What Happened @ The Races - The Week in Review

On-Site Coverage

Photos: NJSIAA Sectional Championships - North I by DHerring

Photos: NJSIAA Sectional Championships - North I by mgd11

Girls Highlights

*GROUP 4

Sophomore Catherine Pagano, who has plenty of  experience racing at Greystone from her youth club running days, rolled to victory in 18:38 to lead Ridgewood to a 44-57 win over Morris Knolls.
Ridgewood, which averaged 19:53 and has six underclassmen in its top seven, put six runners in the top 18 and beat Morris Knolls at each scoring spot. Ridgewood received a huge race from freshman Leah Rosenfeld, 13th in 20:19. Rosenfeld was the No. 5 runner for Ridgewood, marking her first time scoring for the team.

Team qualifiers-Ridgewood. Morris Knolls. Randolph. Kearny. Clifton.


*GROUP 3
Junior Josette Norris of Tenafly came up with the biggest win of her career and Mount Olive, led by the Christian sisters, ran its best race of the season to win a thriller over Passaic County champion Wayne Hills to capture its first title sinc 2004.
Norris, who was second to Ariana North of Northern Highlands by 21 seconds at the Bergen County Meet of Champions, reversed that outcome when she put in a big surge with about a mile to go and pulled away from North, who won the last two titles. Norris crossed with a PR of 18;13, which is the #6 AT mark at Greystone, as she beat North for the first time. North was second in 18:30.
In the team competition, Mount Olive received four personal bests and edged Wayne Hills, 64-67. Freshman Alexandra Christian led the way by finishing fourth in 18:42, and her sister, junior Mariah Christian, was 18th in 20:18. That makes 13 sectional titles, 11 in North Jersey, Section 2 and two in North Jersey, Section 1 for the Marauders.

Team qualifiers-Mount Olive. Wayne Hills. Indian Hills. Northern Highlands. Roxbury

 

*GROUP 2
Senior Sarah Disanza of High Point, who ran a course record 17:48 at Greystone a few weeks ago at the NJAC meet, went wire-to- wire to win by 52 seconds in 18:38, and Ramsey wins the team title, 75-89 over Morris Hills, for its 10th sectional title and first since 2009.
Ramsey trailed 12-24 to Morris Hills early, but it rallied as its No. 6 runner beat the No. 4 runner from Morris Hills to clinch the championship.

Team qualifiers-Ramsey. Morris Hills. High Point. Kittatinny. Lenape Valley.
 
 

*GROUP 1
Senior Colette Richter of Mountain Lakes cranked out a PR of 18:05, which is the All time #4 on this course, to win for the second straight year and keep the Mountain Lakes streak alive at six straight individual titles, and North Warren ran an incredible tight pack race to dethrone Mountain Lakes, 47-69, for its first title since 2008. Mountain Lakes had won the last 3 titles.
Prior to Richter’s two titles, Kristen Landry won four straight individual titles for Mountain Lakes.
North Warren had a gap of just 31 seconds between its first and fifth runners and had six across before the fourth from Mountain Lakes finished.
 

Team qualifiers-North Warren. Mountain Lakes. Bogota. Kinnelon. Sussex Tech.

• 5,000 Meter Run - Colette Richter (Mountain Lakes HS) 18:05.00 SB; Josette Norris (Tenafly HS) 18:13.00 SB; Sarah DiSanza (High Point Reg. HS) 18:38.00; Catherine Pagano (Ridgewood HS) 18:38.00; Ariana North (Northern Highlands Reg. HS) 18:30.00; Carole Harsch (Randolph HS) 19:09.00; Allison Mccurry (Sussex Co. V/T) 19:25.00 SB; Deanna Dilandro (Ramapo HS) 19:30.00; Emily Bushey (Vernon Twp HS) 18:41.00; Liz Wellman (Randolph HS) 19:27.00; Nicole Rodriguez (Kinnelon HS) 19:33.00; Ulana Thompson (Morris Hills HS) 19:41.00; Alexandra Christian (Mount Olive HS) 18:42.00 SB; Margaret Thomson (Randolph HS) 19:42.00; Julia Guerra (Indian Hills HS) 18:50.00; Erika Alzamora (Kearny HS) 19:45.00; Claudia DiSomma (Sparta HS) 18:56.00; Sarah Masukewicz (Mount Olive HS) 18:57.00 SB; Olivia Viparina (Roxbury HS) 19:24.00 SB; Lucy Peschel (Wayne Hills HS) 19:30.00; Cassandra Harasts (Montville HS) 19:31.00 SB; Stephanie Bitcon (Wayne Hills HS) 19:32.00; Veronica Rocco (Tenafly HS) 19:42.00;

