A pair of big records fell, historic wins were thrown down, droughts came to a screeching halt, big streaks were extended, and upset specials were served up during another memorable day of racing at the NJSIAA Group Championships on Super Saturday at Holmdel Park.
There's no better day in XC!!!!
12 teams and 12 runners were crowned state champions on a day that saw temps soar into the 60's as the state's best clashed on the historic 3.1-mile layout.
- Boys Meet Merge -
- Girls Meet Merge -
Before we break down all 12 races, let's hit you with the biggest highlights of the meet.
On the girls side, the NJ No. 1 ranked Union Catholic girls took down their own course record average by running 18:36 and winning their 5th straight title. Leah Starkey of Ocean Township won her second straight Group 2 title by running a sophomore course record 17:31, No.7 in course history, and Paige Sheppard of UC ran 17:50 to win her third straight championship in Non-Public A!
For the boys, NJ No. 1 CBA rocked the trails with a 16:01 average as senior Luke Hnattt led the charge with a winning time of 15:40, the fastest time of the season at Holmdel. Glassboro (Group 1) won their first state titles ever and Jayran Rodriguez of Manville (Group 1) and Misha Theberge of Saddle River Day (Non-Public B) also made history by becoming the first runners from their schools to win a state XC Championship.
Let's take a deep dive and break it all down, race by race.
BOYS
GROUP 4 - MANALAPAN BREAKS THROUGH AND TINDALL GETS REDEMPTION
In one of the tightest team races of the day, Manalapan, ranked No. 2 in the state, edged No. 3 Cherokee, 71-76, to win its first title ever in Group 4 and second overall, and Cherokee's Jack Tindall joined a very short list of sophomore state champions when he dropped a sub-16 to cross the finish line first. Manalapan's other state title came in Group 3 in 1979.
Manalapan, led by runner-up Clay Stevens (16:05), averaged 16:45 and had a 1-5 split of 65 seconds. The key to victory for Manalapan was its No. 5 runner finishing 15 places ahead of Cherokee's No. 5 man.
Here's Manalapan's top 5-
| 2nd | Clay Stevens | 16:05.00 |
| 8th | Michael Black | 16:38.00 |
| 17th | Nicholas Borzomati | 16:52.00 |
| 19th | Justin Volosin | 17:03.00 |
| 32nd | Matthew Butch | 17:10.00 |
Group 4 Boys 5000 Meter Run Finals Team Scores
| Place | Team | Points | Scorers | Times |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Manalapan HS | 71 | 2+8+17+19+25 (68+78) | 1:05 1-5 Split | 16:45 Avg |
| 2 |  Cherokee HS | 76 | 1+5+12+18+40 (42+43) | 1:31 1-5 Split | 16:43 |
Individually in Group 4, Cherokee's Jack Tindall has been anxiously waiting for a shot at redemption after illness knocked out his chances last year when he gutted his way to a 17th finish in 16:38 in the Group 4 race.
Tindall, healthy and fit this time, got exactly what he came for when he dropped a big Holmdel PR of 15:54 to defeat a loaded field that included Stevens, who was second at the Meet of Champs last year and the favorite to win.
Fast Fact: Did you know that Tindall's mother, Colleen, and her cousin Megan both ran on the 2001 Moorestown team that finished first at the XC Meet of Champions!! Keep cooking up those winning meals, Colleen.
GROUP 3 - ADIMILA WINS AGAIN TO LEAD COLTS NECK TO STUNNING REPEAT TITLE
There are certain programs in the state that you just can't ever count out.
The Colts Neck squad is one of them.
Always well coached with Jim Schlentz at the helm, and always ready to level up when the stakes are greatest, the unranked Cougars once again showed why they are one of the top programs in the state with an upset victory over several ranked teams.
Adimala used a huge kick down the final straight to overtake Marcus Valenzuala of Chatham and win his second straight title in 15:53 and ignite Colts Neck's attack as the Cougars made a huge statement, using using a scoring combination of 1-11-12-13-24 to defeat No. 8 ranked Ocean City, 87-102.
One of the big keys to victory was junior Dominic Marino, who ran 17:40. Marino was out most of the season with a knee injury. His first race of the season was at the Central Jersey Sectional Championships last week. His return created an instant spark for the Colts Neck pack.
Fast Fact: Colts Neck's No. 6 runner, senior Zack Metzger, was recently elected to represent Howell on the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education, winning in a landslide with an unofficial total of 10,473 votes -- 67.31% of the vote. At just 18 years and 12 days old on Election Day, Metzger is the youngest member ever elected to the FRHSD Board and one of the youngest elected officials in New Jersey history. How is that for leveling up!!!
