Joe Rosa (WWPN) rips 12 seconds off the Holmdel Park course record - (Girls capsules)
Joe and Jim Rosa, West Windsor-Plainsboro North’s indefatigable junior twins, put together the greatest finish in the history of Holmdel Park with a performance for the ages at the 35th Shore Coaches Invitational.
After running together through the first mile (5:07) and the second mile (9:59), Joe (photo left by John Nepolitan) pulled away from his brother and ripped up the 3.1-mile layout to the tune of a course record shattering 15:04 in the B Division race.
That’s right, 15:04!!!!!! That sliced 12 seconds off the course record of 15:16 set in 2006 by Craig Forys of Colts Neck.
Not to be outdone, Jim came blasting across the line in 15:16 to match Forys’ old mark.
While the Rosa’s race was the highlight of the meet, there were several other significant performannces.
Here is a look at the six varsity boys races
A Division
Christian Brothers Acadmey, No. 2 in NJ, repeated as champion despite holding out three of its top runners, and Curtis Richburg of West Orange scored an impressive win in his maiden voyage around Holmdel Park.
CBA, minus Mike Mazzaccaro, Dan Mykityshn and Conrad Lippert, still had enough to defeat No. 6 Toms River North, 86-149, with Westfield third at 159. Dan Bailey led the way for CBA, placing second in 16:08 as coach Tom Heath’s crew averaged 16:41.4.
CBA held out its three runners to make sure they are ready for next Saturday’s showdown with Haddonfield, ranked No. 7 in the nation and No. 1 in NJ, in the Eastern States race at the Manhattan Inviational in the Bronx. Haddonfield beat CBA last week at the Bowdoin Park Classic in Wappingers Falls, N.Y.
In the individual race, Richburg, running hjis first year of cross-country, came from fifth place with a half mile to win in 16:05.
``The race went the way I had hoped,’’ said Richburg, who ran 4:11 for 1,600 last spring. ``I didn’t want to push the pace, so I just stayed where I was until those downhills and then went after the guys in front of me. With this being my first cross country season and my first time running at Holmdel, I’m really pleased with how I ran.’’
BDivision
When Joe Rosa meet with his coach Brian Gould earlier this week, they talked about what their plan would be for this race.
``When he told me what his goal was, my jaw dropped,’’ said Gould. ``But I told him to go for it.''
So what did Rosa tell Gould.
``I told him I want to try to get as close to 15 as possible,’’ said Rosa. ``I felt like if I I went for that and came up short, I'd still get the record.''
Rosa responded with the greatest race in Holmdel Park history with his mind blowing victory in 15:04. Jim wasn’t far behind, taking a piece of Forys’ old mark with his runner-up time in 15:16.
The Rosa’s were able to get away from Tyler Udland of Millburn, the 2008 M of C winner, in the second mile and then simply ran an all out time trial to the finish. Udland was third in 15:55.
Joe ran 2:21 for the first half mile of the final 1.1, and closed with a 2:44 last 1,000 to seperate from his brother and snatch the course record from Forys.
``Breaking this record has been a goal of mine since I was freshman,’’ said Rosa, who dropped 34 seconds off his previous Holmdel best of 15:38, the Holmdel sophomore class record that Rosa ran to win this race last year. . ``Forys was an incredible runner, so to break his record is an honor.’’
Rosa, second to Udland at the M of C last year, said he had a feeling he was ready to go real fast.
``When I ran 15:19 (course record at the Brairwood Invitational at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia two weeka ago), I knew I could go faster here,’’ said Rosa. ``This course is faster for me, so I had a good feeling that something like this could happen.’’
Forys knew his record would fall some day.
``It was my prized high school record,’’ said Forys, a junior at Michigan. ``It had to be broken sometime, but for it to happen so early in the season by a junior is ridicilous. These guys (the Rosa’s) have taken N.J. running to a whole new level.’’
Joe Rosa said Jim deserves a lot of credit.
``He’s the smarter, more tactical runner, so I know if I stay with him I will run well, and he pushed me every step,’’ said Joe.
Udland was stunned by what the Rosa’s accomplished.
