The young Red Bank Catholic (RBC) High School girls cross-country team completed the county-conference double on Oct. 25.
Running on the flat, fast Ocean County Park 5K course in Lakewood, the Caseys used their pack strength to beat Ocean County champion Toms River High School North, 98-111.
After capturing the Monmouth County title at Holmdel Park on Oct. 16, head coach Rob DeFillipis said that he thought the Shore Conference was now in play and his harriers proved to be more than contenders. They are the conference’s best team.
Sophomores Eryn Mills (18:22) and MaryKate McNamara (18:36) led the Casey charge in eighth and 13th place in team scoring. Senior Krissi Chryssanthopoulis was 16th (18:42). Sophomore Emily Rienzo (19:23) and freshman Shayne McNally (19:24) clinched the victory by finishing 30th and 31st.
Only 1:02 separated the Caseys five scorers, who had a team average of 18:52.86.
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, the defending champions, finished fifth (270). Leading the Bulldogs were Courtney Cowley (18:39), Jackie Gottuso (19:13) and Fini Satzke (19:22), who were 14-23-28.
The top area runner was Red Bank Regional High School’s Krysten Gilmartin, who turned in a swift 18:19 in finishing sixth. Teammate Kauren Sapone was 16th (18:40), helping then Buccaneers take 10th (270).
The winner of the individual conference crown finished in 17:54, while county champion Courtney Thompson of St. John Vianney High School was second (18:01).
Ocean County Park lived up to its fast reputation as the nation’s No. 1 boys team, Christian Brothers Academy (CBA), set a new course record with a remarkable team average of 15:08.67. CBA easily retained its title with a dual meet score of 27.
Middletown High School North’s Tom O’Neill out-sprinted the Colts’ Jack Boyle to win his first conference championship in 15:04, followed by Boyle’s 15:05. RBC’s Rob Napolitano turned in his fastest 5K, 15:09, in finishing fifth. RBC was seventh (241), Ocean was ninth (269), Rumson-Fair Haven was 10th (295) and Red Bank Regional was 13th (377).
Ocean’s Andrew Dombrowieki finished 25th (16:15) and RBC’s Kyle Bogart was 32nd (16:25).
The public schools will be busy on Nov. 3 at the NJSIAA State Sectionals. Area teams will be competing in the Central Jersey section at Thompson Park in Jamesburg. The top five teams will advance to the Group championships at Holmdel Park on Nov.10. They will be joined there by the non-public school.
The season-ending Meet of Champions is Nov. 17 back at Holmdel Park.