I realize that video recaps aren't for everyone, so I have also included word for word what was said in the video below.
On Saturday for the NJSIAA Meet of Champions we were met
with large crowds, beautiful racing weather, and some of the closest title
battles we've seen in a while going into the meet. Let's start with the boys.
During the race at the mile Joe Dragon of High Point
Regional led a tight pack through around 5:10. At the two mile around 10:20 a
similar pack emerged.
By the time the leaders came out of the woods and over the
crest we saw Joshua Clark kicking in just two or three seconds ahead of CBA's
Blaise Ferro and Cherry Hill East's Aaron Groff before sealing the victory at
15:33.
Clark's victory was Highland Regional's second individual
boys title in school history. The last time a Highland Regional athlete won the
title was 1998 when Nate Miller ran 15:57. Clark has had a great season and
left the meet with his undefeated seven win season intact.
Blaise Ferro ran 15:36 for second, a Holmdel PR and his
highest career finish at the meet. He
had unfortunately missed most of the season before jumping back into the title
picture winning the Non-Public A at Groups with a 15:49.
His second place finish was huge in the team scoring as CBA
entered as "underdogs" for the title after losing to Don Bosco at the Group
level. To add to this an Old Bridge squad
was running with them now that had been rolling all season long.
The Christian Brothers Academy boys stood up to the
challenge and proved any doubters wrong though winning their sixth straight
team title with 87 points to Don Bosco's 92. They averaged 16:19 thanks to a
scoring five made up of Ferro, Brian Dengler, Noah Yuro, Paul Knepple, and Brian Hill.
This was also long time coach Tom Heath's 21st title with
the team an amazing feat in itself.
Photo of Alyssa Aldridge by Mae Kellert for MileSplit
Onto the girls race, going in the previews were buzzing
between sophomore Alyssa Aldridge of Mainland Regional and 2013 Champion Briana
Gess of Haddonfield.
At the mile Aldridge and Gess were about six seconds ahead of the chase
pack, when they came back at the two mile around 12 minutes the pack had fallen
off a little with Hannah Bonaguidi of Delaware Valley holding strong four
seconds behind.
When we saw the race exit the
final turn at the woods Aldridge had a strong lead all alone into the victory
at 18:07. Olympia Martin of Ridgewood made a major move at the end and took
second at 18:25 just out leaning Briana Gess in third with 18:25. All three of
these talented athletes return next season.
The team championship was a close
one coming in as well. We had a Group 4 showdown the previous weekend and many
of those teams were about to go at it again at MOCs. Ridge showed that their NJ#1
ranking wasn't wasted however as they took the team title with 72 points over
Hillsborough's 103.
Ridge was led by Sophie Spring in
25th with a 19:22, with all the individuals competing without teams that
actually started the squad's scoring at 6 points, Claire Jones in 30th with
19:30 and 9 points followed up that great start.
The rest of the top five, Shayna
Bains, Lexy Donaldson, Catherine Giuseffi finished their team average at 19:38
and only split 33 seconds between them.
If you didn't already make sure you check the meet page forthe three photo albums, interviews, and race videos. Congratulations to the
champions and the state on another great season!
