Cross-country: The League Championship Report
Cross-country: The League Championship Report
Tejada breaks 16 at Darlington again; Bergen Tech boys; Clifton girls; Demarest boys and Old Tappan girls win team titles
Joshua Tejada of Teaneck broke 16 minutes at the Darlington Park course for the second time in a week to win the Big North National title for the second straight year, running 15:59 to win the title by 225 meters over Patrick Kurtz of Pascack Valley. He ran a season-leading 15:57 at last week's batch meet.
Demarest used a fine pack performance fifth to 13th, led by Enrico Parrella to win its first divisional title since 2017, 43-56 over Tenafly. Ivan Timochko was seventh, Markus White eighth, Matt Sands 10th and Maxim Gilbert 13th to help the Norsemen to the title.
The National division did not hold races from 2018-2020 and was re-established in 2021. It didn't matter to the Old Tappan girls, winners of the six previous division titles before the division suspended and after Thursday winners of three more after the renewal of the group.
Old Tappan placed five runners in the top 11 and easily defeated Demarest, 35-50, despite the first ever league championship earned by a Teaneck girl, first year senior Elena Guzman, who beat Old Tappan's number one, Rowan Leddy by 15 meters in 20:55. Freshman Emme Fermin (3rd, 21:05), Sophia Katechis (ninth, 21:35), Maiumi Quiros (10th, 21:54) and Claire Bailey (11th, 22:09) finished the Golden Knights' top five.
Bergen Tech put five runners ahead of Clifton's fourth runner and went on to a 29-47 win over the Mustangs for the Big North Liberty title, the first for the Knights since 2018.
Clifton junior Lamarr Olive won the individual title by 225 meters in 16:30 over Bergen Tech's Adrian Gamarra, but after Patrick DuBois of Clifton, Eashaan Maggon of Bergen Tech and Alexandro Ralli of Clifton took the next three places, Tech's Andrew Theberge, Arham Shah and Nicholas Saldana went 6-7-10 for the Knights to give them the win.
The Clifton girls easily captured their 12th title in the 13 years of Big North girls competition, 34-49, behind Viktoria Green and her twin sister Olivia who finished 1-3. Viktoria Green won the race in 21:18, 70 meters ahead of Isabella Marinaccio of Bergen Tech. Alexis Smith (seventh), Isabella Latorre (12th) and Deborah Amoh (13th) were the other Mustang scorers.
Boys
NATIONAL
TEAM SCORES: Demarest (DEM) 43, Tenafly (TEN) 56, Pascack Valley (PV) 76, Old Tappan (OT) 99, Teaneck (TNK) 101, Bergenfield (BER) 149.
Joshua Tejada (TNK), 15:59; 2. Patrick Kurtz (PV), 16:44; 3. Marcus Koshy (PV), 16:52; 4. Michael Forde (TEN), 17:01; 5. Enrico Parrella (DEM), 17:02; 6. Benjamin Johnson (OT), 17:34; 7. Ivan Timochko (DEM), 17:36; 8. Markus White (DEM), 17:46; 9. Jason Enrile (BER), 17:58; 10. Matt Sands (DEM), 18:05.
LIBERTY
TEAM SCORES: Bergen Tech (BT) 29, Clifton (CLI) 47, Passaic Tech (PCT) 60, Passaic (P) 81.
Lamarr Olive (CLI). 16:30; 2. Adrian Gamarra (BT), 17:17; 3. Patrick DuBois (CLI), 17:31; 4. Eashaan Maggon (BT), 17:32; 5. Alexandro Ralli (CLI), 17:51; 6. Andrew Theberge (BT), 18:04; 7. Arham Shah (BT), 18:05; 8. John Swaney (PCT), 18:06; 9. Michael Coliente (P), 18:10; 10. Nicholas Saldana (BT), 18:36.
Girls
NATIONAL
TEAM SCORES: Old Tappan (OT) 35, Demarest (DEM) 50, Tenafly (TEN) 73, Teaneck (TNK) 79, Pascack Valley 121, Bergenfield 170.