Colts Neck's top 5-
| 1st | Jay Adimala | 15:53.00 |
| 19th | Kyle Schandall | 17:08.00 |
| 21st | Rowan O'Connor | 17:15.00 |
| 22nd | Deeko Rudko | 17:15.00 |
| 46th | Dominic Marino | 17:40.00 |
| TEAM | POINTS | SCORERS | TIMES | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Colts Neck HS | 87 | 1+15+16+17+38 (45+107) | 1:47 1-5 Split | 17:02 Avg |
| 2 |  Ocean City HS | 102 | 6+8+22+31+35 (83+122) | 1:09 1-5 Split | 17:07 Avg |
GROUP 2 - THE DAWGS DROP A BOMB TO ROLL TO 8TH STRAIGHT TITLE
When the season started, it was obvious that Haddonfield had another powerhouse team on paper. But due to some injuries, the Dawgs have only had a few chances to line up their top 7 guys together this season.
For the just third time this season, No. 5 ranked Haddonfield unleashed its full arsenal and showed everyone in the state the immense firepower they possess by burning a 16:16 average and blitzing the competition to run away with their 8th straight title, 27-120 victory over No. 7 Bernards. Haddonfield has now captured 23 state XC titles, which ties it with Bernards for the second most in NJ history behind CBA's 34.
The 16:16 average by Haddonfield is the third fastest in course history for a public school. Only Westfield (16:01 in Group 4 in 2023) and West Windsor-Plainsboro North (16:15 in Group 3 in 2008) have run faster on the 3.1-mile layout. 27-120
Haddinfield jammed their first 5 runners in the top 12 and had a 1-5 compression of 59 seconds.
Ryan Gibson sparked the strong Haddonfield frontal attack by winning the race with a Holmdel PR of 15:57.
HADDONFIELD'S TOP 5
| st | Ryan Gibson | 15:57 |
| 3rd | Luke Andresen | 16:02 |
| 5th | Benjamin Andrus | 16:06 |
| 6th | Peter Simpson | 16:18 |
| 12th | Michael Sinnes | 16:56 |
| 1 |  Haddonfield Memorial HS | 27 | 1+3+5+6+12 (21+25) | 0:59 1-5 Split | 16:15 Avg |
| 2 |  Bernards HS | 120 | 2+15+23+30+50 (51+57) | 2:25 1-5 Split | 17:19 Avg |
Fast Fact: Gibson is the 8th Haddonfield boy to win a state XC Championship, the most by any public school in the state!
GROUP 1 - HISTORIC WINS BY GLASSBORO AND J-ROD
Glassboro, ranked No. 13 in the state, and Jayran Rodriguez made history when they dominated the Group 1 race.
Glassboro, which came into the race as the big favorite, lived up to the hype 7-109 victory over runner-up and 2-time defending champion Metuchen. Glassboro packed three runners in the top 7 and averaged 17:27
GLASSBORO'S TOP 5
| 2nd | Joseph Saicic | 16:51.00 |
| 5th | Zacchaeus Harrigan | 17:05.00 |
| 7th | Jaeden Wesley | 17:12.00 |
| 14th | Aaron Johnson | 17:35.00 |
| 47th* | Gavin Rakitis | 18:34.00 |
Individually, Rodriguez, a junior, took over the race in the final mile and came storming across the line first in a Holmdel PR of 16:36 to become the first state XC champ ever from Manville.
Fast Fact: Glassboro's No. 5 man, Gavin Rakkitis, is the younger brother of Kyle, who won the 1,600 at the Outdoor Meet of Champions in 2022 for Kingsway.
NON-PUBLIC A - CBA ROLLS TO 4TH STRAIGHT TITLE/ STATE RECORD 34TH OVERALL
Even with their foot off the gas for parts of the race, the CBA pack ripped the final mile to finish with a 16:01 average on the way to an 18-65 victory over No. 5 ranked Union Catholic.
It's the 4th straight championship for No. 1 ranked CBA and raises its state record to 34 titles overall. That's 11 more than Haddonfield and Bernards, who are tied for the second most with 23.
Senior Luke Hnatt (15:40) and junior Gavin Schmitt (15:42) both ran Holmdel PR's to finish 1-2 for the Colts. Hnatt and Schmitt's times are the 2 fastest times run at Holmdel this season!!
Hnatt became the 15th different state XC champ for CBA, the most by any team in NJ history.