``I thought maybe I was running slow, but then I saw I was at 10:25 at two miles and that was pretty good,’’ said Udland. ``I knew at that point that they were going to get the record. I don’t think there is anyone that can beat Joe Rosa right now.’’ Udland, who said he could have run a bit faster if he hadn't caught t a cramp late in the race, acknowledged that beating either Rosa, especially Joe, is a tall order, but he's not ready to concede his M of C title. ``I know I will get faster like I did last year,'' said Udland, second at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional last year. ``The great thing about cross-country is no matter how fast you've run, you still have to go out and do it that day. So, I'l keep working hard and see what happens.''
Rosa will try for his third record in as many races when he takes the starting line at next Saturday’s Manhattan Invitational at venerable Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. The course record for the 2.5-mile course is 12:06.7, set last year by Solomon Haile of Maryland.
``I’m not going to predict anything, but I’ll be going for that record,’’ said Rosa, who ran a sophomore course record 12:20.0 when he won his race at Manhattan a year ago.
Although the Rosa’s went 1-2 and West Windsor-Plainsboro North averaged a meet best 16:25.6, fifth man trouble cost West Windsor North a chance at the team title.
Millburn averaged 16:53.4 and rallied for the title, 130-136 over Ridge. West Windsor North, which nearly became the second team to have three sub 16 runners in the same racae (Jon Squeri was fourth in a huge personal best of 16:00), wound up third with 151. Haddonfield had three runners under 16 when it won the M of C title in 2001.
C Division
Ocean City put two in the top five, led by junior Miles Schoedler (first in a Holmdel personal best 16:18), but Hopewell Valley had the tightest pack and emerged with the victory with 81 points. Mendham was second with 106 and Ocean City wound up third with 125, a point ahead of fourth place Paul VI.
Hopewell Valley jammed its five runners within 46 seocnds and averaged 17:24. Charlie Yu paced Hopewell Valley by placing seventh in 16:55.
D Division
When a runner can drop a personal best on a day when they aren’t feeling their best, it’s usually a very good indication of how fit they are.
So Pat Schellberg (photo right by John Nepolitan) of Delbarton was all smiles after posting a 16:13 to repeat as champion despite legs that felt like lead. Schellberg’s previous best at Holmdel was 16:20, which he ran twice last season and was his winning time at the state Non-Public A Championship.
Schellberg won by 20 seconds over runner-up Matt Metlitz of Red Bank.
``That was a really good effort on a day when my legs were so heavy and it’s pretty humid out,’’ said Schellberg, who had to hustle from the meet to catch a train to Georgetown for a college visit. ``Sometimes it’s even better for your confidence to run well when you don’t feel your best.’’
In the team race, Delbarton had a huge aadvantage after three its runners were in, but the back of Holmdel’s super tight pack capped a crazy rally as coach Sean McCafferty scored a 145-147 win over Delbarton with NJ#15 Red Bank Catholic third with 161.
Holmdel, which averaged 17:46.2, had a spread of just 17 seconds between its’ No. 1 and No. 5 man as alll five were seperated by just 13 places. Holmdel was led by Oliver Song, 23rd in 17:35. E DIVISION
With US #7/NE#1 Haddonfield holding out its top runners as it gears up for next week’s Eastern States Championships, the chase for the team title was billed as a wild and wide open scramble.
And that’s just what it was as Wallkill Valley, a team on the rise, put two runners in the top 17, averaged 17:54.4, and held off NJ#25 Lawrenceville, 166-178.
It’s the second straight big victory for Wallkill Valley, which captured the Group 2 race at the Passaic Coaches Invitational last week. Joe Chegwidden led the way again for Wallkill Valley, placing fifth in 17:10.
There was no drama in the individual race as Lyndhurst sophomore Patrick Rono, the son of 1988 Olympic 1,500 gold medalist Peter, grabbed a quick lead and was never threatened, crossing first in 16:36, a drop of 18 seconds from his previous Holmdel best.
Rono said he’s changed his racing tactics since last year.
``Last year I just followed the runner in front of me, now I’m trying to more of a leader in the race,’’ said Rono, who about 70 miles a week this summer. ``It’s harder to be the guy in front, but I know it’s something I have to do.
Rono used a different strategy on the hilly 3.1-mile layout than he did last year.
