MERGE: Season Opener Invitational Boys 2026

We combine every 5K race from the Season Opener Invitational and rescore the meet as one.

Bergen Catholic junior Mason McKinney and Ridgewood senior Dean Ackley took it to the line for the Pod 1 Varsity win. McKinney earned the victory at 16:12, the overall meet-leading performance, and Ackley second at 16:13. 

Pod 2 Varsity winner, Saddle River Day School senior Misha Theberge, ran 16:14 and ranks third overall in the merge.

Team-wise, Ridgewood boys outscored Seton Hall Prep 55 to 61 in Pod 1 Varsity; Bergen Catholic was a close third with 75. These three teams also lead the meet merge in that order.

Ridgewood averaged 16:54, splitting 1:35, led by Ackley's second place 16:13. Brandon Spino was fourth in Pod 1 at 16:25, Jack Barsa fifth with 16:28, and John Hoffman and Douglas Parrales finished out their top five.