit the work of individuals like McKee.
”In many programs, there’s probably 10 Jeff McKee’s talent-wise,” Wayton said. “The amazing thing is that I get the real Jeff McKee and he’s able to believe outside the box. A lot of kids settle for what they perceive are their own limitations. Jeff doesn’t believe in his own limitations. He thinks outside the box.
”There’s plenty of Jeff McKee’s on every team. What makes him a contributor, he’s willing to do all the things the other ones aren’t. He never gives up. He’s as hard on himself as he is on his teammates. If his expectations aren’t met, he’s mad at himself. If they are, he’s happy.”
Said McKee: “I think I’m more talented than Wayton likes to let on. I agree most of it has come from hard work, but I broke 5 minutes (for the mile) as a freshman.”
McKee continues to hold himself to a high standard. He wasn’t thrilled with the Group IV meet on what was, until the Group III race, a slow Sunday. He ran 17:20, about 15 seconds off his personal best run at the Shore Coaches Invitational earlier this season.
”It’s nice that I get one final shot to prove myself against the rest of the state,” McKee said. “That’s what we’ve been looking to do all season. There have been some bumps, but this is hopefully where it all pays off.
”So far, the season’s been going pretty well,” he added. “How I run at the Meet of Champs is going to affect how I see my season. I feel like I’ve made significant improvement.”
He is hoping that he has saved his best for last on a Holmdel course that he calls his favorite.
”I don’t always get out well, but I hammer it home,” McKee said. “Coming off ‘The Bowl,’ I always pick it up. I know no matter where I am, coming off the tennis courts and back woods, I can catch guys.”
The more he does, the better the chances for the Pirates to move up in the team standings. There may have been an hour of doubt, but WW-P South is ready to show it belongs at the MOC.
”I still think the Meet of Champs is up in the air,” Wayton said. “I know my kids believe we’re a top five team, they just haven’t shown it yet. We have as good a chance as anyone to finish up there.”