With the Union County Cross-Country Championships celebrating its 88th anniversary on Wednesday at Warinanco Park in Elizabeth, it's time once again to turn back the cross-country clock and give you a little history lesson on of one of the oldest county meets in the state.
Down below you will see a complete list of every team and individual Union County XC champion as well as a list of the 30 members of the SUB-16 club at Warinanco for the current 3.19-mile dual meet course.
The meet starts with a combined freshmen race at 2:30 p.m. The varsity girls race is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. and the varsity boys race is set for 4:30 p.m.
This year's meet could once again be filled with historic performances as the NJ No. 1/U.S. No. 3 Union Catholic girls are a slam dunk to win their fifth straight title and have the firepower to break their own course record average.
The boys race features a clash between NJ No. 3 ranked Union Catholic and defending champion and No. 8 ranked Westfield as the two state powers renew their rivalry in what has all the makings of another tight race between state powers.
At the conference meet last week at Oak Ridge, UC won the Watchung Division title, 24-43 over Westfield.
Individually in the boys race, there are multiple runners capable of winning, Elijah McCoy and Danny Kuran of Union Catholic, Brody Toriello of Westfield and Elliott Reines of Dayton were the four fastest at the conference meet.
Toriello is the top returner from the county meet having placed 6th last year in 16:12. McCoy, who won the Watchung Division race last week, was seventh last year. Kuran was second to McCoy last week while Reines was third and Toriello placed fourth at the conference meet.
With these four guys pushing each other the whole way, they all have the potential to break 16 and could provide a dramatic finish. It's shaping up to be a race won by the runner with the biggest kick. Stay tuned.
BOYS COURSE RECORDS
Tim Styler of Cranford is one of the greatest runners in Union County history.
He ran 15:42 to win the county title in 1998, which stood as the course record for 23 years. In 2021, Union Catholic's dynamic duo of current Harvard star Shane Brosnan (15:28) and Jimmy Wischusen (15:39) both ran under Styler's mark!!! Styler is pictured above with Brosnan (on the right) and Wischusen after the 2021 race.
But Brosnan's CR didn't last very long.
Wischusen, now a sophomore at the University of Virginia-bound, absolutely demolished Brosnan's record in 2023 when he threw down a 15:12!!!!
Led by Wischusen's epic performance, the Vikings averaged 15:46 to shatter the CR average by 16 seconds in a showdown for the ages with Westfield. The Blue Devils also averaged under 16 with their 15:59!!!!
The former CR average of 16:02 had been set by UC in 2021. That same 2021 UC team averaged 16:01 at Holmdel Park when it won the Meet of Champions title.
GIRLS COURSE RECORDS
Perhaps the biggest lock in the history of any county championship race is the Union Catholic girls, who should steamroll their way to a fifth straight championship. UC's streak of 4 in a row is the second longest girls streak. Westfield, under the late great Thom Hornish, won a record 11 in a row from 1991-2001.
The only real questions surrounding this race is how fast the Vikings, who pitched a shutout the last 2 years, will run? Will they break the CR average of 18:18 they ran each of the last two years, and will defending champ Paige Sheppard break her own course record of 17:37 that she ran last year?
UC is coming off a 17:43 average, the fastest time ever by a NJ girls team on any course, when they won the Virginia Showcase last Saturday, so they have the potential to produce a mind-blowing average!!! How fast? Time will tell, but if they let it rip that record could be toast!
SHOUTOUTS
A big shout out and thanks goes out to Union County XC meet director Bill Klimas for spending countless hours in the library digging through archives, microfilm, and dinosaur fossils to put this list together. And of course these lists wouldn't be possible without all the hard work by the late great Ed Grant, NJ's XC historian.
If I had to guess, I'd say Grant probably covered and or officiated this meet close to 75 times!! More about Kilmas - There are few people as passionate and knowledgeable as Klimas is about the sport of XC and track and field. Klimas has done it all in this sport. For those don't know, Klimas was a great sprinter during his days at Roselle Catholic, coached the sport for several years, and is now a T&F and XC official as well as a meet director for several championship meets.
