October 8, 2009 – Although the top three ranked teams remain in tact, the results from Saturday’s Shore Coaches Invitational at Holmdel Park produced a huge shakeup this week.
No. 1 Haddonfield, No. 2 Christian Brothers and No. 3 Don Bosco Prep may not remain in that order after they clash in the Eastern States Championshipson Saturday at the Manhattan Invitational at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.
The biggest movers this week were Cherokee, Hopewell Valley and East Brunswick.
Cherokee and Hopewell Valley vaulted from the depths of the unranked into the No. 13 and No. 15 spots, respectively. Meanwhile, East Brunswick climbed 11 positions from No. 17 to No. 6.
In the A Division race, Cherokee placed eighth behind a slew of ranked teams and ahead of No. 18 Randolph.
Hopewell Valley’s ascent was fueled by its victory over three ranked teams in the C Division race. Hopewell Valley finished with 81 points and an average of 17:24.6 as it toppled No. 19 Mendham, No. 20 Ocean City, and No. 22 Paul VI.
OCTOBER 8, 2009 - The 35th Shore Coaches Invitational, Saturday at Holmdel Park, offered further proof that no one team will emerge as the favorite to win the NJSIAA Meet of Champions until perhaps the final week of the season. And even then, there are no guarantees.
The third DyeStat New Jersey girls’ cross-country poll of the season welcomes Hillsborough to the top rung of the ladder. Hillsborough, coached by Rich Refi and paced by senior Ashley Smolinka, won the Varsity A race over the likes of big school heavyweights Hunterdon Central, Randolph and Toms River North.
Hillsborough is the third No. 1 this season in as many polls. Randolph opened the season as the preseason favorite to win the M of C, and Ridge was No. 1 last week.
Ridge tumbled from the top spot at the SCI after getting nipped by Immaculate Heart, 87-89, in the Varsity B race.
Among the big jumpers in the poll, two-time defending M of C winner Voorhees leaped seven spots to No. 3 after winning the Varsity D race. Lenape moved up six spots after finishing fifth in the Varsity A race, and Haddonfield made the biggest move of all, hopping up eight slots despite not having the services of top runner Marielle Hall at the SCI. Hall ran 21:09 for a 6-K at the Paul Short Invitational last Friday in Bethlehem, Pa.
