Full Results | Photo Albums | Race Videos and Interviews
As usual the Lou Molino Bergen Meet of Champions brought thrills and all-time implication racing. Monica Hebner set a course record as NJ#10 Northern Highlands defended their title and Will Baginski led Ridgewood to their first BMOCs victory since 2005.
The girls race saw heavily favored Northern Highlands win their second straight Bergen MOCs title with a 39 point run and 18:52 average. Monica Hebner, their one card, broke the course record with her 17:27.91 performance. That took down past teammate Catherine Pagano's previous record time of 17:29 from the 2014 Bergen Group Championships.
After Monica Indian Hills sophomore Corinne Barney came through in second at 17:46, before Northern Highlands finished third and fourth thanks to Isabel Hebner 18:11 and Daisy Liljegren 18:35. Their top five closed shop with Quinn Carter 17th 19:50 and Courtney Dalton 24th 20:17.
Ridgewood girls scored second at 61 led by Hannah Fishbein in seventh 19:12, and Indian Hills was third with 71 points.
The boys race brought us an exciting team race finish as Ridgewood took down Northern Valley Demarest in a close one with 88 points to Demarest's 94. Ridgewood's Will Baginski won the race with a solid lead at 15:40, a major course PR for him as he looks to continue this strong season heading into states.
This was Ridgewood first Bergen MOCs team title since 2005 and their first individual winner since 2006 when Daniel Emont won with a 15:50. With Baginski only being a junior, he will be back next fall to defend his title.
Indian Hills had the only other two under 16 minutes thanks to Steven Fiumefreddo in second at 15:56 and Chris Leymeister third at 15:59. The rest of Ridgewood's scoring five went as follows: Ryan Fahey fourth 16:04, Charlie Branca 25th 16:40, Taylor Barnabic 38th 17:04, Kristoffer Nikias 61st 17:37.
Demarest's day was led by senior Josh Munoz who cross the line in eighth with his 16:20.
