Since the inception of the XC Northeast Championships in 1979, 70 different New Jersey boys (there have been 9 multiple qualifiers) and 50 different New Jersey girls (there have been 13 multiple qualifiers) have earned a berth in the XC National Championship race.
The full list of NJ qualifiers is down below
There have been several regional champs from the Garden State, and three runners from New Jersey have won the national title - Brendan Heffernan of North Hunterdon in 1992, Edward Cheserek of St. Benedict's Prep in 2011 and '12, and Janet Smith of J.P. Stevens in 1983.
Leah Starkey of Ocean Township is among another strong contingent of Jersey runners who will seek to add to New Jersey's rich history of distance running greatness when she aims to become the fifth girl from the Garden State to finish first at the Brooks XC Northeast Championships on Saturday, when the sophomore star toes the line at Franklin Park in Boston.
The boys race is scheduled for 10:50 a.m. The girls race follows at 11:30 a.m.
The undefeated Starkey, 12th as a freshman at the XC Northeast Regional last year, is the No. 1 ranked runner in the race and is ranked No. 12 nationally by MileSplit. The indefatigable Starkey, who won the NJSIAA Meet of Champions two weeks ago in 17:15 (No. 3 in Holmdel Park history).
Starkey is seeking to join Janet Smith (1983), Christi Constantin of Kittatinny (1988), Alyssa Aldridge of Mainland (2016) and Angelina Perez of Lakeland (2021) on NJ's girls' list of Northeast Regional champs.
The top 10 runners in each region will automatically qualify for the Brooks National Championships at Balboa Park in San Diego on Dec. 6.
The Northeast region includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, D.C., in addition to New Jersey.
After Smith won the Northeast Championship in 1983, she went on to win the XC National Championships at Balboa Park in 16:44, which stood as the course record for 7 years. Smith is the only NJ girl to win the XC National Championship.
Perez, now starring at Wake Forest, finished second at nationals in 2021 when she ran a 17:19, tied with Constantin (1998) for No. 2 all-time for a NJ girl at Balboa.
On the boys side, five runners from Jersey have won the XC Northeast Championship, including two back-to-back winners.
They are Jason DiJoseph of Paul VI (1988), Brendan Heffernan of North Hunterdon (1992), Bob Keino of Ridgewood (1993 and '94), Craig Forys of Colts Neck (2026), and Edward Cheserek of St. Benedict's Prep (2011 and 2012). Heffernan and Cheserek both followed up their regional victories by winning national titles, with Cheserek becoming one of 5 boys to ever win 2 national championships in a row.
SITE CHANGES
NJ QUALIFIERS FOR THE XC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
BOYS
1979
5th - Jim Smith, Haddonfield - 15:27
DNF - Jerry Andrews, 1979
1980
14th - Cliff Sheehan, Westfield - 15:36
DNF - Greg Knoll, Morris Catholic
1981
16th - Carlos Hanze, Central Regional. - 15:11.3
24th - Tom Fischer, Manalapan - 15:36.6
1982
32nd - John Carlotti, Bernards - 16:29.8
1983
7th - Brad Hudson, North Hunterdon - 15:12.2
27th - Jim Herdman, Hunterdon Central - 16:02.5
1984
5th - Bill Babcock, North Hunterdon - 15:19
19th - Andy Martin, North Hunterdon - 15:45.0
1985
22nd - Ron Faith, Paul VI - 15:22.6
