Junior helps XC girls finish second at sectionals
By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
Mallory Drake knew this season came with bigger expectations, and she has responded well.
Drake was a sophomore last year when she broke into the top seven for the Hillsborough High School girls cross country team. This year Drake has moved up to help the Raiders fill the void left by a pair of graduates.
”It’s good to have the experience,” Drake said. “Last year, I was sixth usually. Being No. 4 is a big difference. I actually score now.”
Drake was the Raiders’ fourth finisher, 20th overall, in 20:24 as Hillsborough took second in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group IV championship at Warinanco Park last Saturday. Defending champion Ridge scored a 52-77 win over the Raiders, who had won the last two Central Jersey Group IV titles before changing sections and courses to Warinanco this year.
”We were a little disappointed, but it was kind of an off day,” Drake said. “We realize everyone has that. We’re going to use it as motivation to run better at groups.
”It was different. It’s a really flat course. It’s not something we’re used to. To throw in the extra 250 meters, it’s different.”
The Raiders’ top-five finish sends them to the Group IV championship that will be held Saturday at hilly Holmdel Park. HHS is the defending champion. The top three teams in each group, plus the next two fastest at-large teams from among all groups advance to the Meet of Champions that will be held Nov. 19 at Holmdel.
”I think we’re just really hoping to make it through each week and take it one week at a time and make sure we do it right along the way,” Drake said. “We train on Holmdel a lot. We try to understand each turn and knowing where to go. It helps for us to have the hills and everything we can have work for our advantage. The hills are kind of a strong point for us because we train on them a lot. “
The flat Warinanco course didn’t help the Raiders, who saw Ridge use a tight pack to push ahead of them. Ridge’s pack makes a good target for Cady and Drake who finished 12 and 17 seconds behind Ridge’s fifth finisher.
”It definitely went out fast,” Drake said. “We could see their pack. I give them so much credit for their pack. They’re really good.
”I guess that’s the goal to move in front of the pack so you can beat them to the finish.”
Junior harrier Kelly Janokowicz led HHS in second overall in 19:08, senior Mary Dombrowski was seventh in 19:46, senior Alexandra Cady was 18th in 20:19, and after Drake came senior Rachael Van Pelt in 27th in 20:57, freshman Courtney Scrivanich was 42nd in 21:38 and junior Shannon Hurley was 66th in 22:55. They will be looking to move up on the hilly Holmdel course.
”I think we’re capable of running faster,” said Hillsborough girls coach Rich Refi. “Every week is a new race. That’s why you get on the line. You know there are good teams. You run and hope for the best.”
The Raiders will start fresh at the group meet. They want to use Saturday to show that they’re a better team than they showed in the sectionals.
”A lot of us weren’t feeling too great that day,” Drake said. “It was just kind of an off day all around. We’re hoping to put it behind us and get excited for groups next week.
”Basically, we’re just training more and more. We’ve been putting in the mileage and really working for it.”
Drake’s hard work has paid off. She’s been motivated to move up for Hillsborough in her second year in the top seven. At the Skyland championships, she ran 51 seconds faster than she did last year. She was 31 seconds faster at Shore Coaches than her Holmdel time of a year ago, and even improved on last year’s best at Holmdel, a 20:39 she produced at the Meet of Champions.
”It’s great,” Drake said. “I never really expected to jump up to the spot I reached. The whole team, we work together, and that’s the way it worked out.”
The Raiders will be working together to pull through the hills of Holmdel this week. The rolling course has always suited Hillsborough, and now it gives them confidence for their group chances.
”The hills help us,” Refi said. “We seem to have good races there.”
Drake is looking forward to another chance to show how far she has come since last year. She was dedicated to her training this summer and has seen it pay off. After coming off a promising finish to her spring track and field season, she worked toward being a solid fill-in for HHS’ graduating seniors.
”I PR’d in the two-mile at the very end of spring season,” Drake said. “Going from there to training, I was just trying to improve my times for cross country.
”It definitely helped to know that we had to come back strong. I think all of us pushing together, we were able to deal with that.”