Elena Guzman (TNK), 20:55; 2. Rowan Leddy (OT), 20:59; 3. Emme Fermin (OT), 21:05; 4. Maya Gueguen (DEM), 21:11; 5. Sophie Cheesman (TEN), 21:17; 6. Melissa Cen (DEM), 21:25; 7. Aviv Mosayov (DEM), 21;26; 8. Makenna Wolmer (TEN), 21:27; 9. Sophia Katechis (OT), 21:35; 10. Maiumi Quiros (OT), 21:54.
LIBERTY
TEAM SCORES: Clifton (CLI) 34, Bergen Tech (BT) 49, Passaic (P) 51, Passaic Tech (PCT) 93.
Viktoria Green (CLI), 21:18; 2. Isabella Marinaccio (BT), 21:34; 3. Olivia Green (CLI), 21:56; 4. Elena Urriola (PCT), 22:12; 5. Jasmin SIlva Vargas (P), 22:29; 6. Naomi Bekkerman (BT), 22:33; 7. Alexis Smith (CLI), 23:00; 8. Michelle Sarmiento (P), 23:08; 9. Gabriela Reyes (P), 23:14; 10. Ciara Garcia, Eastside, 23:32.
Indian Hills boys sweep Big North Patriot, girls also win; Wayne Valley boys and West Milford girls win Independence
The Indian Hills boys did something Wednesday at Darlington that's only happened four times before in any Big North division cross-country championship meet, score a perfect 15 points by taking the first five places in the race. Don Bosco did it in the United in both 2014 and 2021, Lakeland's girls did it in the 2021 Independence meet and Wayne Hills girls did it in 2015, also in the independence division.
Dan Phillips won the race in 16:42, about 175 meters ahead of freshman Frank Coppa, with Nico Tucci, freshman Lukas Kertesz and Justin Vitale forming a tight 44 second pack from 1-5. Brady Dransfield and Luke Traficant also finished in the top 10 for the Braves, who defeated Pascack Hills, 15-64, for their fourth win in five years.
The girls also won for the fourth time in five years and River Dell's Christina Allen became just the second girl to win four Big North titles, joining River Dell's Shannon Goria from 2014-2017.
Allen won by more than 250 meters in a season's best time of 18:51, 23 seconds faster than anyone else has run there this year. She defeated Indian Hills' Alyssa Maybeck by 250 meters and helped the Golden Hawks to a second place finish, 31-47, behind the Braves.
In addition to Maybeck, Indian Hills got solid performances from Camryn Finn (fourth), Summer Myhen (fifth), Avarie Bergen (ninth) and Madeline Coppa (11th).
Wayne Valley's boys and West Milford's girls ended Lakeland's reign atop the Big North Independence division, ending the Lancers' three year dominance with a pair of impressive victories.
Matt Califf led four Indians into the top eight en route to a 31-64 win over Fair Lawn, for its first league win since 2013. Califf ran 16:55, winning by 75 meters over Colin Menier of West Milford. Milan Mistry of Wayne Valley (17:14) was third, and juniors Daniel Haddad (sixth, 18:03) and Aidan Magno (eighth, 18:14) also finished in the top 10 and Michael Tomback was 13th in 18:40.
West Milford's girls won their first ever Big North Independence title in impressive style, establishing themselves as the favorites to win the Passaic championships for the first time since 2006, dethroning Lakeland, 28-49. Ciara Clinton won the individual over fellow Highlander soph Amanda Harvey by about 50 meters in 19:53. Senior Lauren Frey was sixth and Brenna Traverso was seventh. Senior Madison Freideman, better known as one of the area's top jumpers, was West Milford's fifth finisher, in 12th place, ahead of any other team's fourth.
Boys
INDEPENDENCE
TEAM SCORES: Wayne Valley (WV) 31, Fair Lawn (FL) 64, Wayne Hills (WH) 72, West Milford (WM) 82, Passaic Valley 116, Lakeland 123.