Note: The course at Warinanco Park has changed a few times over the years. It started out as a 2.5-mile course, and then it was extended to a 3.25-mile layout in 1979 when it finished on the track at the old stadium. That course was called the "championship course,'' and was used for the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2 meet.
In 1988, the course was shortened to 3.19 miles when the finish line was moved behind the start line, and it has remained the same ever since. This course is referred to as the "dual meet course.'' According to former longtime legendary Westfield boys coach Jack Martin, who has wheeled both courses twice, the championship course was 87 yards longer than the dual meet course (the difference of roughly 15 seconds)
UNION COUNTY BOYS CHAMPIONS
YEAR / TEAM CHAMPION / INDIVIDUAL CHAMPION / WINNING TIME
1938 JEFFERSON / NORMAN HOLTAWAY UNION 13:12.4
1939 JEFFERSON / HUGH SHORT HILLSIDE 13:26
1940 JEFFERSON / WALT MCGINLEY PLAINFIELD 13:23
1941 UNION / PARTINGTON UNION 14:02
1942 RAHWAY / PHIL THIGPEN RAHWAY 13:09.1
1943 UNION / TED BAUER UNION 14:30
1944 JEFFERSON / PHIL THIGPEN RAHWAY 13:26.6
1945 UNION / HAL WETZEL UNION 13:25.2
1946 PLAINFIELD / ED HOOS WESTFIELD 13:50.2
1947 PLAINFIELD / GORDON JEFFERSON 14:08.7
1948 WESTFIELD / BOB FREVERT CRANFORD 13:24.4
1949 PLAINFIELD / FRED VAN ECK PLAINFIELD 13:30.1
1950 JEFFERSON / FRED VAN ECK PLAINFIELD 13:28.8
1951 JEFFERSON / DON TOWNSEND JEFFERSON 13:27.5
1952 RAHWAY / TONY MOSKWA EDISON TECH 13:37.1
1953 JEFFERSON / GODFREY MATTHEWS ROSELLE 13:44.2
1954 JEFFERSON / FRED KREHBIEL UNION 13:38.5
1955 JEFFERSON / CURRAN CRANFORD 13:37.8
1956 JEFFERSON / LARRY ST. CLAIR JEFFERSON 13;05.9
1957 PLAINFIELD / STAN BLEJWAS HOLY TRINITY 13:15.1
1958 PLAINFIELD / BILL AUGUSTINE ROSELLE. PARK 13:15.5
1959 PLAINFIELD / LENNY PHILLIPS RAHWAY 13:03.4
1960 PLAINFIELD / LENNY PHILLIPS RAHWAY 13:06.9
1961 HOLY TRINITY / DAVE COLEMAN WESTFIELD 12:49.2
1962 WESTFIELD / STEVE HARRIS SCOTCH PLAINS. 12:48.3
1963 WESTFIELD / STEVE HARRIS SCOTCH PLAINS. 12:36.3
1964 ROSELLE CATHOLIC / MIKE GARVEY ROSELLE CATHOLIC 12:29.9
1965 ROSELLE CATHOLIC / CHARLIE SCANELLA ROSELLE CATH 12:38
1966 ROSELLE CATHOLIC / GENE MAFFEY ROSELLE CATHOLIC 12:34
1967 ROSELLE CATHOLIC / RICH STEIN ROSELLE 12:31
1968 ROSELLE CATHOLIC / ED BRENNAN ROSELLE CATHOLIC 12:35
1969 ROSELLE CATHOLIC / JOE SAVAGE ROSELLE CATHOLIC 12:37
1970 ROSELLE CATHOLIC / VINCE CARTIER SCOTCH PLAINS. 12:20
