Cross-country: Highlights from the first week in North Jersey

Teaneck High School doesn't have a long cross-country tradition, although over the years the Highwaymen and Highwaywomen have had the occassional star individual. The boys qualified for the Bergen Meet of Champions, first run in 1973, for the first time last fall and the girls have made the race three times, the last time coming in 2002.

The boys and girls teams have only qualified for the state group championships once each since the meet went to sectionals in 1968, with the girls' last appearance in 1984.

But Saturday, Teaneck had perhaps the best one-day performance in the history of the school, as Josh Tejada won the large school boys race at the Season Opener Invitational at Darlington Park in Mahwah and the girls were third in the large school girls team race.

Tejada's win, by about 10 meters over defending state sectional group 3 champ Matt Califf of Wayne Valley, wasn't a big surprise as both runners were second team All North Jersey a year ago, and Tejada had an excellent track season. But Teaneck's third place finish, in the girls division, behind only perennial power Old Tappan and Union City and ahead of ranked teams like Wayne Hills, Clifton and Tenafly was a shock as the last set of medals earned by any Teaneck girls team were the third place medals earned by the Highwaywomen in the 2002 Bergen division A meet.

"it's not a surprise to me,'' said second year head coach Joel Garcia, the former Passaic H.S. star who, with assistant coach Hadeel Alshujaieh, the former Clifton standout has fashioned one of North Jersey's most improved programs. "I thought that this meet would play out like this because the girls have been working so hard. Today was about getting them to believe in themselves.''

Old Tappan, despite losing four of its top five to graduation including State Meet of Champions qualifiers Kate Meeks and Kristen Johnson, put all seven of its varsity runners in the top 27, led by junior Sophia Katechis (5th) and senior Rowan Leddy (6th) to defeat Union City, 61-76, despite UC providing the easy race winner in senior Liz Fis (20:54).

First year cross-country runner Elena Guzman led Teaneck in third place, with Anabel Cruz 11th, Alyvia Polite 20th, Sofia Melo Panternina 32nd and Lydia Rojas 38th as the Highwaywomen scored 88 team points for third.

"It's only Elena's second season of running overall, as she did well in spring track last year,'' said Garcia. "She was so nervous before the race but I think as she gains confidence she's going to do better and better. I'm excited for the season.''

Tejada takes a title, fueled by a Dominican specialty

Tejada got his senior season off to a roaring start, taking the lead midway through the race with a spurt that opened up a large lead and holding on to win in 16:25, while Califf closed well to finish second in 16:27, with Clifton junior Lamarr Olive third in 16:36.

St. Peter's Prep took the next four spots and easily won the team title, 34-137-140 over Hackensack, which was led by Dylan Guarquila, who finished 11th.

Tejada's win was fueled in part by a meal of mangu, a Dominican specialty that mixed mashed plantains, eggs, meat and cheese and was a tribute to his biggest supporter, his mom, Julissa, who celebrated her birthday on Saturday.

"I spent the summer trying to increase my mileage and do the little things to improve,'' said Tejada, who was 35th in the state group 3 meet last fall, "I'm stretching more, sleeping better and eating healthier (except for the occasional tasty mangu) and working hard.''

"I have some big goals this year and I feel more experienced in racing strategy,'' said Tejada, who has always been confident in his ability. "I'm really looking forward to the rest of the season.''

Christina Allen of River Dell outran Morris Tech junior Maya Van Horn in the small schools race, running a solid early season race of 19:11. Mika Tampadong of Becton (20:26), was third, followed by Mackenzie Bua of Hasbrouck Heights (20:30) and the Indian Hills trio of Camryn Finn, Summer Myhren and Alyssa Maybeck (20:40, 20:42, 20:42).

Lakeland won a tight team race over Hasbrouck Heights, 63-69, with the Lancers placing its five top runners between ninth and 19th places. Brianna Fahy led the Lancers with a ninth place finish in 20:49. Kayla Barnhardt was next in the same time, while Alexa Goll (15th, 22:18), Rebekah Setti (16th, 22:27) and Catherine Wiley (19th, 22:53) completed the scoring

The Indian Hills boys put four in the top 15 to win the small schools boys race, 64-84-108-108, over Park Ridge/Emerson, Hasbrouck Heights and Leonia in one of the largest varsity races ever run at Darlington.

Aidan Morrow of Hasbrouck Heights ran a Darlington personal best of 16:19 to defeat Dan Phillips of Indian Hills (16:50) by about 150 meters with Patrick Tallman of Park Ridge/Emerson third in 17:07.

Indian Hills got a sixth place finish by Nico Tucci (17:22) and a seventh place from Justin Vitale (17:23). Brady Dransfield was 15th in 18:21 as the Braves were the only team with more than two runners in the top 15.

Pash takes second, Ridgewood boys fourth at Briarwood

Ridgewood has high expectations for the 2023 season and as usual started their season with a trip to one of the East's most historic courses, Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia for the Briarwood Invitational.

The results were mixed as Ridgewood junior Luke Pash took more than a minute off of his 2022 time and finished second behind Justin Landis of North Penn and the Maroons finished fourth as a team behind Pennsylvania powers LaSalle, Council Rock North and North Penn with 88 points.

"Luke should have won the race and he knows that but he made a tactical error and the North Penn kid took advantage of it,'' said Ridgewood coach Pat Ryan. "He ran 20 seconds faster here than when Taro (former Ridgewood all-state star Shigenobu) ran it a few years ago.''

DJ Murphy was 12th in 17:26.7 and Chris Brady showed a huge improvement over last year, taking 16th in 17:38.1. Trevor Kane was 25th in 18:12.2. "It was a typical first race,'' said Ryan. "Some guys ran well and others had a hiccup. It's good to get the hiccups out of the way early.''

Ridgewood won't race again until the Shore Coaches Invitational on Sept. 30.

Don Bosco takes large schools race at Warwick Valley

Reigning Bergen County champ Don Bosco got off to a very good start with a talented but inexperienced team by defeating a good field and winning the large school race at Wave Mania at Warwick Valley.

Ryan Locicero, an all-North Jersey selection last year, led the Ironmen with a third place finish in 16:27.7 with Jack Dowd (6th, 16:51.5), Owen Hickey (12th, 17:09.0), Luke O'Brien (13th, 17:17.1) and Jacob Pullen (22nd, 18:03.8) completing the scoring. Jack Herrington (14th, 17:18.3) and Dylan Barrett (18th, 17:37.7) led Pascack Hills to an eighth place finish.

The West Milford girls defeated Pope John, 65-70, in the girls small schools race. Ciara Clinton made her cross-country debut with a fifth place finish in 20:17.7. Amanda Harvey was sixth in 20:21.8, Brenna Traverso was 12th in 1:22.4 and Lauren Frey 24th in 22:06.9. Lily McNair (21st, 22:01.8) and Jenna Ying (22nd, 22:02.6) had good opening races for Glen Rock.

In the boys small school race, Colin Menier of West Milford was 11th in 16:55.7 while Ben Raser of Glen Rock was 22nd in 17:28.7.

Other first weekend results

Mary Daclan of Paramus was 11th in the Fastest 4 race at the Roxbury Invitational at Horseshoe Lake Park in Succasunna while Tari Dunn of Weehawken was 156th in 20:46.23. Sofia Lee of Paramus was eighth in the Future 4 race at the same meet in 22:06.93.

Genci Duraku and Isaac Garcia finished 15th and 16th, respectively as Secaucus placed fifth at the Lancer Invitational - in Livingston.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Cross-country: Highlights from the first week in North Jersey