I'm still in complete awe over all the stunning performances we saw at the State Group Championships on Saturday at Holmdel Park as the best teams and runners in New Jersey chased state titles and Meet of Champions berths on an unforgettable day of racing.
There just isn't anything like the energy and the buzz that fills the air at Holmdel over the course of six hours on a crisp fall day in November with huge crowds lining the course and erupting in euphoria during the 12 state championship races.
In the team competition, there were remarkable sweeps by Haddonfield in Group 2 and Metuchen in Group 1, five teams repeated as champs, and there was of course the ridiculous course record average of 15:51.8 and perfect score throw down by CBA, Westfield's 16:01 average, and the Union Catholic girls running a meet record-tying 19:04.8, No. 4 all-time at Holmdel.
We felt that the 12 team champions deserved another big shoutout for finishing on top, so let's take a quick rewind and look at the dozen champions that were crowned. Photos of all 12 are below.
Hail to the victors!
Congrats again to all the champs!!!!
GROUP 4
BOYS
Westfield (First title since 2011/Group 4 record16th overall)
GIRLS
Freehold Township (2nd straight/2nd overall)
GROUP 3
BOYS
Mendham (1st title since 2019/5th overall)
Middletown South (1st since 2019/fourth overall)
GROUP 2
BOYS
Haddonfield (6th straight/21st overall)
GIRLS
Haddonfield (3rd straight/12th overall)
GROUP 1
BOYS
Metuchen (1st since 2016/6th overall)
GIRLS
Metuchen (1st since 2018/6th overall)
NON-PUBLIC A
BOYS
Christian Brothers Academy (2nd straight/state record 32nd overall)
GIRLS
Union Catholic (3rd straight/5th overall)
NON-PUBLIC B
BOYS
Bishop Eustace (1st since 2016/7th overall)
GIRLS
Villa Walsh (1st since 2019/6th overall)
I'm still in complete awe over all the stunning performances we saw at the State Group Championships on Saturday at Holmdel Park as the best teams and runners in New Jersey chased state titles and Meet of Champions berths on an unforgettable day of racing.
There just isn't anything like the energy and the buzz that fills the air at Holmdel over the course of six hours on a crisp fall day in November with huge crowds lining the course and erupting in euphoria during the 12 state championship races.
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