Mackenzie Roche set an ambitious goal for herself this fall and the Freehold High School senior achieved it. Having never qualified for the NJSIAA Cross Country Meet of Champions in her previous three years, the Colonials’ harrier set out to reach that state championship event.
On her way to the Meet of Champions, Roche’s results made her the Freehold Regional High School District’s best cross country competitor this fall.
While Roche was the top performer, Coach John Hein’s Howell Rebels were the area’s premier cross country team. The Rebels won the FRHSD team title for the fourth straight year. They won the Shore Conference A North Division title and were undefeated in dual meets.
The Rebels were second at the Monmouth County Championships and had the school’s best result ever at the Shore Conference Championships: second place. The Rebels were fifth in the Central Jersey Group IV state sectional meet and 13th in the State Group IV competition.
The Rebels achieved their team success on the legs of a very close pack of a halfdozen runners who were paced by sophomore Jamie Hand.
Roche and Hand lead the News Transcript’s 2009 All-Freehold Regional High School District Girls Cross Country Team. Rounding out the all-star squad are Howell’s Laura Kochenash and Alyssa Pinney; Freehold Township’s Chelsea Thorsheim; Colts Neck’s Eva Wimberley; and Freehold’s Kimberley Dana.
Roche had a marvelous season, setting personal bests and school records throughout the campaign, beginning with her victory at the FRHSD Championships at Bucks Mill Park, Colts Neck, in a time of 19:37.
Roche started the season with a thirdplace finish at the Cougar Invitational Large Schools race. She was 10th at the Monmouth County Championships and fourth at the Shore Conference Championships.
Roche ran her fastest 5K at Jamesburg’s Thompson Park layout (19:09), were she was fourth in Central Jersey Group III. A strong seventh-place finish at the State Group III meet earned Roche a spot in the field at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions.
Her Holmdel Park personal best time of 19:27 tied her for eighth place all-time among FRHSD runners.
Hand was the runner-up to Roche at the FRHSD Championships. She was 14th at the Cougar Invitational in the championship race and 14th at the Monmouth County meet. Hand ran 38th at the Shore Conference meet, 23rd in Central Jersey Group IV and 47th in the State Group IV race.
Kochenash, a junior, had a steady season for Howell, always finishing in a scoring position and helping the team. Kochenash ran 19th at the Cougar Invitational, fifth at the FRHSD Championships, 15th at the Monmouth County meet, 28th at the Shore Conference meet, 26th in the Central Jersey Group IV state sectional race and 54th at the State Group IV championships.
Pinney was the lone senior in the Howell pack. She ran her best at the championship meets after placing ninth at the FRHSD Championships. Pinney ran 28th at the Monmouth County meet and she was Howell’s top runner at the Shore Conference meet (21st place), helping the Rebels to their highest placing ever at the conference championships. Pinney ran 31st at the Central Jersey Group IV state sectional meet and 60th at the State Group IV championships.
Thorsheim, a senior, had a very consistent season for Freehold Township. She placed eighth at the FRHSD Championships, fifth in the Cougar Invitational Large Schools Division, 21st at the Monmouth County meet, 22nd at the Shore Conference meet and 20th at the Central Jersey Group IV state sectional meet. Thorsheim was second among all area runners at the state sectional meet.
The Freehold High School cross country team finished 11th in the State Group III championships because the Colonials had a strong runner behind Roche, and that was Dana. The freshman would appear to be the Colonials’ future. Dana ran 16th at the Cougar Invitational, seventh at the FRHSD Championships, 18th at the Monmouth County meet and 18th at the Central Jersey Group III state sectional meet.
Wimberley enjoyed success in the big races. The Colts Neck harrier was third behind Roche and Hand at the FRHSD Championships. In the Central Jersey Group IV state sectional meet, Wimberley was the top FRHSD runner, finishing 15th.
Athletes who have earned All-FRHSD honorable mention recognition for their performances in 2009 are Brielle Kohler and Arielle Weiner, Colts Neck; Bridget Joyce, Freehold Township; Anne Werkely, Aileen Rivell and Tara Nealon, Howell; and Rachel Weinberger, Marlboro.