1971 WESTFIELD / TIM PROVOST SCOTCH PLAINS 12:21
1972 ROSELLE CATHOLIC / JOHN ROSAS HILLSIDE 12:21
1973 ROSELLE CATHOLIC / SCOTT BUTTINGHAUSEN NEW PROVIDENCE 14:28.7
1974 CRANFORD / BOB AMITRANI CRANFORD 14:16
1975 WESTFIELD / BOB AMITRANI CRANFORD 14:27
1976 WESTFIELD / MIKE O'BRIEN WESTFIELD 14:36.5
1977 $-WESTFIELD / DAVE MILLER WESTFIELD 14:50
1978 WESTFIELD / GEORGE ABITANTE WESTFIELD 14:28
1979 WESTFIELD / CLIFF SHEEHAN WESTFIELD 16:31 (first year using Warinanco's 3.25-championship course)
1980 WESTFIELD / CLIFF SHEEHAN WESTFIELD 15:50.9
1981 WESTFIELD / DAVE FITZGERALD WESTFIELD 16:47
1982 WESTFIELD / ANDY JACOB WESTFIELD 16:16
1983 CRANFORD / ANDY JACOB WESTFIELD 16:16
1984 WESTFIELD / HAL HAMILTON PLAINFIELD 16:48
1985 WESTFIELD / TIM YOCKEL WESTFIELD 16:43
1986 WESTFIELD / TIM YOCKEL WESTFIELD 16:51
1987 WESTFIELD / CRAIG RUSSELL WESTFIELD 16:58
1988 **ELIZABETH / DAN AVIS WESTFIELD 16:51 (first year using 3.19-mile Warinanco dual meet course)
1989 WESTFIELD / MIKE CLAVIN SCOTCH PLAINS 16:30
1990 WESTFIELD / JEAN DESTINE ELIZABETH 16:20
1991 WESTFIELD / PETER CLAVIN SCOTCH PLAINS.16:27
1992 WESTFIELD / ANTHONY DEBENEDICTIS ROSELE PARK 16:41
1993 WESTFIELD / ANTHONY DEBENEDICTIS ROSELLE PARK 16:27
1994 WESTFIELD / ANTHONY DEBENEDICTIS ROSELLE PARK 15:58
1995 WESTFIELD / MATT ELMUCCIO WESTFIELD 16:16
1996 WESTFIELD / MATT ELMUCCIO WESTFIELD 16:36
1997 CRANFORD / GORDON KASLUSKY WESTFIELD 15:59
1998 CRANFORD / TIM STYLER CRANFORD 15:42 (course record at the time)
1999 CRANFORD / FRANK DABROSKY CRANFORD 16:43
2000 CRANFORD / BOB WALLDEN SCOTCH PLAINS 16:29
2001 CRANFORD / BOB WALLDEN SCOTCH PLAINS 16:04
2002 CRANFORD / ED CLINTON CRANFORD 16:29
2003 CRANFORD / BRIAN KOPNICKI SCOTCH PLAINS 16:27
2004 CRANFORD / JOE MCKENNEY CRANFORD 15:57
2005 WESTFIELD / JEFF PERRELLA WESTFIELD 15:59
2006 WESTFIELD / STEPHEN HANKINSON SUMMIT 16.06
2007 WESTFIELD / PAT DOLIBER SCOTCH PLAINS 16:41.71
2008 SUMMIT / D.J.THORNTON UNION CATHOLIC 16:16.11
2009 WESTFIELD / D.J.THORNTON UNION CATHOLIC 16:34
2010 WESTFIELD / ANDREW KIRNA WESTFIELD 16:14
2011 WESTFIELD / JACK LEAHY WESTFIELD 15:50
2012 WESTFIELD / MATT LUPPINO WESTFIELD 16:06
2013 WESTFIELD / LELAND JONES SUMMIT 15:49
2014 SUMMIT / LELAND JONES SUMMIT 15:57.1
2015 WESTFIELD / JORDAN PRICE, NEW PROVIDENCE 16:14.6
2016 WESTFIELD / CHRIS HECKELMAN, SUMMIT, 15:53
2017 WESTFIELD / JONATHAN MOBISA, UNION 16:21
2018-WESTFIELD/ MAX RUSSO, ORATORY, 16:07
2019-WESTFIELD / MAX RUSSO, ORATORY, 16:18
