AMERICAN DIVISION XC CHAMPS--GIRLS GO 7-0; BOYS 5-2 TAKE 3RD

American Division XC Champs--Girls 7-0; Boys 5-2 Take 3rd

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Harriers Tear It Up in Championships

The boys and girls completed their fall '09 campaign with successes at the Morris County, State Sectional, and Group 3 State Championships.
At the Morris County Championships on 10/31, the runners treated themselves to an excellent performance at the tough Krafts Food Complex 5000m course, the last time the course will be used for a xc meet. On this same course, the MO girls won 5 County titles, and finished in the top 3 more times than any other Morris County program. The boys shining moment came in 2001 when they captured gold. Among the MO greats to compete on this course were fabled two-time All American, two-time state champion Steve Slattery, who won an unbelievable four straight years, the only person to ever achieve such an accomplishment; Christine Engel, another 1st team All Stater, and leader of the girls 1989 Meet of Champs winning team; Jackie Coscia, two-time winner; Marianne Herbst, 1st team All Stater; and Pat Slattery, winner and runner-up his junior and senior year and a 1st team All Stater.
Seniors Chris Schneider and Jon Weiss led the boys to a 6th place finish on the rain-softened course in 11th and 13th. Following them in were Zach Miller (44), Antonio Ruggiero (53), and Scott Rennalls (54). The girls were 13th and led by soph Steph Smith (44th). In the frosh boys race, Anthony Talanca had one of the best finishes in recent years by taking 4th.

At the North 1, Group 3 Sectionals at Garrett Mtn. on 11/7, the boys raced to a 3rd place finish, good for a ticket to Holmdel the next week. Schneider again recorded an 11th place finish. Weiss, Miller, and Rennalls all got in the top 30 to help tally a score just outside 2nd. The girls ran a respectable 9th; Steph Smith brought it in first for the Ladies in 25th place.

The boys improved for the third straight year by taking 12th at the Group 3 Meet on 11/14. Chris Schneider finished higher than any Marauder in the last 8 years with his 18th place. Jon Weiss also ran well, taking 38th. Joining them on that team were junior Zach Miller, sophs Scott Rennalls & Antonio Ruggiero, sr. Bryan Kveglis, and jr. Steve Wagner.