As the runners navigated around a tough Holmdel Cross Country Course the word most frequently used in describing the race was hot.
The race starts in an open field, and in the morning it was slippery with the early morning dew. The runners then tackle a steep hill, and because of all the recent rain it was littered with long ditches where the rain had run. The first mile mark was where the runners enter the bowl, where it was as sandy as the beach at Darlington Park. Coming out of the bowl, Heartbreak Hill earned its name. Dirt has been added to the hill for better footing, but it is as steep as ever. The final part of the course would be easy to run if not for the fact that the course had already beaten up most of the runners. Add to this hot and humid weather and you have NJIAA Groups 2006.
After their races the runners, their parents and friends all talked about the races. Here is some of the chatter afterwards.
* Danielle Tauro was standing by the Southern High School tent in a press conference atmosphere after winning the Group 4 Girls race. "This race for me was to win in the best time possible and of course get as least points as possible for Southern," she said.
* Donna Tauro (Danielle's mother) and Jack Crespy (her grandfather), were standing behind Danielle: "I am so proud of her that she brought herself to this level, look at her (as reporters surround her) she loves to be on stage," said Mrs. Tauro.
* Mike Soroko on the turning point in the Group 1 Boys race, which he ultimately won: "Coming out of the bowl I had the lead, but Paul Kuehnle (Saddle Brook) passed me. I knew that after the tennis courts was a big downhill and I could open up a lead there. So I just gave it everything I had to pass Paul, then I opened up the lead."
*Christina Valerio from West Milford, 11th in Group 3, explaining what she thought was a bad time. "I don't know what happened, it was so hot, and the bowl it was like running on a beach." She finished in 19:46.
* Alexis Weiner from Caldwell, 7th in Group 2; "I tell you, this race started out slowly. I wanted to do even splits; this is a course, like Lewis Morris, where you have to find your own pace. I didn't do as well as I would have liked, but I am happy that I'm coming back next week. I want to go out with my best race."
*Casey Weiss, junior at West Milford who ran 17:40; "I'm disappointed, it was pretty hard in the bowl."
* Brian Michaelson, freshman at West Milford who ran 18:39; "This was great, I can't wait to get back here next year!"
* Ashley Cromartie, junior at Roxbury finished 8th in Group 4 Girls. "I always keep Lauren (Penny) in my sight. I feed off of her. I try to keep up with her. So when she stumbled I yelled for her to get up. I found the end of the race very difficult without Lauren to work with. We always work off each other, and hopefully we will next week."
Roxbury did get a return crack at Holmdel with a wild card invitation. Cromartie, just a junior is already looking at colleges with a pre-med major in sight.
* Andy Patton Montclair-Kimberly, 8th in Non-Public B: "The gun went off and I had the worst stomach ache. I've had stomach flu all week. As soon as the gun went off I just bent over in pain. I had to catch up to everyone else."
* Emily Naranjo of Montclair-Kimberly, 3rd in Non-Public B: "It was so hot out there. The two girls in front (Elizabeth Campbell from Mount St. Mary and Marie Walsh from Mater Dei) were going out just too quickly. I decided to drop back at Heartbreak. I am really excited about giving it my best effort next week."
At the Meet of Champions on November 18th all of New Jersey will be celebrating Danielle Tauro, Ashley Higginson, Craig Forys, and Matt Ciambriello as the best State runners. Those in attendance at the Group Championships saw runners crawl across the finish line, and almost pass out from exhaustion on Heartbreak Hill. Those in attendance not only got to see the fastest, but they got to see the most courageous. It's amazing seeing Danielle Tauro run. Its amazing seeing Kristen Schwarz from Indian Hills running to the finish line at 29:23, never giving up.