ROBBINSVILLE: RHS girls reach Meet of Champions

By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
   The Robbinsville High School girls cross country team was hopeful it would get to see Julia Borowski run in the Meet of Champions.
   As it turns out, the Ravens are giving her company.
   The Robbinsville girls finished third overall in the Group II state meet at Holmdel Park last Saturday, three points better than fourth-place Holmdel, for the final automatic spot to the MOC that starts 11 a.m. Saturday at Holmdel Park again.
   ”The girls team was a real surprise for us, probably the biggest surprise of my coaching career thus far,” said Ravens head coach Mike Walker. “We have a good team and we had some good performances throughout the season, but I didn’t think we could hang in there at the state meet to finish top three; I told the girls that a good day would be for us to finish top seven and learn from the race for next year with the returners.”
   Borowski, who was 15th in 20:15, and Paris Hughes, who was the Ravens’ sixth finisher in 107th, were the only RHS seniors in their top seven for them at the group meet.
   ”I am really happy that Julia gets to finish her career at the Meet of Champions,” Walker said. “I know that was one of her main goals and it is great to see someone get that chance when they really want it.”
   She wouldn’t have gotten that opportunity if it weren’t for a supreme team effort. Erin Holzbaur placed 26th in 20:46 and Lauren Kroepfl was just a second behind in 27th. Gabby Manto took 39th in 21:14 and Enlin Carow had the same finish time for 40th. Hughes was 107th and Caitlyn Krueger took 118th.
   ”Our top five put together an amazing team race and where we had Julia out front and two close packs of two following behind,” Walker said. “The key was Enlin and Gabby kicking by a group of girls together in the last 100 meters. If they didn’t race together and come in together, we finish in fourth place or higher and miss out on going to MOC. You always want to race your best when it matters the most, and these girls did it finally.”
   The Robbinsville boys had hoped for a higher placement, but settled for sixth with a team that will return plenty for another shot next year. Only James Lynch, their seventh finisher Saturday, will not be back from their top seven that had four sophomores at the top in the group meet led by Richie Kasper. Kasper qualified for the MOC by placing ninth overall in 16:47.
   ”The boys team ended on a down note, but it was still a very successful season and I think we are set up for the future much more so than we were last year,” Walker said. “Richie is the first boy to medal at the group meet since Brian O’Toole in 2010, and only the third boy for us to medal at states.
   ”He followed the race plan and ran a perfect race to get himself a PR at Holmdel and move on to MOC. I think he can lower his time some more if he stays patient and doesn’t get overwhelmed with the race on Saturday.”
   The rest of the Ravens finished their state slate at groups. Zach Michon was 23rd in 17:08, Christian Roberts was 45th in 17:27, Dan Milo ran to 55th in 17:40. Patrick Buonamassa was 62nd in 17:45 to round out their top five, Ryan Gross was 78th in 18:03 and Lynch came in 129th.