23rd - Kevin Pumphrey, Highland - 15:22.8
1986
10th - Carlos Martins, Newark East Side - 15:17.7
18th - Jason DiJoseph, Paul VI - 15:28.2
1987
15th - John Coyle, CBA - 15:29.3
21st - Jason DiJoseph, Paul VI - 15:44.0
25th - Eric Lorenz, Holy Cross - 15:57.6
1988
2nd - Jason DiJoseph, Paul VI - 15:10.1
3rd - Mike Mykytok, Bound Brook - 15:12.7
5th - John Coyle, CBA - 15:15.7
1989
None
1990
25th - Bryan Spoonire, Asbury Park - 16:05.2
1991
10th - Brendan Heffernan, North Hunterdon - 15:36
25th - Rob Reeder, Northern Highlands - 16:05.5
1992
1st - Brendan Heffernan, North Hunterdon - 15:13.4
4th - Bob Keino, Ridgewood - 15:25.7
1993
5th - Bob Keino, Ridgewood - 15:09.6
1994
None
1995
None
1996
9th - Steve Slattery, Mount Olive - 15:49.1
24th - Adam Daniels, Seton Hall Prep - 16:17.7
31st - Matt Elmuccio, Westfield - 16:51.2
1997
4th - Steve Slattery, Mount Olive - 15:46.5
9th - Murad Campbell, Overbrook - 15:52.0
17th - Ian Hahn, Manchester Twp. - 16:10.0
1998
10th - Jon Fasulo, Hunterdon Central - 15:47.4
23rd - Nate Miller, Highland Regional- 16:21.3
1999
None
2000
None
2001
25th - Marc Pelerin, Cherokee - 15:57.31
2002
None
2003
29th - Jon Anderson, Cinnaminson - 16:07
2004
28th - Bobby Papazian, Gill St. Bernard - 16:13
2005
26th - Jeff Perrella, Westfield - 15:45
2006
2nd - Craig Forys, Colts Neck - 15:24
12th - Brandon Jarrett, St. Benedict's - 15:36
2007
6th - Brandon Jarrett, St. Benedict's - 15:16
15th - Brian Leung, West Windsor-Plainsboro South - 15:41
2008
27th - George Galasso, Holmdel - 16:01
34th - Tyler Udland, Millburn - 16:18 |
40th - Brett Johnson, Ocean City - 18:41
2009
15th - Dave Oster, Verona - 15:42
16th - Tyler Udland, Millburn - 15:43
2010
23rd - Matt McDonald, North Hunterdon - 15:40
24th - Patrick Rono, Lyndhurst - 15:42
27th - Morgan Pearson, Delbarton - 15:48
2011
1st - Edward Cheserek, St. Benedict's - 14:52
16th - Tim Ball, Piscataway - 15:33
40th - Blake Udland, Millburn - 16:54
2012
1st - Edward Cheserek, St. Benedict's - 14:59
23rd - Shawn Wilson, Cherokee - 15:45
28th - Kyle Kroon, Toms River South - 15:56
2013
15th - Liam Mullett, Pingry - 15:36
24th - Louis Corgliano, Hammonton - 15:50
36th - Scott Meehan, Pope John - 16:13
2014
34th - Luke Petela, Haddon Township. - 16:22
39th - Shawn Hutchison, Bishop Eustace - 16:38
2015
26th - Josh Clark, Highland Regional- 15:46.5
30th - Joe Dragon, High Point - 15:55.5
35th - Matt Grossman, Millburn - 16:06.8
2016
26th - Matt Grossman, Millburn - 15:41.1
31st - Elliott Gindi, Ocean Township - 15:46.7
2017
10th - Devin Hart, Point Pleasant Boro- 15:45.9
18th - Fahd Nasser, McNair Academic - 15:57.8
25th - Damien Dilcher, Brick - 16:10.9
2018
7th - Jack Stanley, Mendham - 15:30.1
24th - Devin Hart, Point Pleasant Boro - 16:06.3
33rd - Liam Murphy, Allentown - 16:20.3
2019
8th - Kevin Antczak, Mainland - 15:25.0
9th - Jack Jennings, Mendham - 15:29.4
25th - Liam Murphy, Allentown - 15:53.6
2020 - NOT HELD DUE TO COVID
2021
7th - Shane Brosnan, Union Catholic - 15:27.9
9th - Marco Langon, Bridgewater-Raritan - 15:28.1
2022
None
2023
32nd - Peyton Shute, Woodbury - 16:03.9
2024
None
GIRLS
1979
3rd - Ann Gladue, Bayley Ellard, 17:51
1980
None
1981
5th - Janet Smith, J.P. Stevens, 17:11.7
12th - Theresa Gschwind, Summit, 17:31.3
22nd - Meg Waldron, Bernards, 18:20.2
1982
