Season Openers | Where the Top Ten Teams Start Their Fall Races


Video of the 2015 Meet of Champions where Ridge won the state title, they are ranked preseason #1 this year. 

Season Openers...Where's Everyone Going? (The Top Ten at least)

Labor Day has come and gone, marking the unofficial end of Summer. It means that the days will be getting shorter (ugh), that school will start (double ugh for the kids) and racing for the 2016 XC Season is less than a week away (YAY!!). Teams throughout the Garden State have been going hard, some since early July, preparing for this weekend and beyond.  It's true that the State Champions won't be crowned this weekend, but we'll get to see real racing for the first time this season and start feeding the discussion frenzy by supporters for each program.

The Fall '16 will campaign will kick off with meets throughout the state as well as opportunities for road trips for a few Jersers. Let's take a look as who among the Top squads will be where

Girls

#1 Ridge -  Will open their title defense on Friday 9/9 @ The Randolph Invitational (Freedom Park)

#2 Kingsway -  The Dragons will wait until 9/17 to open their year @ the SJ Shoot Out (Gloucester CC)

#3 Mendham - The Roxbury Invitational (Horseshoe Lake Pk.) will be the first meet of the season for the MinuteWomen.

#4 North Hunterdon - Greystone Park will host the Lady Lions on 9/17 @ The Bernie Magee Class Meet.

#5 Seneca - A trip to Ocean County Park and The Battle of OCP will mark the seasonal debut for the Green and Gold.

#6 Shawnee - The Renegades of Shawnee make the short trip over to Marlton and The Cherokee Challenge (Cherokee HS) to open the 2016 season.

 #7 Ridgewood - The Maroon will also stay fairly local as they race for the first time of the year @ The Season Opener Invitational (Darlington Pk.).

#8 West Windsor - Plainsboro So. - The Cherokee Challenge (Cherokee HS) will mark the start of the 2016 campaign for the Lady Pirates.

#9 Haddonfield Memorial - The 'Dawgs will also travel to Marlton and the Cherokee Challenge on 9/10 to start the year

#10 Voorhees - The Randolph Invitational (Freedom Park) will serve as the starting point of the path to the 2016 MOC for the Viking ladies. 

Boys

#1 Christian Brothers Academy - The Colts have attended the Battle @ Ocean County Park (OCP, Lakewood) as their opener for the past few years. They will be there again on 9/16, but do not expect their 1st unit.

#2 Indian Hills - Indian Hills was one of the hottest teams in NJ during last season. The Braves will try to reignite the fire for 2016 at The Season Opener Invitational (Darlington Park) on 9/10.

#3 Princeton - According to the school website, the Little Tigers will not open their XC season until 9/24 at the Bowdoin XC Classic (Bowdoin Park, NY).

#4 Cherokee - The Chiefs will not have far to travel as they will kick off the campaign on 9/10 at The Cherokee Challenge on their home course in Marlton.

#5 Don Bosco Prep - Last year's MOC runners up will make the trip across the Hudson to race the Regis Invitational at fabled VCP.

#6 Colts Neck - On 9/17, the Cougars will make the trip to the Greystone course to race in the Bernie Magee Class Meet.

#7 Westfield -  Horseshoe Lake Park (Roxbury Twp.) will be the site of the Blue Devils opener as Chris Tafelski's crew tackles the Roxbury Invitational

#8 Voorhees - The 2016 season opens for the Voorhees Vikings on 9/10 in Marlton at the Cherokee Challenge

#10 Ridgewood - Darlington Park will be the scene for the Ridgewood Maroons opening race at The Season Opener Invitational