On Your Mark: Varsity Cross Country Boys Get Set for 'Meet of Champions'

Holmdel High School's Varsity Cross Country Team is proud to be among the 20 cross country teams that qualified to run the 5k race in Saturday's Meet of Champions at Holmdel Park.

The number one team in the country, CBA, will be there, as well as the 14th, Don Bosco Prep.

"Hopefully we'll finish top five, and hopefully my knee will feel better so we can run fast enough," said Holmdel High School Varsity's Jason McMullen, who is healing a micro-tear in his knee just days before the race.

"We want to go top five, which will be a first in Holmdel team history," said Travis Fodor, another HHS Varsity senior.

Head coach Sean McCafferty, assistant coach Rob Micheliche and volunteer assistant Alan McCafferty were running the boys through their paces on Thursday.

On race day, Micheliche takes the starting gate and McCafferty runs up the hill with the other coaches to shout, coax, and urge the boys into running their best. "I might tell them to relax, or focus," said McCafferty. "The thing is not to panic."

The Holmdel boys are already coming off a winning season. On Nov. 12 they won the Group II Championship, which Holmdel had not brought home since 2001.

The Holmdel boys take off at 11:45 pm, Saturday, Nov. 18 at Holmdel Park. Come cheer them on along the route. Parking will be available at Holmdel Park, said Coach McCafferty.