Matt Califf (WV), 16:55; 2. Colin Menier (WM), 17:11; 3. Milan Mistry (WV), 17:14; 4. Aidan Soukas (FL), 17:40; 5. Brendan Carroll (WH), 18:00; 6. Daniel Haddad (WV), 18:03; 7. Chase Amin (FL), 18:09; 8. Aidan Magno (WV), 18:14; 9. Ryan Pascual (FL), 18:18; 10. Michael McCloskey (WM), 18:23.
PATRIOT
TEAM SCORES: Indian Hills (IH) 15, Pascack Hills (PH) 64, River Dell (RD) 80, Ramsey 101, Mahwah 117, Westwood 161.
Dan Phillips (IH), 16:42; 2. Frank Coppa (IH), 17:19; 3. Nico Tucci (IH), 17:19; 4. Lukas Kertesz (IH), 17:26; 5. Justin Vitale (IH), 17:26; 6. Dylan Barrett (PH), 17:40; 7. Brady Dransfield (IH), 18:31; 8. Chris Baxter (RD), 18:37; 9. Luke Traficant (IH), 18:49; 10. Alec Avedian (PH), 18:52.
Girls
INDEPENDENCE
TEAM SCORES: West Milford (WM) 28, Lakeland (L) 49, Wayne Hills (WH) 69, Passaic Valley 111, Wayne Valley (WV) 119, Fair Lawn (FL) 140.
Ciara Clinton (WM), 19:53; 2. Amanda Harvey (WM), 20:07; 3. Kara Langbaum (WH), 20:28; 4. Kayla Barnhardt (L), 20:34; 5. Brianna Fahy (L), 21:20; 6. Lauren Frey (WM), 21:57; 7. Brenna Traverso (WM), 21:59; 8. Jazmin Zapata (FL), 22:08; 9. Alexa Goll (L), 22:19; 10. Rebecca Machado (WV), 22:29.
PATRIOT
TEAM SCORES: Indian Hills (IH) 31, River Dell (RD) 47, Ramsey (RAM) 69, Pascack Hills (PH) 77, Westwood 126.
Christina Allen (RD), 18:51; 2. Alyssa Maybeck (IH), 19:49; 3. Isabella Gabay (RD), 20:43; 4. Camryn Finn (IH), 20:55; 5. Summer Myrhen (IH), 21:36; 6. Madison Sovak (RAM), 21:43; 7. Anna Lynch (RAM), 22:54; 8. Ashleigh Gorman (RAM), 23:32; 9. Avarie Bergen (IH); 10. Anastasia Gresko (PH), 23:47.
Bogota sweeps NJIC Patriot; Meadowlands and Colonial meets go to wire
Bogota has dominated the NJIC Patriot for most of its recent history and Wednesday at Garret Mountain the Bucs continued their dominance with a pair of impressive wins, the eighth in 10 years for the boys and sixth in seven years for the girls.
But that's only part of the story. The boys scored a 33-59 win over defending champion Cresskill, one year after running just one boy at the league championship and with a team of all freshmen and sophomores.
Sophomore Emmanuel Marin, in his first season of cross-country, won the individual race in 17:46, more than 75 meters ahead of Marshall Carver of Waldwick with fellow sophs Zohaib Syed and Hussain Salam third and fourth. Freshman Jayden Inga (11th) and Raymond Ehrmann (16th) completed the Bucs' scoring and put a smile on their coaches' face.
"Emmanuel's bought into the sport and the three of them have done an awesome,'' said Pat Rochford. "Sophomores Zohaib and Hussain trained last summer as freshmen and then got stress fractures and barely ran a step when the season started. But they wanted to come back and race this year, and with the new freshmen gave us a season to remember.''
Isabel Michel won the girls race by over a minute in a huge Garret Mountain PR of 21:13 and was the only senior for the the Bucs, who easily took the girls race, 37-72, over Waldwick. Rochford pointed to Michel, who defeated Astrid Taffarello of Weehawken by 250 meters as a catalyst for the team's fourth straight win.