``I know that the hills are a killer here, so I sprinted on the downhills to make up for it and that’s why I was able to run faster. I want to improve ever race, so I am very happy about this time.’’
D.J. Thornton of Union Catholic, one of the top runners in the state, sat out the race with an injury. F DIVISION Dave Oster’s philosphy during the early part of this season has been pretty simple.
The senior at Verona jumps to the front, controls things at a comfortable pace, and runs hard enough to win.
And that formula worked again for Oster as he grabbed control going up the start hill and blasted away from the field, opening a 25 yarad lead by the mile mark on his way to victory in 16:21.
Oster, who remained undefeated, just missed his Holmdel personal best of 16:19 that he ran to finish 15th at the Meet of Champions last year.
``I’m pretty happy,’’ said Oster, the 2008 state Group 1 champion, ``Even though I didn’t get a p.r., that’s okay because I didn’t kill myself and never had to go into that last gear. It was good to get into that Holmdel mode with a good race, and by the end of the season I’m definitley looking for a big p.r. when I run here.’’
Oster finished 22 seconds in front of runner-up Scott Chamberlin of Blair. Chamberlin, who lives in Allamuchy, continued his breakout junior season with an impressive time of 16:43.
Mater Dei, one of the top Non-Public B teams in the state, placed its five runners in the top 32 and averaged 18:18.4 to take the team title with 122 points. Peddie was second and Blair third as both prep teams scored 156 points.
GIRLS CAPSULES
VARSITY A
NJ #3 Hillsborough won a mad dash for the title in the most-jam-packed race of the meet, in terms of ranked teams.
Senior Ashley Smolinka (photo left by John Nepolitan) won the overall title in 19:01 to pace Hillsborough, which scored 104 points. Runner-up and #4 Hunterdon Central finished second with 115, #7 Randolph was third with 118 and #2 Toms River North was fourth with 148.
Hillsborough’s success was memorable for ending droughts as well as for its trophies earned. Coach Rich Refi’s team won at the SCI for the first time ever, while Smolinka was the first Hillsborough girl to win an SCI title since 2001, when Ashley Uniskiewicz won the Varsity B title.
Smolinka came out on top in a race which featured five of the 10 fastest times of the meet.
Here’s a list of those runners and their rank in the meet:
5-Cayla DelPiano, South Brunswick, 19:21, tie-10th
VARSITY B
Kingsway senior Chelsea Ley, (photo right by John Nepolitan) the favorite to win the NJSIAA Meet of Champions, revealed after winning the Varsity B race in a meet-best 18:03 that she was looking to go faster. Much faster.
Like the Holmdel Park course record of 17:35, set by Janet Smith of North Edison (now J.P. Stevens) in 1983.
``I’m disappointed, I’m not going to lie,’’ Ley said. ``I was talking about it with my coach (Christian Lynch) before the race. But I hit the mile in 6:08 and I knew I wasn’t going to get it.’’
One of the reasons Ley wasn’t pushed is because the pre-meet expected matchup between her and Montogmery’s Jill Prentice never materialized. Prentice, who ran 18:17 at Bucks Mill Park in Colts Neck last week (#2 in course history), has been sick all week after returning from Cornell on an official college visit.
Ley, whose college choices include Virginia, Tennessee, Oregon and Minnesota, has two more shots at Smith’s record, the state group championships and the M of C.
Her personal best at Holmdel is the 17:44 she ran to win the Varsity C race last season. It is the second-fastest time in meet history.
NJ #7 Immaculate Heart pulled off the biggest upset of the meet, knocking off top-ranked Ridge, 87-89. Junior Erin Thompson led the way for the victorious Bergen County squad, finishing sixth in 19:32.
The key for Immaculate Heart was Rachel Lotterman, who finished 19th overall as her team’s fourth runner. She finished ahead of Ridge’s third runner, just one place back.
VARSITY C
Syracuse-bound Julie Jablonski made it two wins in three years for Hopewelll Valley after she won the individual title, despite a mid-race downpour, in 19:29.
Clare Buck won the Varsity D race in 2007.
``It definitely was difficult, with the rain and no one around to push the pace,’’ said Jablonski, whose Holmdel personal best is 18:40. ``With no one around, you just have to realize, I gotta go.’’