Boys Highlights

*GROUP 4
Senior Nick Salamone gradually pulled away for the win in 16:29 to lead Ridgewood to a third straight title and ninth in the past 11 years as the Bergen County power extended its sectional record to 19 titles, all under coach Mike Glynn and all since 1990. The Maroons puts all 7 guys in the top 19 and averaged 16:51 as it outscored Clifton, 44-81.

Team qualifiers-Ridgewood. Clifton. Hackensack. Randolph.  Livingston.


*GROUP 3
Brendan Ungemach of Wayne Hills scored the biggest win of his career and nearly led his pack to the team title, which was captured by Indian Hills, 76-86 over Wayne Hulls.
Ben Malone of Pascack Valley took the line as the defending champion, but the Villanova-bound Malone, racing or the first time in a month due to a hamstring injury and illness, simply wasn’t ready to handle the aggressive front running by Ungemach, who hammered the second loop to open a 25 meter gap on Malone at the halfway mark.
Ungemach, a junior who won the Passaic County title, kept hammering the rest of the way and pulled away for the win by 27 seconds in 15:59, the top time of the day in both sectional meets and No. 9 in course history. Malone wound up 4th in 16:30.
Indian Hills, which ran a great pack race with a compression of a 1-5 split of 37 seconds and a 17:08.4 average, trailed Wayne Hills, 42-53, after each team had four runners across. But the No. 5, No. 6 and No. 7 runners for Indian Hills beat the No. 5 man for Wayne Hills to clinch its 2nd title in 3 years and its sixth overall.

Team qualifiers-Indian Hills. Wayne Hills. Wayne Valley. Old Tappan. Paramus.

*GROUP 2
Walkill Valley threw down the top boys team performance in the entire state in terms of score when it went 1-2-4-6-7 to finish first with 20 points and ab averaged of 16:26.6, just off the course record average of 16:24 set earlier this season by Pope John at the NJAC meet.
Sophomore star Craig Corti broke away just before the start of second mile to lead the charge for Wallkill by finishing first in 16:06. Wallkill Valley had a 43 second gap between Corti and No. 5 man Ed Freisinger, who ran his best race of the season with a PR of a 16:49.
One of the most impressive performances in this race was turned in by senior Alec Manson of Morris Hills.
Manson suffered a broken leg with a mile to go in the race, but courageously finished 25th in 17:36 to help his team place second with 63 points.

Team qualifiers-Wallkill Valley. Morris Hills. Ramsey. Newton. Lenape Valley.
 

*GROUP 1
Mountain Lakes was out to prove that there is life after Stephen Lewandowski, the multiple all-stater who graduated last spring.
The Lakers succeeded as sophomore Ben DeVenezia finished first with a PR of 16:11 and Mountain Lakes averaged 17:15 on the way to a 49-83 over Morris County rival Kinnelon.  The title is the 3rd straight N1 win for Mtn. Lakes

Team qualifiers-Mountain Lakes. Kinnelon. Bogota. North Warren. Park Ridge-Emerson.
 

