The Union Catholic boys wanted to throw down a performance that solidified its status as the No. 1 ranked team in the state when they competed at the Union County Conference Championships on Thursday at Oak Ridge Park in Clark.
The Vikings did exactly that by putting together the fastest race in course history and the fastest race ever by a Union County team when they averaged 15:49 and defeated No. 7 Westfield, and No. 10 Summit to win the Watchung Division title.
UC, which broke the CR average of 16:02 that Ridge ran at the NJ. Section 2 Group 4 race last November, went 1-2-3-5-9 on the way to a 20-41 victory over a very strong Westfield team. Summit was third with 59.
Senior Shane Brosnan led the record-breaking run for Union Catholic, crossing the line first in 15:16, No. 2 in course history. Sophomore Jimmy Wischusen was second in 15:26, senior Myles Plummer placed third in 15:42, junior Caudell Cajuste was fifth in 16:07, and junior Ryan Cichocki was ninth in 16:35.
The times by Brosnan and Wischuen's are the two fastest times ever clocked by Union County runners on any course!!!
Next on UC's hit list are the course records at Warinanco Park (16:22 team average by Westfield in 2013, and the individual record of 15:42 set in 1998 by Tim Styler of Cranford. UC and Brosnan have a great chance of breaking those records when they compete at the Union County Championships on Oct. 26.
MORE HIGHLIGHTS
In the girls Watchung Division race, senior Lara Cota of Summit, who set the course record last month with an 18:23, used a huge surge over the final mile to complete a very impressive comeback victory in 18:35, and No. 11 Union Catholic edged No. 10 Kent Place, 47-50. Kent Place ran without Lindsay Hausman, one of the top runners in the state. Hausman, who was in a walking boot at the meet, said she had a stress reaction in her right foot and she plans to race at the Union County Championships on Oct. 26 at Warinanco Park in Elizabeth.
UC went 3-8-10-12-14 and averaged 20:07, and Kent Place went 2-6-11-15-16 and averaged 20:05. The rematch at the county meet should be another great battle between these two.
Senior Lily Murphy continued her amazing rookie season on the trails with a PR of 18:42 to spark Oak Knoll to its second straight Mountain Division championship. Oak Knoll put four runners in the top eight en route to a 46-52 victory over New Providence.
Junior Micah Lawson led a 1-2-3-10-11 finish for the Rahway boys with a winning time and PR of 16:31 to lead the Indians to its second straight Mountain Division championship. Rahway averaged 17:11.
Colin Riley, a junior at Dayton, ran away with the boys Valley Division race for the second straight yea in 16:42 to spark the Bulldogs to their fourth straight championships. Dayton put all seven of its runners ahead of every teams No. 3 runner on the way to a 21-63 victory over Linden.
Sophomore Cassidy Kidd won her second straight title with a big PR of 19:24 (it was the first time under 20 minutes for Kidd), to lead the Union girls to the Valley Division title. The Farmers went 1-3-5-10-12 to edge Rahway, 31-37.