Bucs, Shore boys and girls win state sectional XC titles

It was championship Saturday in cross country for the local harriers as the area enjoyed individual and team success.

Individually, Red Bank Regional’s Robbie Dennis captured the boys’ Central Jersey Group III title while Rumson-Fair Haven’s Christy Planer and Shore Regional’s Julie Ullmeyer were the Group II and I state sectional winners, respectively.

Red Bank Regional’s boys added the state sectional title (their second in three years) to the Monmouth County title they won earlier in the month while Group I was dressed in Blue, with the Blue Devils of Shore Regional taking both the boys and girls races.

Red Bank received a stiff test from Middletown South, prevailing 42-55. The Eagles place their first five in the top 16, but it wasn’t good enough. The Bucs had four runners in the first 11 and their fifth man was 19th.

Dennis, the ever-improving sophomore, has shown that he is a quick learner. The first-year harrier has lowered his personal best at Holmdel Park to 16:25.4, which is what it took for him to win his first major championship, Central Jersey Group III. Dennis was able to run away from Monmouth Regional veteran Erik Brown, who was second after a 16:34.6.

Dennis’ time is the fastest in the Shore this fall and stood up as the fastest of the day, even quicker than Monmouth County champion Craig Segal of Holmdel, who took Group II in 16:26.7.

Greg Langley, who has been the Bucs’ team leader throughout this historic cross country season, came through with his best time at Holmdel also, a 16:53.5, which put him in fourth place. Jovannie Cortez was next for RBR in seventh (17:07.7). Steve Waite was 11th (17:33.3), and Shane Kimmins polished off the victory in 19th (18:00.6).

The Top 10 individuals and Top 5 teams qualified for the N.J. State Interscholastic Athletic Association State Group Championships at Holmdel Park Nov. 10.

Planer bounced back strongly from her second-place finish at the Monmouth County championships, running her fastest time of the season at Holmdel Park, 19:31.3. That time held up as the fastest of the day among all the groups and is a sure sign that the Bulldog is peaking at championship time.

Led by Planer’s individual win, the Bulldogs took third (77) behind Voorhees (25) and Ridge (75). Caitlin Moscatello ran a solid race in fifth place for the Bulldogs (20:28.1) and Lillian Pinault was 16th (21:27.9). Jenny Krystopowicz (21:55.9) and Maddy Pinault (22:29.8) were Rumson’s other scorers, finishing 23rd and 35th overall.

It was a great day for Shore Regional cross country with both the boys and girls putting in dominating performances. Ullmeyer led a one-three-four-five-six finish for the Blue Devil girls as the team led the field with a dual meet score of 19 points. Runner-up Bernards had 85. Ullmeyer won her second straight CJ I title, posting a 20:41.9. Her sister, Nicole Ullmeyer, a freshman, was the Blue Devils’ No. 2 runner, finishing third overall in 21:23.8. Laura Hayden (21:28.7), Alison Major (21:33.1) and Heather Gates (21:59) finished fourth through sixth. So dominating were the Devils that their sixth runner, Lauren Ostrowski, had a top 10 finish, placing ninth (22:52.5).

Saturday’s scene is something that may become very familiar to Group I opponents. Major is the only senior in the group. Julie Ullmeyer is still just a sophomore. Her sister Nicole, Gates and Ostrowski are freshmen, and Hayden is a sophomore.

The Blue Devils boys used a two-three finish by Marc Altenau (17:13.7) and Thomas Dunphy (17:15.2) to spark their victory parade. Altenau, a junior, lost a photo finish to Metuchen’s Sam Hetzel (17:13.5) for the individual crown, but it hardly dimmed the historic, first-ever sectional title for the boys.

Joseph Ruane (18:08.6), 12th, and Paul Murphy (18:23.3), 16th, enjoyed top 20 finishes, and fifth scorer Pablo Marin (18:41.5) was 25th. Shore’s team score of 58 was 31 points better than Bernards and Metuchen (89).

At Warinanco Park in Elizabeth, Red Bank Catholic’s girls claimed the New Jersey Track Conference Cross Country Championship, besting Toms River’s Monsignor Donovan, 55-82. Kelly Byrnes paced the Caseys to the win with her fourth place 19:43.9 over the 3.2-mile course. Nicole Kurtain of Notre Dame, Lawrenceville, was the individual champion, clocking 19:17.3.

The Caseys took charge of the race with Julia Barker (20:35), Shannon Gillespie (20:36) and Mary McCudden (20:36) running 11th through 13th. The Caseys’ fifth scorer was Jacci Sargenti (20:47). The time gap between the Caseys’ top five runners continues to close, which is a good sign for the RBC girls.

Saturday the attention will shift from Holmdel Park to Ocean County Park, Lakewood, for the Shore Conference Championships. This is one of the most anticipated championship meets in years for both boys and girls with some of the finest talent in the state on display.

It will be the first meeting between RBR and Christian Brothers Academy since the Bucs dethroned CBA at the Monmouth County meet. The Bucs come in as the hunted with a hungry CBA looking to turn the tables. The Colts are the defending champions. Holmdel, which has been getting better as a team and has Segal, will be a contender. Ocean County’s champion, Toms River North, could be the best team in the Shore. The Mariners will have the chance to prove it on a course they have run often. They won the South Jersey Group IV title last week and previously won the Ocean County title.

The individual race will feature the undefeated Segal and Dennis, who has closed the gap between himself and the Hornet; Ocean County champion Ed Baynes; and runner-up Pete Hess of Toms River North. This could be a fast one because Ocean County Park is flat.

Southern Regional’s girls are ranked third in the state and have been thumping everyone this year. The Rams are the solid favorites to win the Shore Conference just as they won Ocean County and South Jersey IV. RBC (ranked sixth in the state), Middletown South, RFH and Toms River East are the other contenders. TRE won this event last year.

Southern’s Kathryn Wardenski is the Ocean champion, triumphing over teammate Kegga Schaffer by just one second, 18:56-18:57, in that race. Toms River East’s Jen Blank, Monsignor Donovan’s Maggie Taverna and Point Pleasant Beach’s Allison Krayl (the 2000 Ocean winner) will join Planer, Ullmeyer (last year’s SC champion), Byrnes, Middletown South’s Nicole Lombardy and Ocean Township’s Erin Enderly in what should be a wide-open and competitive race for the individual SC crown.

On Nov. 10 it’s back to Holmdel Park for the NJSIAA group championships.