"She's been a great leader and become more disciplined in her own running,'' said Rochford. "She runs very tough and is has been running more confidently then in the past. She leads by example and vocally.''
Sister Ana, just a sophomore, was third in her own Garret PR performance, while sophs Taitum Sandoval-Diaz (9th) and Isabella Cruz (14th) and freshmen Lily Ojo (11th) and Aaliyah Corwin (15th) also ran well.
The Colonial team races were much more competitive.
Glen Rock went 1-2-3 in boys race with seniors Ben Habler (17:38), Ben Raser (17:56) and Ryan Wolfe (18:04) finishing well ahead of the field, but Leonia used a tight pack of five runners within 35 seconds from sixth to 13th places to make the Panthers sweat out a 45-46 win for their second straight title.
Bergen County 400 meter champion Jaden Marchan led the Lions, in sixth place and Ian Cortez, Calvin Daou and Elad Frominos went 8-9-10 before Glen Rock's number four Devin Smith was 11th. But the Panthers had to wait nearly two minutes before #5 Jacob Cece finished in 28th to clinch the win.
Rutherford reversed last week's 21-34 dual meet loss to Glen Rock to win the girls division meet, 57-66, over the Panthers, placing six runners between six runners between seventh and 21st places to earn its first championship meet crown since 2013.
Becton junior Mika Tampadong, continuing her breakout first season of cross-country, won the divisional title by 125 meters over Razil Fernandez of Dwight-Englewood in 21:33. Jodi DeSalvo led Rutherford, in seventh place with Angel Patel 912th), Maya Tenn (15th), Tristan Greeley (16th) and Ava Amatucci (17th) the other scorers. Glen Rock was missing Jenna Yim, who won the dual matchup last week.
Park Ridge/Emerson shook off the loss of number five man to heat exhaustion, just 100 meters from the finish line to win its first divisional title since 2017, 41-57 over three-time defending champion Hasbrouck Heights. The pre runner, whose name was unavailable, collapsed near the finish in the 85 plus degree heat but was released after observation at a nearby hospital.
Junior Aidan Morrow of Hasbrouck Heights, outdueled Park Ridge/Emerson senior Patrick Tallman to win in 17 minutes, the fastest time of the hot day and Heights teammates Ryan Ober and Ayaan Modak finished third and fourth. But the Aviators have been savaged by injuries to the back of their pack and PRE put their other five finishers well ahead of Heights' fourth.
William O'Donovan was fifth, Alex Talmazan 10th, Josh Pena 12th, Michael Martinez 14th and James Moran was 16th for PRE.
In contrast, the Hasbrouck Heights girls had no problem winning a seventh straight title, with a record low score of 18 points finishing 1-2-3-5-7 to defeat Park Ridge/Emerson, 18-64.
Mackenzie Bua ran a Garret best 21:04, fastest of the day to finish 200 meters of junior classmate Lexi Powers, with another Heights junior, Nina Castellano in third. Junior Mae Veliky was fifth and senior Shantal Urgiles seventh.
"Nina's new to the sport and the other girls have been motivated all season,'' said Heights coach Mike Ryan, whose team ran very well at the Shore Coaches Invitational Saturday. "They were mentally prepared for today's weather and did the hydration necessary on a day like today.''
Boys
COLONIAL
TEAM SCORES: Glen Rock (GR) 45, Leonia (LEO) 46, Garfield (GAR) 101, Rutherford 127, Becton (BEC) 127, Lyndhurst (LYN) 130, Eastern Christian 179, Dwight-Englewood 195, Harrison 249, Lodi 279.
Ben Habler (GR), 17:38; 2. Ben Raser (GR), 17:56; 3. Ryan Wolfe (GR), 18:04; 4. Max Thorn (BEC), 18:14; 5. AIdan Nogueira (LYN), 18:21; 6. Jaden Marchan (LEO), 18:36; 7. Jakub Stypulkowski (GAR), 18:37; 8. Ian Cortez (LEO), 18:37; 9. Calvin Daou (LEO), 18:42; 10. Etahn Frominos (LEO), 18:48.