Can CBA make a run at the course record of 15:42 that they set at the Meet of Champions?
They boys all said they are capable of being faster than last year's pack. Time will tell.
Fast Fact: CBA will be a huge favorite to win their 4th straight Meet of Champions title and raise their state record to a staggerinlg 28 overall next Saturday at Holmdel Park. The rest of the state has won a combined 24 M of C titles. Paul VI has the second most M of C titles with 4.
| 1st | Luke Hnatt | 15:40.00 |
| 2nd | Gavin Schmitt | 15:42.00 |
| 3rd | Ryan Collins | 16:04.00 |
| 4th | Wyatt Falkowski | 16:09.00 |
| 8th | Sean Galvin | 16:28.00 |
NON-PUBLIC B - MKA PULLS OFF SHOCKER/ THEBERGE MAKES HISTORY
The ground at Holmdel Park is probably still shaking from Montclair-Kimberley Academy's celebration after the Essex County squad pulled off an upset win to capture the Non-Public B Championship, 70-69 over runner-up Rutgers Prep. It's the second title ever for MKA, which won its other championship in 2014 under the late great Tom Fleming.
MKA'S TOP 5
| 5th | Fabian Castillo | 18:15 |
| 9th | Martin Ajayi | 18:32 |
| 11th | Matthew Kwon | 18:47 |
| 14th | Tyler Rizzo | 19:06 |
| 24th | Tyler Ho | 19:25 |
Individually, Misha Theberge of Saddle River Day made history for the second straight year when he became the first runner from his school to win a state XC title, running 17:3?. As a sophomore last year, Theberge also made history when he was the first runner from his school to ever qualify for the Meet of Champions.
FAST FACT: Oskar Nordenbring of MKA (2000, 2001, 2003) and Doug Smith of Gill St. Bernard's (2006, 2007 and 2008) are the only runners to win Non-Public B State Championships.
GIRLS
GROUP 4 - RIDGEWOOD AND DOMURAT RULE THE RACE
No. 2 ranked Ridgewood finally got the elusive title it's been agonizingly close to winning in recent years and Molly Domurat of Hunterdon Central scored an emotional and dominating win to highlight this race.
In a race stacked with ranked teams, Ridgewood, who finished second six straight years, left no crumbs this time by overpowering the competition, outscoring No. ranked and defending champ and No. 4 ranked Princeton, 44-80.
Ridgewood's frontal attack was the key as the Maroons used a 2-4-7-8-23 scoring combo to win their first title since winning a second straight championship in 1999. It's the sixth state title overall for Ridgewood.
RIDGEWOOD'S TOP 5
| 2nd | Katherine Keating | 18:42 |
| 4th | Natalie Knowles | 19:07 |
| 10th | Maeve Schoeler | 19:27 |
| 11th | Penelope De Valence | 19:28 |
| 27th | Hunter Witham | 20:18 |
| Place | Team | Points | Scorers | Times |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Ridgewood HS | 44 | 2+4+7+8+23 (40+45) | 1:36 1-5 Split | 19:24 Avg |
| 2 |  Princeton HS | 80 | 9+13+17+19+22 (80+100) | 0:45 1-5 Split | 19:57 Avg |
Individually, the Rutgers-bound Domurat, who suffered through a tough race at this meet last year when iron deficiency sapped her energy, turned that frustration into jubilation when she exectuted her race plan to perfection to win the biggest race of her life, stopping the clock at 18:33, a Holmdel PR.
GROUP 3 - OCEAN CITY, LEE BREAKTHROUGH
Ocean City, ranked No. 8 in the state, received big races from its entire top 5 to outscore runner-up and No. 5 ranked Middletown South, 94-120, to capture its second state title ever, ending a 37-year drought.
Each of Ocean City's scoring runners finished ahead of Middletown South's at each spot to secure the win.
OCEAN CITY'S TOP 5
| 3rd | Riley Tolson | 19:14 |
| 8th | Carly Godfrey | 19:40 |
| 22nd | Peighton Clemens | 20:43 |
| 30th | Lenna Driscoll | 21:03 |
| 31st | Bella Cera | 21:04 |
| 1 |  Ocean City HS | 94 | 3+8+22+30+31 (46+61) | 1:50 1-5 Split | 20:20 Avg |
| 2 |  Middletown South HS | 110 | 5+17+23+32+33 (43+68) | 1:39 1-5 Split | 20:35 |
Individually, UPenn-bound Allison Lee of West Windsor North, second last year, ran away from the field to win her first state XC championship in a Holmdel PR of 18:14.