• 5,000 Meter Run - Brendan Ungemach (Wayne Hills HS) 15:59.00; Craig Corti (Wallkill Valley HS) 16:06.00; Ben Devenezia (Mountain Lakes HS) 16:11.00 SB; Nick Salamone (Ridgewood HS) 16:29.00; Ryan Chiesa (Wallkill Valley HS) 16:08.00 SB; Ramon Fantuzzi (Pompton Lakes HS) 16:16.00; Michael Secreti (Paramus HS) 16:26.00; Travis Ellis (Morris Hills HS) 16:17.00; Andrew Tedeschi (Montville HS) 16:28.00; James Corti (Wallkill Valley HS) 16:23.00; Benjamin Malone (Pascack Valley HS) 16:30.00;

On-Site Coverage

Photos: NJSIAA Sectional Championships - North II by mikel53660

Photos: NJSIAA Sectional Championships - North II by mgd11

Photos: NJSIAA Sectional Championships - North II by DHerring

Photos: NJSIAA Sectional Championships - North II by dfolsom

Girls Highlights

*GROUP 4
North Hunterdon returned to glory with a convincing victory and senior Marisa Ruskan of Bridgewater-Raritan won her second straight title in 18:14, No. 7 in course history.
North Hunterdon, led by sophomore Eve Glasergreen’s runner-up finish in 18:27, No. 13 in course history, averaged 19:28, packed five runners in the top 12, and had five runners cross the line before any othe team had three across on the way to a 37-75 win over Hunterdon Central.
It’s the first sectional title for North Hunterdon since winning the Cenrtal Jersey championships in 2001, and it’s the 16th overall title for the Lions.

Team qualifiers-North Hunterdon. Hunterdon Central. Ridge. Westfield. Bridgewater-Raritan.

*GROUP 3
Junior Mackenzie Barry of Mendham blasted the top time of the day at Greystone with a 17:58, one second of her PR as she captured her third straight title and led Mendham to a 33-47 over defending champion Morristown.  Mendham went 1-2-4-8-18 and averaged 19:00. Mendham Abby Seel finished second in 18:19 is No. 9 in course history.

Team qualifiers-Mendham. Morristown. West Morris. Millburn. Cranford.

*GROUP 2
Voorhees showed once again why it seems headed for a Meet of Champions title by dropping a course record 18;55.2 and scoring just 20 points as the Vikings went 1-2-3-6-8-10-12 to win its seven straight sectional title with one of the most impressive performances in sectional history. The former course record of 18:57.0 was set by Mendham last month at the Morris County Championships.
Senior Nisa Cicitta led the attack by winning in 18:23, No. 10 in course history, as Voorhees increased his sectional title total to 13, nine in North Jersey, Section 2 and four in Central Jersey.

Team qualifiers-Voorhees. Bernards. Summit. Gov. Livingston. Rutherford.

*GROUP 1
McNair completed the triple crown for the first time in school history by winning its first title since 2008 and its fourth overall, 62-95 over Verona.
McNair, which has now won the Jersey City, Hudson County, and sectional titles this season, was led by sophomore Brittany Gibson, who won by 63 seconds in 19:16.

Team qualifiers-McNair. Verona. Palisades Park. Secaucus. Belvidere.
 

• 5,000 Meter Run - Mackenzie Barry (Mendham HS) 17:58.00; Marissa Ruskan (Bridgewater-Raritan HS) 18:14.00; Nisa Cicitta (Voorhees HS) 18:23.00; Brittany Gibson (McNair Academic HS) 19:16.00; Abby Seel (Mendham HS) 18:19.00 SB; Eve Glasergreen (North Hunterdon HS) 18:27.00; Clarissa Modde (Voorhees HS) 18:51.00; Lisa Grohn (Somerville HS) 18:27.00 SB; Kristen Erickson (Voorhees HS) 18:54.00 SB; Kaitlyn Bedard (Hunterdon Central HS) 19:03.00; Reagan Kolakowski (Mendham HS) 18:31.00; Laura Quintana (Bernards HS) 18:58.00; Cailyn Lavigne (North Hunterdon HS) 19:08.00 SB; Gillian McIlroy (Summit HS) 19:05.00; Liz Newman (Ridge HS) 19:14.00; Christine O'Kane (Morristown HS) 19:16.00; Erin McLaughlin (Voorhees HS) 19:08.00 SB; Sarah Decker (Watchung Hills Reg. HS) 19:19.00; Clarice Bourland (Morristown HS) 19:34.00 SB; Francesca Petracco (Hanover Pk. HS) 19:11.00 SB; Kallie Winston (Watchung Hills Reg. HS) 19:21.00; Corey Weiss (Millburn HS) 19:39.00; Erin Seiffert (Voorhees HS) 19:20.00; Chloe O'Malley (Ridge HS) 19:34.00; Defne Sement (Mendham HS) 19:41.00; Zoe Wojtech (Bernards HS) 19:21.00; Meaghan Driscoll (Voorhees HS) 19:22.00 SB; Katherine Gunson (Bernards HS) 19:31.00 SB;