MEADOWLANDS
TEAM SCORES: Park Ridge/Emerson (PRE) 41, Hasbrouck Heights (HH) 57, New Milford (NM) 69, Secaucus (SEC) 77, Pompton Lakes 128, Saddle Brook 143, Palisades Park 205, Saddle River Day 215, North Arlington 248.
Aidan Morrow (HH), 17:00; 2. Patrick Tallman (PRE), 17:12; 3. Ryan Ober (HH), 17:56; 4. Ayaan Modak (HH), 17:58; 5. William O'Donovan (PRE), 18:09; 6. Kevin Senzamici (NM), 18:17; 7. Sebastian Herrera Pineda (NM), 18:50; 8. Alex Talmazan (PRE), 18:55; 9. Isaac Garcia (SEC), 19:01; 10. Genci Duraku (SEC), 19:29.
PATRIOT
TEAM SCORES: Bogota (BOG) 33, Cresskill (CRE) 59, Waldwick (WAL) 84, Paterson Charter (PC) 93, Weehawken (WEE) 100, Ridgefield 116.
Emmanuel Marin (BOG), 17:46; 2. Marshall Carver (WAL), 18:08; 3. Zohaib Syed (BOG), 19:13; 4. Hussain Salam (BOG), 19:25; 5. De'Angelo Hibbert (PC), 19:31; 6. Ryan Chung (CRE), 19:40; 7. Cole Higby, Hawthorne Christian, 19:42; 8. Georhe Stogiglou (CRE), 20:25; 9. Elan Kagan (WEE), 20:50; 10. Matthew Harris (WAL), 21:09.
Girls
COLONIAL
TEAM SCORES: Rutherford (RUT) 57, Glen Rock (GR) 66, Leonia (LEO) 71, Garfield (GAR) 84, Becton (BEC) 101, Lyndhurst 127, Elmwood Park 179.
Mika Tampadong (BEC), 21:33; 2. Razil Fernandes, Dwight-Englewood, 22:06; 3. Sasha Raskin (LEO), 22:47; 4. Uma Rajan, Dwight-Englewood, 22:59; 5. Julia Jablonska (GAR), 23:04; 6. Angel Wei (BEC), 23:06; 7. Jodi DeSalvo (RUT), 23:51; 8. Amber Wang (GR), 23:58; 9. Lily McNair (GR), 24:00; 10. Katarzyna Kapolka (GAR), 24:24.
MEADOWLANDS
TEAM SCORES: Hasbrouck Heights (HH) 18, Park Ridge/Emerson (PRE) 64, Saddle Brook (SP) 67, Pompton Lakes (PL) 97, New Milford 130, Palisades Park 142.
Mackenzie Bua (HH), 21;04; 2. Lexi Powers (HH), 21:57; 3. Nina Castellano (HH), 23:00; 4. Pola Gospodarzec (PL), 23:09; 5. Mae Veliky (HH), 23:25; 6. Sophie Walder (PRE), 23:34; 7. Shantal Urgiles (HH), 23:43; 8. Briana Reyes (SB), 24:43; 9. Sophie Guarderas (PRE), 24:48; 10. Ananya Bajpai, Secaucus, 25:03.
PATRIOT
TEAM SCORES: Bogota (BOG) 37, Waldwick (WAL) 72, Weehawken (WEE) 78, Ridgefield (RF) 99, Cresskill 100, Hawthorne Christian (HC) 119.
Isabel Michel (BOG), 21:13; 2. Astrid Taffarello (WEE), 22:14; 3. Ana Michel (BOG), 22:36; 4. Kali McDonald (WEE), 23:00; 5. Rachel Calaff (WAL), 23:17; 6. Tarikwa Dunn (WEE), 23:27; 7. Brenna Heelan (WAL), 23:34; 8. Brianna Carrasco (RF), 24:15; 9. Taitum Sandoval-Diaz (BOG), 24:18; 10. Anna Rypkema (HC), 24:20.