2nd - Michelle Rowen, Washington Township, 17:02.3
5th - Janet Smith, J.P. Stevens, 17:13.6
1983
1st - Janet Smith, J.P. Stevens, 16:43.7 (course record that stood for 7 years)
12th - Missy Duchini, Wayne Valley, 17:57.6
24th - Stacy Ann Bilotta, North Hunterdon, 18:32.6
1984
28th - Jen Van Horn, Wayne Valley, 18:53
1985
10th - Jodie Bilotta, North Hunterdon, 17:25.5
19th - Anne Marie Letko, North Hunterdon, 18:01.3
1986
17th - Jodie Bilotta, North Hunterdon, 18:06.8
18th - Anne Marie Letko, North Hunterdon, 18:07.2
1987
5th - Christi Constantin, Kittatinny, 17:34.9
22nd - Jodie Bilotta, North Hunterdon, 18:27.7
1988
3rd - Christi Constantin, Kittatinny Reg., 17:18.4
26th - Kristen Hall, West Morris, 18:44.5
32nd - Catherine Feeney, Wayne Valley, 20:40.1
1989
24th - Monal Chokshi, Bridgewater-Raritan, 19:01.6
1990
10th - Monal Chokshi, Bridgewater-Raritan, 18:08.0
1991
24th - Monal Chokshi, Bridgewater-Raritan, 19:00.8
1992
None
1993
None
1994
None
1995
12th - Autumn Fogg, Hunterdon Central, 18:04.6
1996
31st - Dana Satir, Ramsey, 20:28.0
1997
None
1998
7th - Cate Guiney, Middletown South, 18:10.00
17th - Erin Donohue, Haddonfield, 18:36.91
32nd - Cheryl Bauer, Morris Hills, 22:05.47
1999
None
2000
None
2001
27th - Lindsay Van Alstine, Hawthorne Christian, 18:16.79
2002
2nd - Katy Trotter, Red Bank, 17:43.9
2003
21st - Jen Clausen, Jackson, 18:27
30th - Brittany Sedberry, Ocean City, 19:23
2004
37th - Brittany Sedberry, Ocean City, 19:45
2005
6th - Danielle Tauro, Southern Regional, 17:41
37th - Briana Jackucewicz, Colts Neck, 18:46
2006
22nd - Ashley Higginson, Colts Neck, 18:40
2007
18th - Chelsea Ley, Kingsway, 18:04
28th - Katie McCafferty, Oak Knoll, 18:36
2008
8th - Chelsea Ley, Kingsway, 17:49
16th - Laura Vigilante, Mendham, 18:14
17th - Lanie Thompson, Voorhees, 18:18
27th - Katie Kellner, West Windsor-Plainsboro South, 18:34
2009
7th - Chelsea Ley, Kingsway, 17:37
18th - Marielle Hall, Haddonfield, 18:05
2010
5th - Megan Venables, Highland Regional, 17:35
24th - Megan Lacy, Cherokee, 18:17
37th - Caroline Kellner, West Windsor-Plainsboro South, 18:39
2011
28th - Holly Bischof, Bishop Eustace, 18:18
36th - Caroline Kellner, West Windsor-Plainsboro South, 18:33
2012
14th - Megan Curham, Villa Walsh 17:56
18th - Marisa Ruskan, Bridgewater-Raritan, 18:04
27th - Mackenzie Barry, West Morris Mendham, 18:21
2013
13th - Briana Gess, Haddonfield, 17:52
2014
34th - Eve Glasergreen, North Hunterdon, 19:07
2015
23rd - Alyssa Aldridge, Mainland, 18:20.5
29th - Briana Gess, Haddonfield, 18:25.5
2016
13th - Alyssa Aldridge, Mainland, 17:55.2
2017
33rd - Abby Loveys, Randolph, 18:59.7
2018
11th - Abby Loveys, Randolph, 17:48.4
32nd - Nicole Vanasse, Pingry, 18:54.5
2019
27th - Nicole Vanasse, Pingry, 18:20.5
2020
None
2021
2nd - Angelina Perez, Lakeland, 17:19.7
19th - Lilly Shapiro, Colts Neck, 17:58.0
2022
23rd - Emma Zawatski, Freehold Twp., 18:11.4
31st - Olivia Murray, Pingry, 18:36.1
2023
33rd - Liliah Gordon, Northern Burlington, 18:49.8
2024
23rd - Liliah Gordon, Northern Burlington, 18:33.5
29th - Allison Lee, West Windsor-Plainsboro North, 18:50.3
NEW JERSEY'S ALL-TIME TOP 20 AT BALBOA PARK
BOYS
NOTE: The XC National Championships have been held at Balboa Park 34 times, and were held in Orlando, Florida seven times - 1981, '82, '97, '98, '99, '00, '01.
