In the latest round of Red Bank Catholic-Monsignor Donovan girls cross country rivalry, the Toms River school came out on top.
A week after finishing second to RBC at the New Jersey Catholic Track Conference Championships, Monsignor Donovan regained the upper hand in the rivalry by capturing the NJSIAA Non-Public A state title Saturday at Holmdel Park.
The Griffins won a three-team chase among the elite with 61 points followed by RBC (71) and Immaculate Heart (73).
Immaculate Heart was ranked No. 8 in the Northeast Region Nike Team National rankings while Mon Don and RBC, teams that had previously been ranked, were bubble teams.
The Caseys, who were looking to add to their record 14 State Group championships, were led by freshman Molly Mc- Namara, who finished third (19:36) in her fastest time at Holmdel Park. Michelle Capozzi was RBC’s second scorer and she finished ninth (20:05).
Emily Rooney was 14th for RBC (20:15) followed by Janine Louie (20:26) and Michelle Savarese (20:34) in 20th and 25th place.
A five-six finish by Briana Crowe (19:46) and Molly Kempton (19:54) and a 10th place from Devin Slovik (20:07) paved the way for Monsignor Donovan’s victory.
RBC and Monsignor Donovan will resume the rivalry tomorrow at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions.
Saturday’s Group Championships were about more than the winners. With a trip to the Meet of Champions on the line, any individual who finished in the top 10 guaranteed themselves a slot in the field as well as the top three teams.
Rumson-Fair Haven’s Hannah Satzke earned her place on the starting line by finishing sixth in the Group II race. The junior lowered her Holmdel Park time to 19:52.
In the Group II boys meet, Red Bank Regional’s Matt Metlitz also qualified for the MOC. The sophomore was eighth (16:43).
In a race that pitted two of the state’s MOC contenders, Non-Public A, Don Bosco beat Christian Brothers Academy, 55-71, preventing the Colts from collecting a 23rd State Group championship.
CBA had its fifth runner in before Don Bosco’s. However, the Ironmen, ranked No. 1 in the state, forged this victory up front getting its first two runners in ahead of CBA’s No. 1 and their third runner ahead of CBA’s second.
Vin Ferrer led the Colts in ninth place (16:44). Kyle Havard was 11th (16:52). The Colts pack followed with Rich Grandelli (17:01), Brendon Pierson (17:02) and Ben Horel (17:02) finishing in 16th-18th.
The Colts will not be the favorites on Saturday, however, they can never be counted out. They’ve been known to come up with some magic the third Saturday in November.
For teams like RBC’s girls and CBA, the MOC will not be the end of the road. The Nike Team Nationals Northeast Regional will be held on Nov. 24 at Bowdoin Park in Wappinger Falls, N.Y. This is the qualifying race for the NTN, which is Dec. 1 in Portland, Oregon. The top two teams from the regional automatically qualify for the NTN. CBA has been to the NTN twice.