Ridgefield Park girls win first league championship meet in school history; Cliffside Park boys repeat in Big North American
When Ridgefield Park's sixth finisher, Riley Fucci, in Tuesday's Big North American championship meet crossed the finish line at Darlington Park in 12th place, the Scarlets had achieved something that no Ridgefield Park girls team had ever accomplished since the now defunct BCSL American first held a girls championship in 1979, a league meet title.
Fucci's finish secured Ridgefield Park's 39-43 win over Cliffside Park, reversing a 28-29 dual meet loss and giving the Scarlets the championship meet title. The two teams will share the divisional crown by virtue of Cliffside Park's earlier dual victory. Ridgefield Park shared Big North American crown with Westwood in 2010 but Westwood won the championship meet that year.
"I'm really excited for this group,'' said Ridgefield Park coach Dennis Murri. "We had our number one cramp and barely finish the dual meet and she was her top girl today. When we took second in the Garret Invitational (Sept. 23) it really gave us a boost and this is going to fortify their effort. Only one of our top seven graduates.''
Dumont junior Katelyn Reuter won the race by about 25 meters over Cliffside Park senior Leah Fedouchik in 21:33, but it was the outstanding depth of Ridgefield Park that delivered the win. Junior Brianna Harrison led RP in fourth, with Shania Perry sixth, Gabriella Ramos eighth, Kimberley Marshall 10th and Juliana Giraldo Tabares in 11th just ahead of Fucci in 12th. The Scarlets put all seven of its runners ahead of Cliffside Park's fifth.
Cliffside Park won its third straight boys title, 40-52, over Dumont despite the Huskies' placing four runners in the top seven, including sophomore Karl Andre III, who became Dumont's second straight individual, winning by 120 meters over Darwin Ruiz of Cliffside Park, in 18:11. Dylan Cholewka, Colin Graham and freshman Brandon Peralta went 5-6-7, but it wasn't enough to overcome Cliffside Park, which placed its other six runners in a 61 second pack from eighth to 16th.
Chris Catalan, Selvin IxcacoBarrientos, Alexander Chitic and Daris Valdez Reyes went 8-9-10-11 and freshman Pedrique Arroyo and Jacob Pulla also finished well ahead of Dumont's fifth to clinch the Red Raiders' 10th title in 13 meets.
Don Bosco and IHA keep rolling in Big North United; Locicero and Seckin claim first titles
There were no surprises in Tuesday's Big North United races at Darlington Park, as Don Bosco took the first four places and IHA the first five en route to overwhelming wins.
Ryan Locicero, a contender for the Lou Molino Bergen Meet of Champions title, ran a comfortable 16:47 to win the individual title by nearly 80 meters over junior teammate Luke O'Brien as the Ironmen took an easy 18-49 win over Bergen Catholic for its fourth straight division crown and 12th in 13 years. Bosco ran only five men, and Locicero was the only senior. Sophs Owen Hickey and Jacob Pullen took third and fourth and a third soph, Matt Maguire was eighth.
Marcelle Seckin of IHA ran 21:04, her fastest time of the year at Darlington to win the girls race by more than 250 meters over teammate Darcy Moore. Reagan Scarpelli, Emily Wunsch and freshman Madeline Schlereth were the other top five finishers for the Blue Eagles, who swept Holy Angels, 15-56, for their ninth straight division title.
Girls
TEAM SCORES: IHA 15, Holy Angels (HA) 56, Paramus Catholic (PC) 66.
INDIVIDUALS: Marcelle Seckin (IHA), 21:04; 2. Darcy Moore (IHA), 22:09; 3. Reagan Scarpelli (IHA), 22:27; 4. Emily Wunsch (IHA), 22:37; 5. Madeline Schlereth (IHA), 22:51; 6. Maya Vime-Olive (PC), 23:06; 7. Amanda Garcia (HA), 23:24; 8. Maura Hesler (IHA), 23:30; 9. Grace Jensen (HA), 23:53; 10. Meaghan Keating (IHA), 24:13.
