Abby Loveys threw down one of the greatest performances on one of the most historic courses in the country at Saturday's 46th Manhattan Invitational at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.
Loveys, a senior at Randolph, shattered the New Jersey record and moved all the way up to No. 7 on Vanny's all-time list when she ran 14:03.0 over the 2.5-mile layout to win the prestigious Eastern States Championship race.
The 14:03 by Loveys took down the N.J. record for Van Cortlandt of 14:10.4 that was set in 2015 by Briana Gess of Haddonfield.
Loveys, who placed 10th at the Foot Locker Nationals last year and won the NJ Meet of Champions 1,600 last spring, finished 12 seconds ahead of runner-up Brooke Rauber of Tully.
This race featured a showdown between New Jersey's top two runners so far this season, Loveys and Alexa Westley of Warren Hills.
Westley, a two-time outdoor M of C 3,200 winner who is coming off an 18:05 victory at the Shore Coaches Invitational, finished third in 14:23.4. Westley's time moves her up to No. 10 on New Jersey's all-time list at Van Cortlandt.
Jerika Lufrano of Union Catholic, the state Non-Public A XC runner-up last year, finished 22dn in 15:23.3, and NJ #5 Kingsway placed eighth in the 13-team field with 237 points.
Here is a look at Van Cortlandt's updated New Jersey Top 10 girls list.
Abby Loveys, Randolph, 14:03.0, 2018
Briana Gess, Haddonfield, 14:10.4, 2015
Karen Ahearn, Bernards, 14:12.8, 1985
Lanie Thompson, Voorhees, 14:12.8, 2008
Janet Smith, J.P. Stevens, 14:13.1, 1983
Ashley Higginson, Colts Neck, 14:16.0, 2006
Lanie Thompson, Voorhees, 14:17.5, 2007
Jodie Bilotta, North Hunterdon, 14.20.7, 1986
Meg Waldron, Bernards, 14:23.2, 1982
Alexa Westley, Warren Hills, 14:23.4, 2018