NJ #14 Seneca came up with its first-ever victory here at this meet, scoring 91 points to slip by runner-up and #19 Hopewell Valley with 129.
Lyndsy Horn led the way for Seneca by finishing 11th overall in 20:44.
VARSITY D
NJ #10 Voorhees, the two-time defending M of C winner but without the services of its All-American, Melanie Thompson, who is now a freshman at Oregon, continued its run of success at New Jersey’s traditional mid-season checkup meet.
Senior Colette Whitney placed third in 19:24 and led Voorhees to the team title, beating runner-up and #11 Holy Angels, 65-112. #18 Delsea finished third with 125. Voorhees looks as strong as ever, packing five runners into the top 23 overall for a team average of 20:17.2. Last year with Thompson, Voorhees averaged 20:05.
On the individual front, Delaware Valley senior Emma Giantisco emerged from teammate Julia Mark’s shadow to snag her first major individual title.
Mark, the state Group 2 champion last season, has graduated, but she has left the program in good hands, as Giantisco hung with a pack of five until 1.1 miles left, then burned through the final woodsy downhill to finish in a personal best 19:07.
Among the girls Giantisco credited with keeping a strong pace, Rahway’s Nichelle Harris of Rahway placed second in 19:19, Whitney was third, and Alexandra Clinton of Ramsey finished fourth in 19:26.
``I really wanted to break 19 minutes today. It would have been nice,’’ said Giantisco, who won a much smaller race in the first meet of the season, the Petty Fun Run, beating Whitney, the runner-up.
``The other girls worked really hard to keep a good pace,’’ Giantisco said. ``I’m happy I won but I’m always looking to get better si I’d say I’m not satisfied yet.’’
VARSITY E
Dana Giordano was well recognized as an up-and-coming track star as a freshman at Bernards last spring. She posted personal bests of 5:05 for the mile and 11:16 for the 3,200 meters.
Now Giordano has branched out to cross-country, and that endeavor seems to be working out quite well. She broke away from a pack of four runners and earned the Varsity E individual title in 19:27. Giordano finished three seconds ahead of runner-up Caroline Williams of Mount St. Mary, and four seconds ahead of third-place runner Holly Bischoff of Bishop Esutace.
Giordano is the first Bernards runner to win here since Tracy Hinman won the Group D title in 1986.
``It was tough out there,’’ Giordano said. ``After I got up the hill out of the bowl, my legs felt like they were filled with sand. It feels real nice after you finish your races. This course is still intimidating.’’
Bischoff’s effort paced Bishop Eustace to the team title over Giordano’s crew, 92-131. Eustace had three runners finish in the top nine.
Haddonfield’s Marielle Hall, coming off a superb summer of track and one of the favorites to win the NJSIAA Meet of Champions in November, did not compete. She ran on Friday at the Paul Short Invitational in Bethlehem, Pa.
VARSITY F
Eastern Christian sophomore Kristen Traub finally got over the jinx which hexed her freshman campaign, as she finished the Holmdel Park trails for the first time in three tries. She made her first completion of the state championship course a successful one, winning the Varsity F individual title in 19:21.
Last year, she fell out of the Shore Coaches meet and the Non-Public B state meet with injuries.
Traub, a front-runner for much of her freshman year, said she knew going into the race not to take the lead right away, and that made matters a bit simpler.
``I was behind six people in the first mile,’’ Traub said proudly. ``I know not to take the lead because on this course, it’s all about strategy.’’
Pingry of Martinsville revisited more successful times it enjoyed earlier this decade at the SCI when it packed four runners into the top 14 and won the team title, 72-92, over defending state Group 1 champion Robbinsville.
Kate Leib finished eighth in 20:23 to lead Pingry, which won three straight titles from 2003-05
Joe and Jim Rosa, West Windsor-Plainsboro North’s indefatigable junior twins, put together the greatest finish in the history of Holmdel Park with a performance for the ages at the 35th Shore Coaches Invitational.
Senior Ashley Smolinka (photo left by John Nepolitan) won the overall title in 19:01 to pace Hillsborough, which scored 104 points. Runner-up and #4 Hunterdon Central finished second with 115, #7 Randolph was third with 118 and #2 Toms River North was fourth with 148. 
and I knew I wasn’t going to get it.’’