Boys Highlights

*GROUP 4
Junior Matt Luppino of Westfield, the Union County champion, won in 16:08, No. 13 in course history, and the Blue Devils got a huge race from senior Kevin Smith and  kept its pack tighter at the back to defeat North Hunterdon, 40-57. It's the 3rd straight title and extended Westfield’s sectional record 19 titles.
Westfield, which averaged a swift 16:29.2 and had a compression of 37 seconds, trailed North Hunterdon after each team had 3 runners across, but Westfield's 5th runner, senior Dan Luzzi, finished eight spots ahead of North Hunterdon's No. 4 man to seal the deal. 
Smith, who finished 4th in 16:23 had an IT band injury that slowed him up earlier this season, but he's coming on strong at the right time for the Blue Devils as he cranked out his best race of the season.

Team qualifiers-Westfield. North Hunterdon. Hunterdon Central. Ridge. J.P. Stevens.
 

*GROUP 3
Junior Rob Stone kept the streak alive for Millburn by becoming the sixth  straight individual champ from is school to win this race, and Morristown edged Millburn, 56-61 for its first title in 10 years. Mendham, which ran without junior star Justin Naselli, was third with 88. Naselli sat out with a sore knee.
Stone, who won in 16:14, joins Peter Murphy in 2007, Tyler Udland in 2008 and 2009, and Blake Udland, 2010 and 2011, as Millburn champs.
In the team race, Morristown and Millburn were tied after 4 runners, but Morristown's 5th man, Alex Cary, finished ahead of Millburn's 4th to seal the deal. Morristown averaged 16:51 and had a 1-5 split of 42 seconds.
It is the first title for Morristown since 2002 and its 16th overall. 

Team qualifiers-Morristown. Millburn. Mendham. Cranford. Chatham.

*GROUP 2
Sophomore Leland Jones of Summit finished first in 16:16, and Bernards edged Summit for the team title, 50-53, for its first since 2005 and its 31st sectional title overall, No. 2 all-time behind the 32 won by Haddonfield.
With normal No. 1 runner Cooper Rudin not feeling 100 percent, Bernards got huge races from juniors Chris Sisto, second in 16:36, and Will Meyers, fourth with a PR of  17:00.
Bernards, which averaged 17:11.4, has now won four North Jersey, Section 2 titles to go along with 27 Central Jersey Championships.

Team qualifiers-Bernards. Summit. Voorhees. Madison. Gov. Livingston.


*GROUP 1
Junior Jorge Maldonado of Palisades Park, third last year, ran 16;45 to finish first and McNair repeated by beating Secaucus, 48-58.
McNair, which went 3-5-7-14-19 and averaged 17:59,  Senior Omar Lopez led the way for McNair by placing third in 17:22.

Team qualifiers-McNair. Secaucus. Lyndhurst. Verona. Palisades Park.

• 5,000 Meter Run - Matthew Luppino (Westfield HS) 16:08.00 SB; Robert Stone (Millburn HS) 16:14.00; Leland Jones (Summit HS) 16:16.00 SB; Nick Seibert (North Hunterdon HS) 16:13.00; Paul Ehmann (Mendham HS) 16:26.00; David Folsom (North Hunterdon HS) 16:15.00; Tom Pavarini (Mendham HS) 16:26.00 SB; Kevin Smith (Westfield HS) 16:19.00 SB; Greg Arabagian (Morristown HS) 16:28.00; Shaquille Sutherland (Dickinson HS) 16:23.00; James Murphy (Ridge HS) 16:26.00; Dave Mugavero (North Hunterdon HS) 16:29.00;

