Under the bright lights and intensity of one of the nation's premier cross-country races, the Union Catholic girls, in their first big test of the season, delivered a performance on Saturday night that sends a strong message to the rest of the country.
With elite competition on a fast course and with an electric atmosphere at the prestigious 44th Woodbridge Classic at Great Park in Irvine, California, the Vikings ranked No. 3 in the nation and No. 1 in NJ, proved they were ready for the moment, going toe-to-toe with powerhouse programs from across the country and finishing second with 200 points, just 7 behind 20th ranked JSerra Catholic of San HJuan Capistrano, Califormia (193), and well ahead of No. 2 ranked Buchanan of Clovis, California, third with 309.
Sheppard Blazes the Trail
Junior star Paige Sheppard, the defending NJ Meet of Champions winner, led the charge, racing to an impressive 5th-place finish in 15:59.4. Sheppard's strong finish helped give Union Catholic a critical low stick in the team standings. She was followed by junior Cayleigh Kaiser, who clocked a 16:33.6 for 14th place, showcasing excellent poise in a stacked field.
The Pack Holds Strong
What truly defined Union Catholic's performance was their depth and consistency. Their next three scorers - all finishing within 17 seconds of one another - helped secure the team's second-place finish:
- Freshman Harper Telesca - 45th in 17:02.2
- Senior Ella Solorzano - 65th in 17:16.2
- Freshman Eden Solorzano - 71st in 17:19.2
Two more athletes, senior Emmy O'Hearn (123rd, 17:47.7) and junior Kayla Devine (223rd, 18:50.7), served as displacers, adding crucial depth and insurance for the team.
UC, with just two seniors in its lineup, showed that the Vikings can run with any team in the country and that they are a legit contender to win the Nike National Championships in December.
