While a good number of New Jersey's HS harriers will go on to compete in one of the two "national championship" regional meets later this month, this is the day that has been circled on a lot of calendars since the early summer. The NJSIAA XC Meet of Champions will be run today and it is the pinnacle of achievement for New Jersey Cross Country runners. Think it's not important? Just read through the excellent piece that The Star-Ledger's Jim Lambert posted yesterday about past winners of this race (Jim Lambert Q & A).
With just two races (Girls @11am / Boys @ 11:45am) for all the marbles over the venerable Holmdel Park course, today presents a ton of sub stories and intriguing match ups. Among them are the possibility of Christians Brothers Academy breaking their own Course Record for the 5 man averagee (16:05 set at last year's MOC), Can the 2 time returning Girls Champions make it a 3Peat after winning the Group 4 title last week or will Voorhees return to it's #1 spot after a slip in the Group 2 race to the Cinderella team of the year Rumson-Fair Haven. This team has been proving themselves all year and is right there on this, the biggest of days.
On the individual side, Will Megan Lacy, despite a painful groin injury make it a perfect season or there be a spoiler to take the Girls crown? Tim Ball has been the best NJ Boys harrier not named Edward Cheserek this year and looks to top off a phenomenal year with the win. There are however a few guys who would like to have some say in that matter.
As we did last week, the coverage has just begun. Tonight and tomorrow, NJRunners will be posting Photo Galleries, Video / Audio Interview and links to the stories by the best HS XC Writers in the state. Keep checking in for our Blanket Coverage of todays action
Continuing Coverage
Video Interview w/ Boys Champion Tim Ball of Piscataway
Video Interview w/ Westfield Coach Jack Martin
Video Interview w/ Shawn Wilson of Cherokee HS (5th Place)
Video Interview w/ Christian Costello of Don Bosco Prep (10th Place)
Audio Clip w/ Girls Champion Holly Bischof of Bishop Eustace Prep
Updated Holmdel Rankings List - Boys (11/19)
Updated Holmdel Rankings List - Girls (11/19)
Jim Lambert on Tim Ball's Individual Win