On-Site Coverage

The Season Resumes - Sectional Saturday

Photos: NJSIAA Sectional Championships - South by Theduke_1776

Photos: NJSIAA Sectional Championships - South by SJPixShooter

Videos

Kyle Kroon - SJ Group 3 Champion

Christian Lynch - XC Coach @ Kingsway Reg. HS

Danielle Leavitt - SJ Group 3 Champion (18:23)

Girls Highlights

• 5,000 Meter Run - Danielle Leavitt (Lacey Twp. HS) 18:23.00; Vickie Ajimoko (Williamstown HS) 18:41.04; Meghan Malloy (Haddonfield Mem. HS) 18:46.00; Mara Schiffhauer (Seneca HS) 18:47.00 SB; Natalia Ocasio (Lenape Reg. HS) 18:48.66; Shelby Cain (Haddonfield Mem. HS) 19:26.00; Paige Macauley (Seneca HS) 18:50.00 SB; Karah O'Halloran (Toms River North HS) 19:16.87; Natalie Cooper (Moorestown HS) 18:56.00 SB; Abby Shafer (Egg Harbor Twp HS) 19:21.59; Lauren Zodl (Pinelands Reg. HS) 19:09.00; Lexie Taylor (Washington Twp HS) 19:26.19 SB; Molly Applegate (Toms River South HS) 19:10.00; Maggie Hanlon (Toms River North HS) 19:28.71; Devon Grisbaum (Ocean City HS) 19:17.00; Jillian Smith (Southern Reg. HS) 19:29.49; Shannon Stang (Shawnee HS) 19:29.98 SB; Mary Kate Brelsford (Ocean City HS) 19:33.00; Julia Despirito (Shawnee HS) 19:31.53 SB; Bridget Flynn (Ocean City HS) 19:37.00; Nina Bendixen (Shawnee HS) 19:37.68 SB; Janelle Shipotof (Timber Creek Reg. HS) 19:39.00 SB; Briana Roberts (Pennsauken HS) 19:37.92 SB; Stephanie Flemmi (Seneca HS) 19:44.00 SB;

Boys Highlights

• 5,000 Meter Run - Kyle Kroon (Toms River South HS) 15:24.00 SB; Jimmy Daniels (Sterling HS) 15:37.00; Shawn Wilson (Cherokee HS) 15:40.00; Louis Corgliano (Hammonton HS) 15:38.00 SB; Greg Halla (Haddonfield Mem. HS) 15:41.00; Kyle Leonard (Washington Twp HS) 16:02.00; Steve Maine (Highland Reg HS) 15:47.00; Matthew Nelson (Barnegat Twp. HS) 16:03.00; Julian Greco (Lenape Reg. HS) 16:04.00 SB; Chris Marco (Toms River South HS) 15:52.00 SB; Jacob Clark (Pleasantville HS) 16:04.00 SB; Tristan Geiger (Toms River East HS) 16:21.00; Nick Costello (Delsea Reg. HS) 16:01.00; Isaac Clark (Pleasantville HS) 16:17.00 SB; Ben Dillon (Cherry Hill East HS) 16:24.00 SB; Mark Kundrotas (Hammonton HS) 16:11.00 SB; Marquis Cox (Lenape Reg. HS) 16:27.00 SB; Kevin Scott (Ocean City HS) 16:12.00; Ryan Magnus (Kingsway Reg. HS) 16:17.00; Kevin Horten (Moorestown HS) 16:18.00; Noah Culbreath (Kingsway Reg. HS) 16:18.00;

On-Site Coverage

Photos: Robert Keissling Memorial XC Championships by SJPixShooter

Boys Highlights

• 5,000 Meter Run - Kyle Kirk (Camden Catholic HS) 15:51.58 SB; Eric Franklin (Bishop Eustace Prep) 16:07.25 SB; Neil MacFarlane (Paul VI HS) 16:10.85 SB; Dan Marino (Paul VI HS) 16:29.12 SB;

Cover Photo: The start of the North II Group 2 Race

By: Dave Folsom for NJRunners.com