McNamara, Capozzi lead RBC to county title

Red Bank Catholic High School's girls cross country team delivered a message at the Monmouth County Championships.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Clockwise from top: Ocean Township High School's Jessica Bekampis (11875) races against Freehold Township High School's Jessica Faith (11256) during the Monmouth County Cross Country Championships held at Holmdel Park on Oct. 20. Monmouth Regional High School's Taylor Noe (11820) races to the finish line. Shore Regional High School's Dylan Cole (12152) tries to maintain his lead over Middletown High School North's Matthew Foulks (11748). See more photos on page 33. "There's been speculation about the top teams for the MOC [Meet of Champions]," said RBC's Molly McNamara. "We're right up there. We are a main contender. I don't want to put any limitations on the team."

No one would question RBC's potential for the MOC, following their outstanding performance at the Oct. 20 county championships held at Holmdel Park

Led by the tandem of McNamara and Michelle Capozzi, who finished first and second, the Caseys crushed the competition with a score of 45 points. Runner-up Howell was far back with 113. Their team average of 19:46.80 was second best in meet history.

"We came to run today," said coach Rob DeFilippis. "They all ran pr's [personal record]."

Leading the pr parade were McNamara and Capozzi, who put themselves in the Holmdel Park record book by dipping under 19:00 for the first time.

McNamar's 18:43 was a 48-second improvement over the 19:31 she had at Holmdel as a freshman two years ago. Capozzi was second in 18:55.

"I'm absolutely in shock," McNamara said of her winning time.

Just as she doesn't want to put any limitations on her team, McNamara doesn't want to put any on herself.

"I worked hard this summer," she said. "I'm relaxing more and not worrying about it [the race].

"I believe in myself," she added. "Last year I didn't. I'd get into a race and not think I could do it."

McNamara credited teammate Capozzi with helping her improve. Together, they've been as good as any tandem in the state.

"We train together every day and push ourselves," said Mc- Namara. "To have another girl there to push you lets you know it can be done."

McNamara believes she is silencing those who look at her as a track runner who runs cross country. She's become a bona fide cross country runner with a Monmouth County title to prove it.

Behind the one-two of McNamara and Capozzi, the Caseys were very impressive. Liana Marzano (20:09) and Mary Kate Byrne (20:15) finished eighth and ninth with their pr's, putting four Caseys in the top 10. Fifth runner Lindsey Bellaran (20:52) was 25th.

As defending champions, the Caseys were motivated to keep the title at the school.

"We really wanted to come back and win it a third year in a row," said McNamara.

The Shore Conference Championships are Saturday, and the Caseys will run against another of the MOC contenders, Ocean County power Toms River North. The meet will be at Bucks Mill Park in Colts Neck and will serve as a good barometer for the two teams.

The top 15 teams at the county championships advanced to the SC.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Above left: Red Bank Regional's Matt Metlitz (12068) races to the finish line of the Monmouth County Cross Country Championships held at Holmdel Park on Oct. 20. Right: Ranney School's Anike Oladeji (11922) races to the finish line. Shore Regional's girls were sixth (200), led by Andrea Adams (20:52) and Chelsea Amoroso (21:19), who were 24th and 35th.

A 19th place from Kelliann Kietel (20:46) helped Red Bank Regional's girls take eighth (242). Julia Barnett (20:51) and Lauren Staub (21:05) were 23rd and 29th.

Rumson-Fair Haven's Isabella Maita was 20th (20:46) and helped the Bulldogs finish 11th (297).

Monmouth Regional had two top-20 finishers in Megan Tursi (20:30) and Yayulor Noe (20:41), who were 13th and 17th, and that got the Golden Falcons into the SC in 12th place (343).

The only title up for grabs among the boys was the individual championship. Colts Neck's Mike O'Dowd broke away from a pack after two miles, and Christian Brothers Academy's Mike Mazzaccaro was the only one to go with him.

Mazzaccaro bided his time until striking in the final 400 meters. He out-kicked O'Dowd to the line in 16:10, with the Cougar at 16:13.

Even holding some of its top runners out, CBA, ranked fifth in the country by Marc Bloom's The Harrier, won the title easily with 62 points.

Red Bank Regional's Matt Metlitz and RBC's Kevin Byrne were among the lead pack of contenders before O'Dowd surged and took Mazzaccaro with him.

Metlitz finished third (16:28) and Byrne was fourth (16:37).

RBC's boys were fourth (167), led by Kevin Byrne's best race at Holmdel. The junior was fourth (16:37) in a course pb.

Kyle Clonan was 27th (17:25) for the Caseys.

RBR was fifth (184) with John Arnone giving the Bucs a nice one-two punch by finishing 19th (17:18).

Also qualifying for the SC was Rumson, which was 12th. The Bulldogs got a 26th-place finish from Michael Caracappa (17:24).