Meet Preview
By Jim Schlentz
The Six Flags Wild Safari Inv enters year nine. We changed the course in 2013 and we are changing it again due to construction for the solar panels project that will soon cover the whole parking lot at Hurricane Harbor. The day's fastest times will be the new course record holders for this course. This year's course will have more running in front of the spectators and less in the sandy Safari ground. This year's race features teams from 5 states, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. More than half the teams are from out-of-state, as in the previous years, so everyone gets to race against teams they would normally not see. Remember, the fastest 7 boys and girls (The All-Six Flags Team) and the fastest boys and girls team get special awards in the park and then get a pass to cut the line at the ride of their choice. There will be no awards ceremony (no one wanted to leave the ride line they were in), instead, teams and individuals can pick up these special awards by the fountain when you enter, between 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm.
Both the boys and girls races have outstanding individuals. Many will compete in different races so we will see who gets pushed enough to run the top time of the day. On the boy's side, we have 3 returnees from last year's All-Six Flags team. Sebastien Reed (Pitman, NJ) was 3rd fastest, Ben Leicht (North Salem, NY) 6th fastest and Colin Flood (Manasquan, NJ) was 7th fastest. Reed ran 9:39 (3200), Leicht 4:22 (1600) and Flood 4:23 (1600) last spring. The fight to make the All-Six Flags team will most likely come from the following: Bendictus Bago (Snyder, NJ) 9:24 (3200), Ryan Guerci (Nanuet, NY) 9:25 (3200), Pedro Bravo (Iona Prep, NY) 9:37 (3200), Bobby Oehrlein (Indian Hills, NJ) and Yarayah Hawkins (Highland, NJ) 4:24 (1600). As you look at the favorites in each division, you can see there are many more contenders.
The fight for the fastest boys team average should be wide open this year. Last year's winner, Kellenberg, NY is back to defend it's title.
The girls meet returns 5 of the All-Six Flags team from last year's meet. Corrine Barney (Indian Hills, NJ) was 2nd fastest and ran 11:04 last spring, Madeline Barney (Indian Hills, NJ) was 3rd fastest and ran 11:18 (3200), Jade Tricomy (Toms River South, NJ) was 5th fastest and ran 5:08 (1600), Mackenzie Hughes (Holy Angels, NJ) was 7th fastest, 11:18 (3200) and Sarah Flynn (Ursuline, NY) had the 7th fastest time and ran 4:27/10:05 for (1500/3000). Tricomy, Hughes and Flynn will all be in Varsity B. Others to watch for the All-Six Flags team (fastest 7 of the day): Abby Loveys (Randolph, NJ) 4:46/10:39 (1600/3200), Emily Levonas (Holmdel, NJ) 10:46 (3200), Sierra Dinneen (Notre Dame, NY) 4:40/10:22 (1500/3200), Mary Borski (Pearl River, NY) 10:32/4:39 (3000/1500), Mary Hennelly (Suffern, NY) 4:42 (1500), Sarah Flynn (Ursuline, NY) 10:15 (3000), Kirsi Rajagopal (Harrison, NY) 10:25 (3000), Cassandra Daniele (Matawan, NJ) 11:12 (3200), Kate Sherman (Mohonasen, NY) 10:37 (3000), and Olivia Mandella (Holy Angels, NJ) 11:20 (3200), to name a few. There are so many good girls this year.
(add 20 secs to 1500 to make 1600 time and 42-45 secs to 3000 to make 3200)
For the girls, we have some great teams. Colts Neck, NJ (#2 NJ), Pearl River, NY, the course record holder (#1 Class B), Holmdel, NJ (#6 NJ), Suffern, NY and many more.
We used NJ.com Star Ledger NJ rankings, NY.Milesplit.com rankings and PA milesplit.
Let's look at each race and see who the top individual and teams are. The times next to the runners are either their best 2018 spring time or their personal best.
Varsity A
Boys: This one is wide open. Declan Harkness (Phillipsburg, NJ) 9:49.96 (3200), Daniel Shepard (North Rockland, NY) 9:50.99 (3200), Andrew Paules (West Islip, NY) 9:52.43 (3200), James Keaney (Randolph, NJ) 9:52.47 (3200), Rishi Sharma (Manalapan, NJ) 4:27.49/9:59.29 (1600/3200), Patrick Smyth (Farmingdale, NY) 10:03.84 (3200), Amaresh Chittigidde (Edison, NJ) 4:29.93 (1600).
Teams: North Rockland, NY (#25 Class A); Manalapan, NJ
Girls: Abby Loveys (Randolph, NJ) 4:46.03/10:39.57 (1600/3200), Mary Hennelly (Suffern, NY) 4:42.98/10:32.94 (1500/3000), Meagan Mahon (Toms River North, NJ) 11:29.21 (3200), Alondra Cruz-Delgado (Newburgh Free, NY) 10:48.23 3000, Jaime Diedel (North Penn, PA) 11:35.21 (3200), Cynthia Boryeskne (Edison, NJ) 5:06.88 (1600), Meredith Fimley (Randolph, NJ) 5:14.64 (1600), Brooke Hirsch (Suffern, NY) 10:59.27 (3000).
Teams: Suffern, NY (#19 Class A), St John Baptist, NY (#23 Class A)
Varsity B
Boys: Pedro Bravo (Iona Prep, NY) 9:31.29 (3200), Yarayah Hawkins (Highland, NJ) 4:24.31, Jeremiah Clark (Highland, NJ) 9:54.86 (3200), Chris Corsaro (Highland, NJ) 10:03.02 (3200), Kyle Roeder (Colts Neck, NJ) 10:07.12, Steven Payne (Woodbridge, NJ) 4:32.97 (1600).
