With the return of the Randolph Invitational, cancelled last year due to weather, the 2007 New Jersey XC season kicked off on Friday evening. The Randolph meet was followed on Saturday by the new Knight Invitational in Plainsboro and the Lancer Invitational in Livingston.
Shaun Foley & Tyler Corkdale Slug it Out
in the Knight Invitational Jr. Class Race
Randolph Invitational
The Randolph event which is run through the evening and into the night, under the lights featured 3 divisions each for Boys & Girls (full results posted). The meet also included a smattering of teams from New York.
The Group 1 Boys race was won by James VanderWiele of Pequannock (17:04.96). He was followed by Kyle Vaughn of Hopatcong (17:14.93) and Rob Albano (Pequannock, 17:24.89). The Madison squad took team honors with 69 points. They were led by senior Jack Anderson with a 6th place finish (18:10.74).
The Girls Group 1 race was won by Courtney Roosa of Tri-Valley (NY) with a time of 20:54.89. The first New Jersey finisher was Mallory Anderson, a junior from Madison (3rd overall). Her time was 21:19.93. Chelsee Gummerson of Kittatinny was the next Jersey finisher (4th overall) in 21:34.13. Pearl River (NY) took the team title (42 points), followed by Madison with 59 pts.
In the Group 2 race Morris Hills jr., Sean Porhorence scored the victory (16:33.37) and led the Knight to the team championship (39 pts.). Bobby McGann of Red Bank Catholic took the runner up spot (16:41.97). His squad was also the runner up in the team battle with 53 points.
Morris Hills had the Girls individual winner as well, with freshman Jana Sedlacek (20:25.71) beating Kaitlyn Chegwidden of Walkill Valley (20:2717) and Samantha O’Brien of Rumson-Fair Haven (20:31.70). The Academy of the Holy Angels put their 5 scorers in the top ten to take the team title with 34 points. They were led by Kat Bacelice’s 6th place (21:07.03). Rumson-Fair Haven took second behind O’Brien’s 3rd place with 52 pts.
Michael Franklin was the winner of the Boys Group 3 race. The Mendham junior toured the Freedom Park course in 16:33.12, the fastest time of the night. Second place went to Sean Halpin of Iona Prep (NY) in 16:39.43, with 3rd going to Steve Berstler of West Morris (16:57.55). Bridgewater-Raritan put all 7 of their runners in the top 20 to grab the team win with 41 points to Mendham’s 2nd place score of 65. Bridgewater-Raritan was led by soph. Dominic Tasco (17:17.14).
Lauren Penny (18:31.64) and Ashley Cromartie (19:13.13) went 1-2 for Roxbury but only got silver as the Ridge team scored 5 in the top 15 to take the win 52 to 58. Finishing third behind the Roxbury duo was sophomore Laura Vigilante of Mendham (19:36.46). Dana Guglielmo led the champs with a 6th place finish (20:07.74).
On a final Randolph note, the Boys freshman race was won by RBC rookie Kevin Byrne. Byrne is the son and namesake of NJ all-timer Kevin Sr.
Lancer Invitational
The Lancer Invitational, hosted by Livingston HS, is a good early season test and always draws some top teams, creating interesting individual match ups and competitive team races (Top 20 individuals and team scores posted). This year’s edition was no different as the Boys Varsity race saw Milburn run away with the team title by taking the top 3 spots and scoring 30 points for the win. Senior Myles Udland took the individual victory with a time of 16:50. Following Udland across the line were Danny Kirschner (17:05) and Myles’ sibling Tyler Udland (17:11). Morris Knolls finished 2nd with 68 pts.
The host school took top honors in the Girls Varsity race with a score of 39 points, besting runner up Morris Knolls by 19. A 2-3 finish by Taylor Collins (19:41) and Sara Lederman (19:45) led Livingston. The real story in the girl’s race was the meet record scored by Tori Berard of Mo Knolls. Berard, (19:30) shaved 25 seconds off the record set in 2005 by Lauren Berard.
Knight Invitational2 months ago West Windsor-Plainsboro North coach, Brian Gould had an idea for a season opening class meet, but no XC course. With the support of the school’s athletic department and the grounds crew, they created a layout that is fan friendly and a great early season short course.The inaugural Knight Invitational was a success on many levels and should be an opening weekend fixture for years to come. (Full results posted / Photo Galleries posted)
The Girls Freshman race was won by Pauline Dabrowsky of Monsignor Donovan with a time 0f 12:45.0. Second place went to Katie Alverez of Toms River South (13:02.4). The bronze went to Jessica McGuire, also of Mon Don (13:31.9). The team champion was Mon Don with a 6 point win over the host team, 20 to 26. WW-P North was led by Molly Mitlak who took 5th place (13:49.5)
The Boys Frosh event saw the Rosa twins dominate and lead their yearling teammates to the class win. Joe Rosa took the win (10:23.8) over his brother Jim Rosa (10:40.4). Sean Schreiber of Steinert was 3rd in 11:10.5.
Next up were the sophomore girls and Montgomery’s Jillian Prentice ran a very convincing 11:43.4 for the win. Prentice was followed by Megen Flynn of Robbinsville (12:09.7) and Lara Shegosky, also of Montgomery (12:32.1). The 1-3 finish led Montgomery to the team win. Prentice’s time was the fastest of the day on the girl’s side.
Jonathan Squeri of WW-P North won the Boys Soph race (10:21.8), but Notre Dame had too much depth and took the crown in this one. 2nd place went to Nicholas Lachman of Robbinsville (10:32.0). Then came the Notre Dame parade with Jaime Gibilisco (10:50.3), Dylan Hankinson (10:53.7) and Nicholas Brunetto (10:54.2) to seal the deal. Montgomery HS took 2nd in this race.
As the morning got warmer, the Junior Girls toed the line and Monsignor Donovan continued to showcase their depth with a 1-2 finish. Krissa Loretto took the win in 11:55. She was followed by Devin Solvik with a time of 12:25.10. Third place went to Trish Reilly of WW-P No. Her time was 12:39.7
The Junior Boys race produced the closest finish of the day as Shaun Foley of Notre Dame came charging back from a 20 meter to nip Tyler Corkdale of WW-P No. at the line. Foley's time was 10:16.6 to Corkdales 10:16.9. Third place went to Anthony Lee of the hosts (10:34.5). North scored their second team win of the day here with the victory over Notre Dame.
The final races of the day were the Senior events, with the Girls up first. Amanda Hermann of Montgomery looked fit and comfortable in winning her race (11:58,6) over Mon Don;s Molly Kempton (12:11.10). Third place went to Brianna Crowe of Donovan in 12:28.2.
The Senior Boys saw the fastest time of the day as John LiPuma of WW-P North went through the first mile in 4:59 en route to a 10:03.0 win. Teammate Steve Au-Yeung took silver with a time of 10:25.2, with Karan Sarna of North Brunswick 3rd in 10:26.6. WW-P No. took their 3rd race of the day here and secured the overall Boys team title. With 3 wins of their own Monsignor Donovan took the Girls overall championship.