2020-UNION CATHOLIC (first ever)/ MYLES PLUMMER, UNION CATHOLIC, 16:24
2021-UNION CATHOLIC/SHANE BROSNAN, UNION CATHOLIC, 15:28 (Course record at the time)
2023-UNION CATHOLIC- COURSE RECORD AVERAGE OF 15:46/ JIMMY WISCHUSEN, UNION CATHOLIC, 15:12 - COURSE RECORD
2024-WESTFIELD (COUNTY RECORD 38TH TITLE) / MAX BONILLA, ELIZABETH, 15:47
SUB 16 CLUB
WARINANCO SUB 16 LIST FOR THE 3.19-MILE DUAL MEET COURSE (used since 1988)
15:12-Jimmy Wischusen, Union Catholic, 2023
15:28-Shane Brosnan, Union Catholic, 2021
15:39-Jimmy Wischusen, Union Catholic, 2021
15:39-Lucas Reguinho, Elizabeth, 2022
15:41-Avery Keith, Westfield, 2022
15:42-Avery Keith, Westfield, 2023
15:42-Tim Styler, Cranford 1998
15:43-Jeff Perrella, Westfield, 2005
15:46-Alex Saldana, Union Catholic, 2022
15:47-Max Bonilla, Elizabeth, 2024
15:49-Leland Jones, Summit, 2013
15:49-Alessandro Alvarez-Tullo, Union Catholic, 2023
15:49-Sean Wilson, Union Catholic, 2023
15:50-Jack Leahy, Westfield, 2011
15:50-Tage Mehta, Westfield, 2022
15:50-Alex Saldana, Union Catholic, 2023
15:50-Jimmy Gildea, Westfield, 2023
15:52-Colin Riley, Dayton, 2022
15:53-Tim Styler, Cranford, 1998
15:53-Chris Heckelman, Summit, 2016
15:53-Nate Papachristos, Union Catholic, 2016
15:53-Myles Plummer, Union Catholic, 2021
15:55-Ryan Daly, Westfield, 2024
15:57-Joe McKenney, Cranford, 2004
15:57-Leland Jones, Summit, 2014
15:58-Anthony DeBenedictis, Roselle Park, 1994
15:59-Gordon Kaslusky, Westfield, 1997
15:59-Jeff Perrella, Westfield, 2005
15:59-Everett Price, New Providence, 2011
15:59-Ryan Cichocki, Union Catholic, 2022
UNION COUNTY GIRLS CHAMPIONS
YEAR TEAM CHAMPION / INDIVIDUAL CHAMPION / WINNING TIME
1977 PLAINFIELD / DORIAN ST. CLAIR, PLAINFIELD, 18:22
1978 PLAINFIELD / DORIAN ST. CLAIR, PLAINFIELD, 18:00
1979 PLAINFIELD / THERSA GSCHWIND ,SUMMIT, 18:39
1980 CRANFORD / THERSA GSCHWIND SUMMIT 18:25
1981 PLAINFIELD / THERSA GSCHWIND SUMMIT 18:10
1982 PLAINFIELD / MICHELLE KRASKA UNION CATHOLIC 19:54
1983 DAYTON / MARY PAT PARDUCCI DAYTON 20:08
1984 PLAINFIELD / TRACY BIBER DAYTON 19:44
1985 SUMMIT / TRACY BIBER DAYTON 19:19
1986 SUMMIT / LORI CARPENTER NEW PROVIDENCE 20:04
1987 SUMMIT / KATHLEEN CASTLES SUMMIT 20:29
1988 WESTFIELD / LIZ PABST DAYTON 20:16
1989 WESTFIELD / MAGGIE MORROW CRANFORD 20:43
1990 SUMMIT / MAGGIE MORROW CRANFORD 19:43
1991 WESTFIELD / AIMEE STOUT WESTFIELD 21:10
1992 WESTFIELD / HAZEL CLARK, KENT PLACE 20:36
1993 WESTFIELD / MARISSA DEFREESE RAHWAY 20:49