14:59-Edward Cheserek, St. Benedict's Prep, 2012 (1st place)
15:09.6-Bob Keino, Ridgewood, 1993 (5th place)
15:10.1-Jason DiJoseph, Paul VI, 1988, (2nd place)
15:12.1-Brad Hudson, North Hunterdon, 1983 (7th place)
15:12.7-Mike Mykytok, Bound Brook, 1988 (3rd place)
15:13.0-Brendan Heffernan, North Hunterdon, 1992 (1st place)
15:15.7-John Coyle, Christian Brothers, 1988 (5th place)
15:16.0-Brandon Jarrett, St. Benedict's Prep, 2007 (6th place)
15:17-Carlos Martins, Newark East Side, 1986 (10th place)
15:18.5-Bill Babcock, North Hunterdon, 1984 (5th place)
15:22.6-Ron Faith, Paul VI, 1985 (22nd)
15:22.8-Kevin Pumphrey, Highland Regional, 1985 (23rd place)
15:24-Craig Forys, Colts Neck, 2006 (2nd place)
15:25-Kevin Antczak, Mainland, 2019 (8th place)
15:26-Bob Keino, Ridgewood, 1992 (4th place)
15:28-Shane Brosnan, Union Catholic (7th place)
15:29-Jason DiJoseph, Paul VI, 1986(18th place)
15:29-John Coyle, CBA, 1987 (15th place)
15:29-Marco Langon, Bridgwater-Raritan (9th place)
15:29-Jack Jennings, Mendham, 2019 (9th place)
15:30-Jack Stanley, Mendham, 2018 (7th place)
NOTE: Brad Hudson, who moved from New Jersey (North Hunterdon High) to Oregon after his junior year (school year of 1983-84), ran 15:11 to place third in 1984.
GIRLS
17:19-Christi Constantin, Kittatinny, 1988 (3rd place)
17:26-Jodie Bilotta, North Hunterdon, 1985 (10th place)
17:35-Christi Constantin, Kittatinny, 1987 (5th place)
17:35-Megan Venables, Highland Regional, 2010 (5th place)
17:37-Chelsea Ley, Kingsway, 2009 (7th place)
17:44-Katy Trotter, Red Bank 2002 (2nd place)
17:49-Chelsea Ley, Kingsway, 2008 (8th place)
17:51-Briana Gess, Haddonfield, 2013 (13th place)
17:56-Alyssa Aldridge, Mainland, 2016 (13th place)
17:58-Missy Duchini, Wayne Valley, 1983 (12th place)
18:01-Lindsay Van Alstine, Hawthorne Christian, 2001 (27th place)
18:02-Anne Marie Letko, North Hunterdon, 1985 (19th place)
18:04-Chelsea Ley, Kingsway, 2007 (18th place)
18:05-Autumn Fogg, Hunterdon Central, 1995 (12th place)
18:07-Jodie Bilotta, North Hunterdon, 1986 (17th place)
18:08-Anne Marie Letko, North Hunterdon, 1986 (18th place)
18:08-Monal Chokshi, Bridgewater West, 1992 (10th place)