Rumson-Fair Haven High School runners (l-r) Shannon McCarthy, Rachel Christ and Hannah Anderson lead the field during the early stages of the Central Jersey Group II cross country championship race Nov. 5 at Thompson Park in Jamesburg. The trio finished one-two-three, with Christ winning the race, as the Bulldogs scored a dominating victory. SUZANNE GOTTUSO A s one Rumson-Fair Haven High School runner after another dashed to the finish line, it was apparent that everyone was watching something special at the NJSIAACentral Jersey Group II sectional championships.
The Bulldogs swept the top three places, led by individual champion Rachel Christ, and packed their five scorers in the top nine as RFH easily defeated the field with a dualmeet winning score of 21 points Saturday at Thompson Park in Jamesburg. Runner-up Holmdel was 44 points (65).
By not only winning the state sectional title for the second time in three years, but turning in the fastest team average on the day, 19:16, for the 5K race, the Bulldogs made a case for themselves as state championship contenders.
Senior Molly Hellman has witnessed firsthand the rise of the Bulldog program this year to where it’s on the level with anyone.“ It’s been so much fun,” she said. “I’ve never been on a team this good. It’s awesome.
“It just all just came together,” she added. “This team is really deep.”
The Bulldogs proved that Saturday, led, as always, by junior Christ, who just took off early in the race and never looked back en route to her latest championship. Her bold front-running produced a winning time of 18:38, the third fastest of the day.
While Christ was miles ahead of the field, her teammates senior Shannon Mc- Carthy (19:10) and freshman Hannah Anderson (19:10) pulled away from everyone else in the chase pack to take second and third. Close behind was junior Michaella Irvine in sixth (19:31) and Hellman followed in ninth (19:54), giving the Bulldogs five runners under 20:00. If anyone thinks that these first five are all that make the Bulldogs so good, there’s more. Isabella Maita, a junior, and sophomore Courtney Howley, the team’s sixth and seventh runners, were 14th and 18th, clocking 20:23 and 20:32.
This Saturday, RFH will race for the Group II state title at Holmdel Park where the Bulldogs will meet Voorhees, the team ranked No. 1 in the state heading into sectional weekend. Voorhees won the North Jersey Section II Group II title.
While Christ gives RFH the edge out front, the title will likely be decided by which team has the slimmest gap between its second to fifth runners.
The top five teams and top 10 individuals at sectional meet all advanced to the group championships. Red Bank Regional’s Krysten Gilmartin punched her ticket to Holmdel Park by finishing third behind RFH’s trio, She turned in a fine 19:22.
Rumson’s boys are headed to the group meet, grabbing the fifth and final qualifying slot with 179 points. The boys were led by Ryan Corbett, who was 18th overall (17:16).
Shore Regional’s boys and girls are gong to Holmdel as well in Group I.
The Blue Devil girls were third (107) with Erika Friend (22:01) pacing the team in 14th.
Shore’s boys were fourth (112) with Rocco Nannarello leading the pack with his eighth place (17:48).
In Group III, Ocean Township’s girls and boys both advance.
The Spartan girls took fourth (141) as Ellie Ginsberg (20:37) finished 11th (20:37).
A fourth place by Greg Lowing (16:51) helped Ocean’s boys take fifth (141).
Shore Conference Championships
The week began perfectly for the RFH Bulldogs as they again outran state power Red Bank Catholic, this time to claim the Shore Conference championship. The meet, held at Lakewood’s Ocean County Park, was originally scheduled for Oct. 29, but the nor’easter pushed it back until Nov. 1.
Rachel Christ turned in her fastest-ever 5K, clocking 17:45 in finishing second to Lacey Township’s Danielle Leavitt and her 17:37.
Shannon McCarthy (18:27) and Hannah Anderson (18:31) were sixth and seventh (fourth and fifth in team scoring), giving the Bulldogs an edge over RBC that the Caseys could not overcome.
Isabella Maita (19:08) and Molly Hellman (19:19) were 20 and 29 in team scoring.
MaryKate Byrne led the defending champion Caseys in fourth place (18:16). Liana Marzano was 12th (18:43) and Lindsey Bellaran was 16th (18:52). In team scoring, the trio were 3-10-14. MaryKate McNamara (19:11) and Eryn Mills (19:19) completed the Caseys’ scoring in 22nd and 28th .
Red Bank Regional’s Krysten Gilmartin was 20th (19:07).
It was RBC’s Rob Napolitano pacing the boys with his seventh place (15:29). The Caseys were ninth (263) with Charley Rooney their No. 2 runner in 27th (16:21).
Christian Brothers Academy set the team average course record at 15:26.20 in winning by 80 points over Holmdel (22-102). George Kelly (15:16), Mike McClemens (15:20) and Jack Boyle (15:26) went onetwo three for CBA.