Robby Andrews shook things up at the Shore Conference Cross Country Championships.
ERIC SUCAR staff Runners make their way through the course at the Shore Conference Cross Country Championships held at Ocean County Park in Lakewood on Oct. 30 as Freehold Township High School coach Brian Golub encourages them. Not content to just sit in the lead pack and then destroy his opponents in the final half-mile, the Manalapan senior surged to the front around 2K into Thursday’s 5K race at the fast Ocean County Park (OCP) layout in Lakewood.
“I wanted to get used to being uncomfortable in the middle of the race,” he said.
Although Holmdel’s George Galasso would soon rejoin him, along with Colts Neck’s Mark Leininger and Red Bank Catholic’s Bobby McGann in a repeat of the Monmouth County meet the week before, Andrews had made the pace quick enough to discourage anyone from picking up the pace again.
“I was definitely uncomfortable, I was not in the comfort zone,” said Andrews.
The pack, which also included Toms River North’s Joseph Kotran, stayed together over the last half of the race, waiting for the inevitable, Andrews’ finishing kick.
Comfortable or not, Andrews attacked 600 meters out. At first, Galasso stayed within range, but as Andrews switched to an even higher gear, he too was dropped.
Andrews stopped the clock in 15:17 (4:56 per-mile average), the second fastest time in course history behind the 15:05 run by Colts Neck’s Craig Forys in 2006.
Andrews and his fellow runners took advantage of the more forgiving, flatter OCP course (compared to Holmdel Park) to turn in one of the fastest en masse races in the SC history as 16 harriers broke 16:00.
“It’s nice to know I can run that fast,” Andrews said of his fastest 5K.
The previous week, Andrews had defended his county championship. Thursday, he captured his first SC crown.
“It’s always fun winning. This is my first Shore Conference; it’s pretty nice,” he remarked.
Behind Andrews, Leininger turned in his best race of the season. He would catch and pass Galasso at the end, finishing second and posting a 15:24, a time that ranks in the top 10 in course history.
“I felt really good compared to last week [fifth at the Monmouth County Championships],” Leininger said. “We went out pretty good and stayed together, taking turns leading.
“It feels great; I had a 30-second pb [personal best],” he added. “It increases my confidence for the rest of the season.”
Leininger’s teammate, Mike O’Dowd, came through with a big effort. The sophomore finished ninth in 15:45.9, a time that trails only Forys, Andrews and Leininger among Freehold District harriers.
Manalapan delivered the team effort it was looking for, finishing fifth (167) with a team average of 16:19. All seven Braves broke 17:00. Gary Sparapani (16:15) and Matt Gaboro (16:34) were 26th and 42nd overall, and Kingsley Prophete (16:41) was 46th. Fifth runner Jon Nagel (16:45) was 56th. In team scoring, the four were 26-41- 45-54.
Colts Neck rode the 2-9 finishes of Leininger and O’Dowd to eighth place (241).
Freehold Township had a solid team outing, led by Eric Dynarski (16:12) and Keenan Huggins Filozof (16:12 in 23rd and 25th). The Pats were ninth (252).
Howell was 18th (463), led by Tyler Gillies, who was 54th overall (16:4).
Christian Brothers Academy, averaging 15:53.80, won the team championship with 68 points.
Jackucewicz impressive
Briana Jackucewicz’s high school career has been a series of highs and lows, marred by injuries that have kept the Cougar from training, let alone competing. Thursday she reminded everyone just how good she is, finishing second to Southern Regional’s Jillian Smith, who broke the course record by 13 seconds with her 17:19.
“I’m back,” Jackucewicz proclaimed one week after a disappointing second at the Monmouth County Championships. “This was a solid race and it gives me an extra shot of confidence.”
At the county championships run at Holmdel Park, the first mile was run in 6:10 and Jackucewicz noted that it felt harder than it should have. Against Smith and running on the flatter OCP course, the first mile was 5:27, yet it didn’t have the same impact on the Cougar.
“I felt good at the mile and started moving with her [Smith],” she said.
Smith and Jackucewicz, running side by side, broke the race open by the halfway point.
Smith, looking to set the OCP course record (17:32 co-held by Colts Neck’s Ashley Higginson and Jackson Memorial’s Jen Clausen), pulled away from Jackucewicz in the final 2,000 meters. But Jackucewicz held on to post her fastest time in two years, 17:44, announcing she is indeed back.
The race, Jackucewicz pointed out, taught her that she could handle a fast early pace.
Behind Jackucewicz, teammate Eva Wimberley was turning in a sensational debut. Running in her first race in more than a year, the sophomore turned in an 18:49.17 and finished 17th overall.
Rachel Morris was 23rd (19:04) as the Cougars finished fourth (174). Casey Corley (19:54) and Alyssa Morgan (20:06) were the fourth and fifth scorers in 58th and 74th. The Cougars’ team average was 19:07.40.
The arrival of Wimberley gives Colts Neck a good shot at defending its Central Jersey crown on Saturday.
Howell, which will be one of the teams chasing Colts Neck at the sectional, was sixth (233). Jacquie Ward was the first Rebel across the line in 43rd (19:31). Alyssa Pinney (19:38), Jamie Hand (19:41), Laura Kochenash (19:42) and Tara Nealon (19:51) were within 13 seconds of one another. In team scoring, the Rebels were 39- 45-47-48-54.
MacKenzie Roche of Freehold Borough was one of the leading area finishers. She clocked 19:26 and was 40th.
Red Bank Catholic upset Ocean County champion Toms River North for the team title on the sixth runner tiebreaker after both teams scored 107 points.
The NJSIAA Central Jersey State Sectional Championship is next on the cross country schedule. Thompson Park in Jamesburg will be hosting the championships. Colts Neck’s girls are the defending champions, having beaten Howell by one point in ’07.
Andrews was second last year and will be looking to add another first to his growing list of championships in 2008.
The top 10 individual finishers and top five teams will advance to the Nov. 15 Group State Championships at Holmdel Park.