Boys
TEAM SCORES: Don Bosco (DB) 18, Bergen Catholic (BC) 49, Paramus Catholic (PC) 68, St. Joseph Regional 93, DePaul (DEP) 117.
INDIVIDUALS: 1. Ryan Locicero (DB), 16:47; 2. Luke O'Brien (DB), 17:06; 3. Owen Hickey (DB), 17:22; 4. Jacob Pullen (DB), 17:29; 5. Nicholaus Michael (PC), 17:52; 6. Brendan O'Rourke (BC), 18:48; 7. Kevin Bornemann (DEP), 18:49; 8. Matthew Maguire (DB), 19:00; 9. Luke Schoeler (BC), 19:00; 10. Daniel Calianese (BC), 19:02.
Ridgewood scores sweep in Big North Freedom division; Pash and Rabolli cop individual titles
Fresh off their excellent performances at the Shore Coaches Invitational meet on the state course at Holmdel County Park, Saturday, the Ridgewood boys and girls swept the Big North Freedom championship meets Monday for the sixth time since the Big North conference was established in 2010.
The girls, the top-ranked team in North Jersey, who captured the B division race at the Shore meet, put five runners in the top nine to defeat No. 2 Northern Highlands for the third time this season, 29-38, with Ramapo a distant third with 74 points. It was Ridgewood's ninth Big North Freedom title in the 13 years the division has existed. Northern Highlands has won the other titles. It also was the Maroon's 39th overall division title since the now-defunct Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League held its first girls team championship in 1980. Ridgewood won a title in that league 28 times in 29 years.
Ridgewood's Cellina Rabolli came from behind in the second half of the race to win the individual title by about 50 meters over Allie Courtney of Northern Highlands, running a season's best of 19:14 at the traditional Darlington course, restored quickly after the heavy rains of last week. Eilat Kissil was fourth, Avery Sheridan seventh, Ayla Cooke eighth and freshman Katherine Keating was ninth as the Maroons overcame a 2-5-6 finish by Highlands.
The Ridgewood boys, back at almost full strength after sitting three top runners due to illness at the Shore meet, put six runners in the top eight to score their sixth straight Freedom crown and ninth in 13 years, 21-61 over runner-up Hackensack. It was a record low point total for the Maroons, breaking the old divisional record of 23 set by Indian Hills in 2016.
Luke Pash, who ran a huge personal best at Holmdel in winning the Boys B race Saturday, repeated as the individual champion, using a quick early pace to burn off Ramapo's Ryan Welch and winning by about 125 meters over teammate DJ Murphy with Welch third. Trevor Kane, Tom Mevissen, Chris Brady and Jett Lincoln finished together from fifth to eighth places for the Maroons.
Girls
TEAM SCORES: Ridgewood (RW) 29, Northern Highlands (NH) 38, Ramapo (RPO) 74, Paramus 111, Hackensack 133.
INDIVIDUALS: 1. Cellina Rabolli (RW), 19:14; 2. Allie Courtney (NH), 19:26; 3. Amelia Keogh (RPO), 19:34; 4. Eilat Kissil (RW), 19:38; 5. Rebecca Maclaren (NH), 19:50; 6. Autumn Ritter (NH), 19:55; 7. Avery Sheridan (RW), 20:04; 8. Ayla Cooke (RW), 20:08; 9. Katherine Keating (RW), 20:09; 10. Brianna Potaki (RPO), 20:19.
Boys
TEAM SCORES: Ridgewood (RW) 21, Hackensack (H) 61, Northern Highlands (NH) 72, Ramapo (RPO) 89.
Luke Pash (RW), 16:37; 2. DJ Murphy (RW), 17:00; 3. Ryan Welch (RPO), 17:01; 4. Dylan Guarquila (H), 17:19; 5. Trvor Kane (RW), 17:40; 6. Tom Mevissen (RW), 17:40; 7. Chris Brady (RW), 17:41;. 8. Jett Lincoln (RW), 17:41; 9. Michael McGinnity (H), 17:48; 10. Carter Monaco (NH), 17:59.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Cross-country: The League Championship Report
