X-C teams clinch crowns

Four high school cross country teams wrapped up Shore Conference division championships with dual meet victories on Oct. 25.

In the A North Division, coach John Hein’s Howell girls beat Freehold Township, 15-50, to complete another undefeated dual meet season. The Rebels were 5-0 in A North.

Running on their 3.1-mile home course at the Manasquan Reservoir in Howell, the Rebels’Aileen Rivell (19:55) was first across the finish line, followed by her teammates Naomi Barnett (19:56), Kendal (20:41), Jamie Hand (20:42) and Francesca Dee (20:52).

Freehold Township’s boys defended their A North public school title by beating Howell, 21-34, at the Manasquan Reservoir. Graham Huggins-Filozof (17:04), Dylan Tarpey (17:05) and Kevin Summonte (17:06) ran together for the Patriots and finished one, two, three.

Howell’s Drew Kinghorn (17:23) and Jack McCabe (17:27) were fourth and fifth, respectively, for a Rebels team that was very competitive this season, going 3-3 in dual meets and winning a title at the Thompson Park ClassMeet.

Andrew Freire (17:33) and William Joyce (17:40), in sixth and ninth place, respectively, clinched the win over Howell for Freehold Township (5-1).

Freehold Township’s only loss in the division was to private school Christian Brothers Academy, which won the outright title. In the B North Division, the Colts Neck boys and Colts Neck girls were the public school winners. In a tri-meet the Cougars hosted on their home course at Bucks Mill Park, the Cougars’ boys beat Monmouth Regional, 18-29, and Long Branch, 15-44.

Jon Stouber, Riley Leder and Colin Chehanske finished together in the 3.1-mile race with each runner being timed in 17:18. Mike Pinnola (18:21) and Dan King (18:41) in fifth and seventh place overall were the team’s No. 4 and No. 5 scorers.

The Colts Neck girls beat Monmouth Regional, 23-34, and Long Branch, 15-50. Arielle Weiner was first overall in 20:11 for the Cougars. Gwen Morris (20:35), Kerry McDonough (21:10), Tricia Holland (22:10) and Emily Cheng (22:37) ran well to lock up the victory.

The Colts Neck boys and girls each finished the 2011 dual meet season at 5-1. Each team’s only loss was to private school Red Bank Catholic. The Caseys won the outright B North title and Colts Neck boys and girls claimed the public school crowns.

The NJSIAA state sectional championships are set for Nov. 5 at Thompson Park in Jamesburg. The top five teams and the top 10 individuals in each group will advance to the group state championships on Nov. 12 at Holmdel Park in Holmdel.