Lawrence cross country
By: Jim Green
The Lawrence High School boys cross country team capped its fine season by finishing right where it probably should have Friday at the Mercer County Championships.
The Cardinals displayed the consistency that characterized their second-half resurgence, finishing 10th out of 14 teams with 303 points a strong place for a team that started its dual-meet season 0-7.
"I was really happy with the development of the team," Lawrence coach Dave O’Neal said. "It was a big progression. They really came together as a team. They helped each other at what they were doing."
Sophomore Kevin Raymond was the Cardinals’ top finisher, placing 43rd at 18:05. He was followed by senior Gicheru Mwariri, senior Brian Scott and freshman Brendan O’Brien.
"The seniors’ expectations were a little high," O’Neal said. "They still all performed solidly."
But the Cardinals suffered from losing sophomore Mike Scott, who could not finish the race because of cramping.
"Because we don’t have the depth of other teams, when one guy goes down, it has a dramatic effect on where we finish."
Coming off a strong finish to he dual-meet season, in which the Cardinals won three of their last five meets, and a solid showing at the Central Jersey Group IV meet, Lawrence’s expectations might have become too high. As it turned out, the Cardinals probably placed right where they should at the county meet.
"I think the expectations became higher," O’Neal said. "The finish isn’t where we wanted to be with the momentum going in. But we ran times and finished right where we expected to be before the season started. It’s not a disappointment."
The Cardinals now will look to keep their momentum going as they head into the indoor track season.
"I think it’s going to help the track team significantly," O’Neal said. "We feel pretty confident in the weight events and in the sprinting and jumping events, we have a lot of depth. Even with the loss Kyle Gafgen in the sprints, we have enough depth and talent. We’ll find those points somewhere else. Some of those points will come from the distance events."
O’Brien, Mike Scott and junior Michael Duke all quality contributors for the cross country team should continue improving during the winter track season. And Mwariri, who returned to the form he showed during his outstanding freshman season, also should be a huge asset.
"Our one areas of weakness is going to be improved because of this cross country season," O’Neal said. "They’re starting to have those thoughts of, ‘Maybe I can be a county medallist. Maybe I can get there.’"
The most important factor for a track team, of course, is turnout. And O’Neal and assistant coach Jeremy Chaudruc expect to have plenty of athletes on hand in the winter and the spring.
"We’re looking at good numbers," O’Neal said. "A lot of the young athletes that came out for the spring team last year are committing to the winter. The winter season looks pretty exciting."