Romero, Hebner fastest of the day at Holmdel Park

By Brian Towey for DyeStat

Holmdel, N.J. -- The New Balance Shore Coaches Invitational at New Jersey’s Holmdel Park brought together an impressive array of New Jersey cross country talent, showcasing the state’s robust distance tradition.

PHOTOS - GIRLS | BOYS | RESULTS

The 5-kilometer boys varsity ‘A’ race brought together a strong group of competitors, with Christian Brothers Academy (albeit not all of the Colts’ top seven), Patrick Bayeux of Ridge and Mulual Mu of Trenton Central all battling in the lead pack.

Mu held on for the win in 16 minutes, 12 seconds in his first invitational this season.

“I was trying to stay in the top 10 or top five,” Mu said. “But by the first mile I was in third.”

Mu, Bayeux and Christian Brothers juniors Luke Reid and Tim McInerney pushed toward the front. By the second mile, Mu and Bayeux were competing for first.

Reid eventually moved up to take second in 16:23. Bayeux was third in 16:42, while Mendham’s Jack Jennings and Val Figueira came in fourth and fifth in 16:47 and 16:48.

“I’m happy with the win,” said Mu, who missed most of the 2016 cross country season following a torn tendon in his leg before returning to finish fifth in the Penn Relays mile in April. “But this is just the start. We have a long way to go.”

CBA won the team title with 64 points. Westfield was second with 88 points and West Windsor Plainsboro South third with 104.

“We’re training really well but we’re not where we want to be yet,” said McInerney, who finished sixth in 16:51. “But we’ll be there.”

Voorhees senior Chris Romero posted the fastest time of the day in the varsity ‘D’ race in 15:56. It was his third invitational victory of the season, building upon wins at the Cherokee Challenge and Stewart Invitational.

“It was a really fast pace,” said Romero, who held off Hopewell Valley’s Teddy Meredith (16:17) for the win.

“I remember my coach telling me that the (middle mile) of the course was what mattered.”

Hopewell Valley had athletes place second, sixth and ninth to win the team title 46-85 over Voorhees. Chatham was third with 130 points.

“We think we can run with these teams,” said Hopewell Valley’s Tim Dolan, who finished 15th in 17:17. “Obviously we had a very good day today. I think in November we’re going to be faster.”

Kingsway scored an impressive team win in the boys varsity ‘B’ race, prevailing 55-90 against North Hunterdon. Senior Joe Grandizio was the top finisher for Kingsway in third (16:33), as the team placed three in the top 10.

“We’ve put a lot of work into our boys program to get the top athletes to come out,” said Kingsway coach Christian Lynch, who, along with co-coach Caitlin Hess, led the team to a 10th-place finish at the 2016 New Jersey Meet of Champions.

“We’re on the precipice of becoming a regional/national program.”

North Hunterdon senior Ray Sellaro won the race in 16:16. Ramsey Little of Millburn finished second in 16:22.

Princeton scored an impressive team win in the varsity ‘C’ race, defeating Morris Hills 35-78. Seton Hall Prep was third with 145 points.

Senior Will Hare of Princeton was first in 16:11, leading three runners in the top five for the Tigers.

“We don’t let anything get to us,” Hare said. “We have to have the mentality that we trust the process.”

Point Pleasant Boro junior Devin Hart, following a win at the Bowdoin Park Classic on Sept. 23 in New York, won the Varsity ‘E’ race in 15:57. Connor Melko of Bishop Eustace Prep was second (16:40) and Greg Eisenhower of Haddonfield third (16:40).

Haddonfield won the team title with 79 points over Northern Valley-Demarest (116 points). Camden Catholic was third with 134 points.

Jeron Jordan of  St. Benedict’s won the boys varsity ‘F’ Race in 16:17, followed by Mountain Lakes’ Jared Cooper (16:26) and Union Catholic senior Andre Rodriguez (16:48). St. Benedict’s junior Alfred Chawonza was fourth in 16:56.

Mountain Lakes took the team title with 117 points. Robbinsville, which placed second in the championship race Sept. 30 at the Carlisle PA Invitational, finished second with 134 points. Spotswood was third with 146 points.

Senior Fahd Nasser of McNair Academic won the varsity ‘G’ race in 16:15. Mater Dei Prep’s John Spinelli was second in 16:39 and junior Jeremy Bronstein of Dwight-Englewood School third in 16:47.

Paul VI won the team title with 79 points over Dunellen (125 points) and Newark Academy (136).

Hebner twins fastest of the day

Twin sisters Monica and Isabel Hebner of Northern Highlands Regional took the top two spots in the girls varsity ‘B’ race in 18:32 and 18:39, the two fastest times of the day. Alexa Westley, a junior from Warren Hills High, finished third in 18:53.

Kingsway took the team title 77-81 over Ridge in an early battle of two of the top programs in the state. Mount Olive finished third with 161 points. 

Corinne Barney, a sophomore at Indian Hills High, won the varsity ‘C’ race in 19:23.

“Once I got to the (mid-point of the race), I passed the girl who was in first,” said Barney, who is running her first cross country season after playing soccer.

“I picked it up and passed her. I was in front of her the rest of the way.”

Sophomores Jade Tricomy of Toms River South (19:59) and Julia Trethaway of West Morris Central (19:59) finished second and third. Madeline Barney, Corinne’s twin sister, finished fifth in 20:17.

Red Bank Regional won the team race with 63 points. Indian Hills was second with 101 points. Somerville was third with 127 points.

Union Catholic had a dominating win in the varsity ‘E’ race, placing three athletes in the top eight for 35 points. Mountain Lakes finished second with 109 points and Poly Prep Country Day of Brooklyn third with 112 points.

Jerika Lufrano took the win for Union Catholic in 19:07. Bishop Eustace Prep’s Katy Storti ran 19:32 for second place.

Notre Dame Academy of Staten Island NY had two runners in the top five to win the varsity ‘D’ team title 72-75 over Governor Livingston. Voorhees finished third with 80 points.

Rachel Kenny, a senior at Matawan Regional, won in 19:13. River Dell’s Shannon Goria finished second (19:31) and Victoria Vanriele of Governor Livingston third (19:37).

The Pingry School of Basking Ridge NJ won varsity race ‘F’ 65-66 over Villa Walsh Academy. Academy of The Holy Angels finished third with 92 points.

Sophomore Nicole Vanasse won the race for Pingry in 19:31. Monmouth Regional’s Amanda Stone (19:45) and Samantha Ragenklint (19:57) finished second and third.

North Hunterdon won the varsity ‘A’ race with 69 points, led by junior Elena DiMarcello (second, 19:19) and sophomore Chloe Gonzalez (third, 19:26).

Randolph’s Abby Loveys won the race in 19:02 to lead her team to a third-place finish (109 points). West Windsor Plainsboro South finished second (107 points).