Any discussion of the 2006 NJ Boys Cross Country season will have to include two topics;
1.Is the Holmdel Park course record of 15:16 safe for another year?
2.Is this really a down year for teams?
The answer to both questions may very well be… Maybe.
Individuals
The Prohibitive Favorite:
Craig Forys (Colts Neck)
Craig Forys is one of the most talented distance runners that NJ has ever seen. As the defending champ he is the obvious "chalk" for a repeat this year. His win last year and his track exploits both indoors and out have shown a range that has people asking themselves if this is indeed the year that The Record, held by Jason DiJoseph (1988) is broken? Forys certainly has the credentials to do it. If he can remain healthy, and racing conditions are right, 15:12 is not outside the realm of possibility. Look for Craig to also figure in the Foot Locker Championship picture as well.
After Forys the contenders for the rest of the top runners close ranks and will make for a very interesting 9 weeks.
The Next 5:
Kyle Soloff ( Morris Hills) – Soloff returns from one of the great teams in recent memory. He comes back with a 16:03 at Holmdel to his credit and multiple sub 4:20 1600m efforts on the track. His experience in big races, as well as his excellent track times during the '06 Outdoor season, makes him a solid pick as runner up
Matt Ciambriello (Old Bridge) – Despite spotty track performances, Ciambriello may be one of those kids who is a superior XC runner. He gave Jeff Perrella all he could handle in the Group 4 race and has the 2nd fastest (15:58) time of returnees.
Kris Carle (Jackson Memorial) – Carle leads a team that may be in the hunt for the team title at MOC. This could be a positive for him as the team leader. His 16:05 best at Holmdel LY and solid 3200m times outdoors establish his credentials as a contender for top 5 honors.
Doug Smith (Gill-St. Bernards) – Smith, a wunderkind on the track last year, will be running Cross Country for the first time this year, having played Soccer last year. He will also be under the tutelage of Ryan Grote as he has transferred from Roxbury (Gr4) to Gill-St. Bernards (NP-B). Still, his outstanding 9:14.61 performance at MOC and consistency at both 1600m and 3200m mark him as one to watch.
Tony Salvatore (Wayne Valley) – Ignored by many preseason prognosticators, this kid can run. His breakout 4:15 1600m was backed up by a 9:43 3200m at the same meet. His consistent improvement on the track bodes well for a nice drop in his Holmdel time. Plus, Paul Schwartz believes.
Others to Watch (In no particular order)
Mike Burke (Haddonfield)
Brian Guterl (Union Catholic)
Chris Scavone (Pingry)
Alex Brenner (Ridge)
Andrew Brodeur (Brick)
Tomorrow : The Team Watch