By Justin Feil, Packet Media Group
Paige Novak’s running days were just beginning when the Hillsborough High School girls cross country team won back-to-back Group IV state championships.
The freshman helped the Raiders to secure an unprecedented third straight Group IV crown in her first race on Holmdel Park’s 5-kilometer course Saturday.
”I’m really glad that I’m able to help the team keep going and live up to the standards that the team set,” said Novak, the Raiders’ fifth finisher, who was 28th overall. “I’ve only been here a year, so I’m trying to pick up what’s been left from the other girls.”
Novak isn’t the only new piece in the Raiders’ top seven, and the team continued its impressive late-season run. Kelly Janokowicz led the way again, in second overall. The senior was leading at the two-mile mark before finishing in 18:26, four seconds behind Marisa Ruskan of Bridgewater-Raritan. Janokowicz’s mark was a new personal best for Holmdel and just off the school record 18:18.
”Her work ethic is impeccable,” said Hillsborough head coach Rich Refi.
Combine that with her experience as part of the previous two group title teams, and it’s a hard to beat mix.
Stephanie Mauer was fifth in 18:52. She was the top freshman in the race. Molly Doyle was 21st 19:54, Mallory Drake was 26th in 20:03, and Novak rounded out the Raiders scoring in 28th in 20:06. Courtney Scrivanic was 97th and Meredith Young took 128th in her first state group meet. Hillsborough better than doubled its closest competition with 64 points to runner-up North Hunterdon’s 129 as they showed again why they love coming to Holmdel.
”I think we ran really well,” Refi said. “I think a lot of it is your mental approach. I think a lot of it is being aerobically strong.
”We can run hills wherever. Some people get frightened by that course. We get excited by that course.”
Before the race Novak tried to hide her nerves, and a race official who noticed her offered some kind words to calm her down. Novak ran in seventh and eighth grade for the middle school team, and had raced at Holmdel only once before, in the freshman race at Shore Coaches Invitational that is just two miles, not the five kilometers of the group meet.
”It was difficult,” Novak said. “I was trying to envision the course in my mind. We had gone a couple times for practice, but I’d never run it at race pace. I was nervous and I was trying to push it for my team.”
Novak knew that the Raider girls were in good shape when she saw four teammates ahead of her after the finish line. What shocked her was her finishing time.
”I definitely set my standard lower for myself, so when I do beat it, I’m excited,” Novak said. “For Holmdel, I was hoping to get under 22 minutes. When I crossed at 20, I was surprised.”
Novak was looking forward to the Meet of Champions that was scheduled for Wednesday at Holmdel, and Hillsborough will compete in the Nike Northeast Regionals on Saturday.
”Saturday, that’s definitely overwhelming to think about,” Novak said. “We’re trying to focus on Meet of Champions. Hopefully I’ll have my best time there. No matter what happens, I’ll be happy whatever happens. I’ve had a really good season so far. I have achieved a lot.”
Novak would have preferred a few more recovery days between the intense races of the final eight days, but she already feels better about running Holmdel in the MOC after Saturday’s success.
”I’m definitely looking forward to it,” she said. “It’s going to be fun. Thanksgiving is the next day, so we get a nice break after that. I’m nervous because it is a big meet. It’s states and we have some stiff competition. I’m trying to apply the skills I had from last Saturday to this meet.
”It would be a lot better if there was more time between meets. I don’t know how much I could improve in four days. It’ll help my confidence that I ran (groups). I just want to improve my time from last race.”
Novak is looking for a big ending to her first season of high school cross country before she turns to the winter, when she’ll juggle indoor track with plenty of snowboarding for the season. It’s already been quite a year.
”We definitely put in the effort,” Novak said. “It’s not luck that got us there. I’ve been training since July for cross country season. The wins and the scores we’ve gotten have been earned by the team. The seniors this year have really helped me getting to this point. I’m trying to work toward where they’re at.”
Along the way, Paige Novak has helped the Hillsborough High School girls make some history with their Group IV mastery.