1994 WESTFIELD / MARISSA DEFREESE RAHWAY 20:21
1995 #WESTFIELD / SUZY KOZUB, WESTFIELD 20:27
1996 #WESTFIELD / SUZY KOZUB, WESTFIELD 20:15
1997 WESTFIELD / ALEXIS ANZELONE, WESTFIELD 20:22
1998 WESTFIELD / CHRISTINA MORGADO, UNION 19:41
1999 WESTFIELD / CHRISTINA MORGADO, UNION 19:56
2000 WESTFIELD / ALEXIS ANZELONE, WESTFIELD 19:47
2001 WESTFIELD / JESSICA RODRIGUES, ELIZABETH 19:43
2002 OAK KNOLL / MEGS DIDARIO, GOV. LIVINGSTON 19:35
2003 WESTFIELD / LIZ HANKINSON, OAK KNOLL 19:37
2004 SCOTCH PLAINS / LAURA GALLO, CRANFORD 19:22
2005 CRANFORD / LAURA GALLO, CRANFORD 19:22
2006 CRANFORD / LAURA GALLO, CRANFORD 19:07
2007 *A.L.JOHNSON KATHLEEN McCAFFERTY, OAK KNOLL 18:29.4
2008 A.L.JOHNSON / INES SIMOES, ROSELLE CATHOLIC 19:04.5
2009 SUMMIT / NICHELLE HARRIS, RAHWAY 19:33
2010 SUMMIT / KATIE WATSON, SUMMIT 18:46
2011 SUMMIT / GILLIAN McILROY, SUMMIT 19:28
2012 SUMMIT / GILLIAN McILROY, SUMMIT 19:20
2013 WESTFIELD / GILLIAN McILROY, SUMMIT 19:04
2014 UNION CATHOLIC / CAITLIN GLYNN, UNION CATHOLIC 19:05.1
2015 UNION CATHOLIC/ JILLIAN TURNER, NEW PROVDENCE 18:49.8
2016 WESTFIELD/ VICTORIA VANRIELE, GOV. LIVINGSTON 19:21
2017 WESTFIELD/ VICTORIA VANRIELE, GOV. LIVINGSTON 18:26 (course record at the time)
2018 WESTFIELD / JERIKA LUFRANO, UNION CATHOLIC 19:03
2019 UNION CATHOLIC/ ABBY GRANRATH, UNION CATHOLIC 19:10
2020 WESTFIELD (county record 18th title), KATIE HAMILTON, WESTFIELD, 18:35
2021 UNION CATHOLIC / MIRANDA LORSBACH, KENT PLACE, 18:41
2022-UNION CATHOLIC-COURSE RECORD AVERAGE OF 18:54 / PEYTON HOLLIS, UNION CATHOLIC, 17:49 (Course record for the 3.19-mile course)
2023- ##-UNION CATHOLIC-COURSE RECORD AVERAGE OF 18:18 / PEYTON HOLLIS, UNION CATHOLIC, 17:52
##-2024-UNION CATHOLIC-COURSE RECORD TYING AVERAGE OF 18:18/ PAIGE SHEPPARD, UNION CATHOLIC, 17:37 (COURSE RECORD)
$-In 1977, the Westfield boys won with a perfect score of 15
**-In 1988, the Elizabeth boys won on a tiebreaker over Scotch Plains-Fanwood
#-In 1995 and '96, Westfield's girls, under coach Thom Hornish, won with a perfect score of 15
##-In 2023 and 2024 the UC girls, under coach Mike McCabe, posted perfect scores of 15
*-In 2007, Johnson won the girls team title on a tiebreaker over Scotch Plains.
With the Union County Cross-Country Championships celebrating its 88th anniversary on Wednesday at Warinanco Park in Elizabeth, it's time once again to turn back the cross-country clock and give you a little history lesson on of one of the oldest county meets in the state.