GROUP 2 - VOORHEES, STARKEY COOK
| 3rd | Lexie Mizzone | 18:45 |
| 8th | Daphne Roskowski | 19:17 |
| 13th | Lucy D'Alessandro | 19:51 |
| 14th | Emily Leyton | 20:08 |
| 18th | Zoe Saksa | 20:25 |
| Place | Team | Points | Scorers | Times |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Voorhees HS | 56 | 3+8+13+14+18 (45+46) | 1:40 1-5 Split | 19:41 Avg |
| 2 |  Haddonfield Memorial HS | 79 | 4+15+16+20+24 (31+32) | 2:05 1-5 Split | 20:13 Avg |
GROUP 1 - KLEIN WINS TO TRIGGER SHORE TO THE TITLE
Junior Alexandra Klein led a strong surge at the front for No. 13 ranked Shore Regional by finishing first in 18:55 to trigger her squad to a 45-76 victory over 2-time defending champion Metuchen.
It's the third championship in 5 years and 7th overall for Shore, which crammed four runners in the top nine to lock up the title.
SHORE'S TOP 5 RUNNERS
| 1 | Alexandra Klein | 18:55 |
| 5 | Grace Montanari | 20:28 |
| 7 | Milla Scalise | 20:43 |
| 9 | Kiera Greene | 21:04 |
| 23 | Leyla Torenli | 22:18 |
NON-PUBLIC A - SHEPPARD'S 3- PEAT IGNITES UC TO COURSE RECORD
Union Catholic junior Paige Sheppard added her name to a short list of 3-time state champs by running a very controlled 17:50 to ignite the Vikings to the greatest performance in course history and a fifth straight championship!
No. 1 ranked Vikings, who now won 7 state titles overall, are tied with Voorhees (2006-2010) for the third-longest winning streak in meet history. Only Bernards (10) and North Hunterdon (7) have won more XC state titles in a row than Union Catholic.
UC produced a 1-2-3-5-6 finish and an 18:36 average, one second faster than the course record of 18:37 that the Vikings ran when they won the 2023 Meet of Champions. UC outscored runner-up and No. 7 ranked Paul VI, 17-76.
The historic run by the Vikings was fueled by several PR's.
Junior Cayleigh Kaiser was second in 18:13, an 11 second course PR, freshman Harper Telesca was third with a Holmdel best of 18:41, senior Ella Solorzano was fifth in a 10-second course PR of 19:04, and sophomore Saffa Ellis put the finishing touches on UC's record race by placing 6th with a massive PR of 19:10, 53 seconds faster than her previous best at Holmdel.
This Union Catholic pack wants to go down as the best girls' team in NJ history. After what they just did and how much more they have in the tank, it would be surprising if they don't top that at the Meet of Champions and lock up their place as the best we've ever seen in this state!
By winning her third title in a row, Sheppard became the 14th girl to complete the 3-peat. If she wins again next year, Sheppard would be just the fourth girl to pull off the 4-peat!! The other three are the late great Janet Smith of J.P. Stevens (1980-83), Olympian Erin Donohue of Haddonfield (1997-2000), and Vanessa Wright of Haddonfield (2002-2005).
Sheppard will defend her title at the Meet of Champions next Saturday when her heavily favored squad aims for a 4th straight team title.
UNION CATHOLIC'S TOP 5
| 1 | Paige Sheppard | 17:50 |
| 2 | Cayleigh Kaiser | 18:13 |
| 3 | Harper Telesca | 18:41 |
| 5 | Ella Solorzano | 19:04 |
| 6 | Saffa Ellis | 19:10 |
NON-PUBLIC B - VILLA WALSH REPEATS AND FLANAGAN WINS
Villa Walsh won its third title in a row and 8th overall (all since 2014) and senior Julia Flanagan, one of the biggest breakout stars on the stage this season, became the second champion ever from Holy Cross. Flanagan, who ran a Holmdel PR of 18:44, joins Kari Vigerstol (1994) as the only runners from Holy Cross to finish first.
Senior Blythe Dudley, a 2-time state XC champ, led the surge for Villa Walsh by placing second in 20:32.
VILLA WALSH'S TOP 5
| 1 | Blythe Dudley | 19:22 |
| 3 | Catherine Azares | 20:32 |
| 6 | Amelia Kleinle | 21:53 |
| 9 | Bridget Boler | 22:37 |
| 11 | Lucy Smart | 23:18 |