Coverage Central for the NJSIAA Meet of Champions

Nov 23, 2014

Luke Petela took over the lead with about 100 yards to go and held on for his first Meet of Champions title! / Photo by RunningWorksPics

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Luke Petela a star standout from the Group 1 schoolo of Haddon Twp suprised the masses as he rolled though the final stretch out kicking the field to win his first ever Meet of Champions title! Running 15:40 for his personal best at Holmdel, previously 15:49 ran the weekend earlier at Groups where he placed second. Right behind him Nikhil Pulimood of West Windsor Plainsboro South running 15:42, he made a huge push to try and catch the lead position at the end as well but just fell short while running his Holmdel best. Shawn Hutchison of Bishop Eustace Prep finished third and actually had the lead coming out of the woods but a top three finish must feel great as well, he posted a personal course best of 15:43 previously 15:59.

Christian Brothers Academy may not have posted the super dominant performance we were expecting but you can't take away titles! They did what they had to do to win and ran an impressive 16:24 average for 82 points to win their 20th overall Meet of Champions title. South Brunswick went from the last wild card team to the second place finishers! They posted 113 points for a 16:26 average and only had a 55 second split. Cherry Hill East took third with 126 points and an average of 16:32. More detailed recaps to come!

Epiphany Grisbaum of Ocean City continues to lower her times this season with an 18:20 to win MOCs. / Photo by RunningWorksPics

Just like in the boys race senior Devon Grisbaum of Ocean City took the lead at the final stretch and never looked back, running a new Holmdel best of 18:20. Before groups the weekend prior where she ran 18:34 for third Grisbaum had never dipped under 19 minutes at Holmdel, what a season! We almost saw another freshmen win the Meet of Champions this year, Alyssa Aldridge a freshman at Mainland Regional had the lead just before the final stretch to the finish line! She would stop the clock at 18:22 for second place! Eve Glasergreen of North Hunterdon, my original prediction for the winner, took third with an 18:33, she had won the Group 4 state title the week before running 18:15.

On the team side Red Bank Catholic came in and found what was so close last year, a Meet of Champions state team title. In 2013 Red Bank Catholic faced a heart breaking loss to the Champion Randolph squad, this year they were unstoppable all regular season and tore through states. They posted a 19:33 average with 88 points for the win. Hillsborough didn't go down without a fight though, the girls had 95 points with a 19:24 average. Ridgewood came through for third place posted 142 points and a 19:38. More details recaps to come!

Original Photo by Aaron Laserna for MileSplit