By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
The Princeton High boys cross country team faced its first test of the season against elite competition and the Little Tigers passed with flying colors.
Princeton finished second in the Eastern States race at the Manhattan Invitational, which was held at Van Cortland Park, just 11 points behind race winner Christian Brothers Academy. Senior Alex Roth was the top finisher for Princeton, covering the 4k course in 12:46.8. Will Hare was the second Princeton finisher, 18th overall in 12:56. Sophomore Acascio Pinhiero, running in his first invitational meet for the Little Tigers this season, finished 27th in 13:08.
The Princeton top five was rounded out by Cy Watsky in 67th place and Nick Delaney in 87th.
“They did a nice job,” Princeton coach Jim Smirk said. “CBA and Fayetteville-Manilus are great, storied teams with great histories. It was great to have our guys go and compete in that sort of an environment.”
Princeton has all the ingredients to have a very successful season. With Roth, Hare and Pinhiero they have as strong a lineup at the top as anyone. And as the rest of the team closes the gap with the top three, the prospects for success get even better.
“We are certainly looking for our 4-7 runners to get healthy and strong,” Smirk said. “I think they realize we can not only use our depth to our advantage, but they in their own right are very good runners.”
The Little Tigers will run in the Mercer County Championships later this month and that will lead into the sectional meet and hopefully more to follow. The strong effort at the Manhattan Invitational did plenty for the team’s confidence.
“We never ran that course before,” said Hare, a junior. “We walked through the first mile and the last 600 meters before the race. But we didn’t get a great look at what the biggest problems would be and that was the back mile. It was a little bit of a surprise when we got back there. Every time you would see a hole you would get to the top and another one was waiting.
“We went there and didn’t have much of a race plan. We just wanted to go out and try to stay relaxed. Alex did a good job and Acascio and whole squad ran well. It was good to run in that environment with so many people.”
Hare has helped the Little Tigers become a top program. Now a junior, he has become a leader in races and in training.
“I just have to do what the coaches say and if they tell you to do something they know what they are talking about,” Hare said. “You can’t cut 10 seconds off your time by one good workout. It is a process. You have to stay strong and try and do the little things. Training with Alex over the summer we focused on the little things like stretching after runs and working with the medicine balls.
“Last year was one of those thing coming into the season we didn’t know as a team what we would look like. When we got seven people who all bought in and subscribed to same the philosophy, we were able to go and take some risks. That has only improved this year.”
Roth and Hare have solidly been No. 1 and No. 2 for the Little Tigers. Pinhiero, a transfer from the Wilberforce School, has settled in as the No. 3 runner. “Alex has been running great all season,” Smirk said. “We have explored some new strategies. He has always been a real workhorse in the middle of the race and he is still true to that. He’s challenged himself in other ways. He and Will are a great duo. They definitely thrive off each other and feed off each other. They train well together. I more than anything they keep each other honest.”
For a runner like Hare, having Roth as a training partner and mentor has meant a lot.
“Alex is really, really good,” Hare said. “He knows he has to go out and set the tone. We have done a better job this year where we have people like Acascio and myself who can help him out a little and not make it all about what he can do.
“He is a really good person to train with. He never takes a day to skip out on a run. He’s very focused on what he does and isn’t going to let anything slip by him.”
With the momentum of their strong effort at Manhattan behind them, the Little Tigers are now primed for the rest of the season.
“We have the division meet next Tuesday and then counties and then we start sectionals and groups and Meet of Champs,” Hare said. “The biggest difference this year to last is we have all been running more volume and miles. It’s helped us stay healthy and fresh through all the races and dual meets and invitationals. I think everyone is feeling better going into the championship races.”
The Princeton girls ran in the Fall Classic at Thompson Park in Jamesburg last weekend. The Little Tigers finished fourth in their race as Annefleur Hartmanshenn finished 18th, Anne Walker was 22nd and Izzy Trenholm was 24th to lead the Little Tigers.
“We rested Chloe (Taylor) and rotated some people in,” Smirk said. “Our goal there was to get experience on the course to get ready for the county meet. So we accomplished that goal.”