Teams: Highland, NJ; Colts Neck, NJ
Girls: Lily Flynn (Ursuline, NY) 4:27.80/10:05.80 (1500/3000), Sarah Flynn (Ursuline, NY) 10:15.59 (3000), Mackenzie Hughes (Holy Angels, NJ) 11:18.40 (3200), Olivia Mandella (Holy Angels, NJ) 11:20.84 (3200), Jade Tricomy (Toms River South, NJ) 5:08.91/11:32.44 (1600/3200), Delia Russo (Colts Neck, NJ) 11:25.47 (3200), Natalie Shapiro (Colts Neck, NJ) 11:24.38 (3200), Lauren Revaitis (Toms River South, NJ) 11:32.71/5:09.47 (3200/1600), Eva Gibson (Colts Neck, NJ) 5:09.62 (1600), Catie Anderson (Colts Neck, NJ) 11:38.25 (3200), Haley McLean (Ursuline, NY) 10:55.51 (3000).
Teams: Colts Neck, NJ (#2 NJ); Ursuline, NY; Holy Angels, NJ
Varsity C
Boys: Benedictus Bago (Snyder, NJ) 9:24.33/4:21.23 (3200/1600), Bobby Oehrlein (Indian Hills, NJ) 9:37.51 (3200), George Bednar (Regis, NY) 4:26.69 (1600), Jason Kelly (Indian Hills, NJ) 4:26.98 (1600), Robert Hymans (Ramapo, NJ) 9:50.95 (3200), James Molz (Regis, NY) 9:56.32 (3200), Joey Cummings (West Milford, NJ) 4:28.43 (1600), Arun Movva (Holmdel, NJ) 10:01.73 (3200).
Teams: Regis, NY (#13 Class B); Indian Hills, NJ
Girls: Emily Levonas (Holmdel, NJ) 10:46.99 (3200), Sierra Dinneen (Notre Dame, NY) 4:40.42/10:22.88 (1500/3200), Corrine Barney (Indian Hills, NJ) 11:04.44 (3200), Kirsi Rajagopal (Harrison, NY) 10:25.39 (3000), Cassandra Daniele (Matawan, NJ) 11:12.10 (3200), Madeline Barney (Indian Hills, NJ) 11:18.51 (3200), Alexa Blasiak (Holmdel, NJ) 11:26.56 (3200), Giavanna Comerford (Notre Dame, NY) 10:33.01 (3000), Lindsey Field (Notre Dame, NY) 10:46.93 (3000), Scarlett Jekic (Indian Hills, NJ) 11:40.10 (3200).
Teams: Holmdel, NJ (#6 NJ); Notre Dame Academy, NY (#11 Class B); Indian Hills, NJ
Varsity D
Boys: Ryan Guerci (Nanuet, NY) 9:25.29 (3200), David Perry (Ramsey, NJ) 9:46.40 (3200), Colin Flood (Manasquan, NJ) 4:23.88/9:49.87 (1600/3200), Omar Montalvo (Newton, NJ) 9:51.46 (3200), Jesse Campoverde (Lakeland, NJ) 10:02.12 (3200), Danny Peterson (Nanuet, NY) 10:05.40 (3200).
Teams: Brewster, NY (#12 Class B)
Girls: Mary Borski (Pearl River, NY) 10:32.35/4:39.95 (3000/1500), Kate Sherman (Mohonasen, NY) 10:37.26 (3000), Merry Gaylord (Averill Park, NY) 4:48.69 (1500), Loren Cuomo (Mohonasen, NY) 10:49.55 (3000), Emma Kline (Kinnelon, NJ) 11:43.08 (3200), Ciara Durcan (Pearl River, NY) 11:10.81 (3000), Ulna Boylan (Pearl River, NY) 11:11.66 (3000), Sarah Geormaneanu (Park Ridge/Emerson, NJ) 5:16.56 (1600), Ali Shulte (Kittatinny, NJ) 12:00.87 (3200).
Teams: Pearl River, NY (#1 Class B), Mohonasen, NY (#7 Class B); Brewster, NY (#12 Class B)
Varsity E
Boys: Sebastien Reed (Pitman, NJ) 9:39.44 (3200), Ben Leicht (North Salem, NY) 4:22.45 (1600),Gabriel Cannavo (Poly Prep, NY) 9:43.11 (3200), Anthony Razze (Pitman, NJ) 9:47.76 (3200), Peter Cembalest (Packer Collegiate, NY) 9:58.33 (3200), Daniel Berhan (Cathedral Prep, NY) 10:05.08 (3200), Connor Wilchusky (Phoenixville, PA) 10:07.97 (3200).
Teams: Packer Collegiate, NY (#1 Class C)
Girls: Katie Oneillo (Mt St Dominic, NJ) 11:33.70 (3200), Jenna Denaver (Poly Prep, NY) 10:45.27 (3000), Ava Jolley (North Salem, NY) 210:51.31 (3000), Shania Smith (Poly Prep, NY) 10:56.87 (3000), Madeline Kuennen (DMI, DE) 5:24.71 (1600), Olivia Romano (So Hunterdon, NJ) 5:26.98 (1600).
Teams: North Salem, NY (#16 Class C)