Sports
Holmdel Boy's Cross-Country Continues To Make Strides
The Holmdel boy's cross-country is aiming to keep pace with nationally-ranked CBA and be the best public school team in New Jersey.
The Holmdel boys cross-country season began last Friday at Ocean County Park, and the team is looking to be one of the top teams in New Jersey.
After finishing 11th at the Meet of Champions last year, Holmdel is aiming for a high finish again and even talking about qualifying for Nike Nationals, which rival Christian Brothers Academy won last year.
“We talk about winning another state title, being the best public school team in New Jersey, possibly qualifying for Nike Nationals, those are all things that are important to us,” head coach Sean McCafferty said. “But my main goal is that the kids train properly, work hard, have a positive attitude, and when those races come up they are as ready as they can possibly be.”
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Holmdel is led this year by senior Jack Baisley, who won his race and ran a 15:53 at Ocean County Park last Friday, the fastest time of the meet. It also tied Baisley’s personal-best time for that course.
“I feel a lot stronger now and I’m definitely ready to run a lot faster,” Baisley said.
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Along with Baisley, seniors Eric Williams and Andrew Tsai are expected to be key contributors and bring leadership to the team. Junior Dan Barlev, his sophomore brother, Aaron, and sophomore Nick DeMaio are also expected to be an integral part of the team, according to McCafferty.
Holmdel spends much of their time training at Holmdel Park, the site of many of the championship meets in New Jersey, including the Meet of Champions.
McCafferty likes having Holmdel Park as the team’s home course but also said it has its positives and negatives.
“I think we definitely have an advantage, we’re there everyday and these kids grew up going there,” McCafferty said. “But my friend who coaches at Westfield said when he goes to the park it’s so exciting for them, but for our kids it’s not. So getting kids jacked up for races at Holmdel Park is not always as easy as it seems. One thing I’m trying to do is stay away from there because we’re there all the time and I want our kids to show up at the state meet and be excited for it.”
Holmdel races this Saturday in Wappinger Falls, NY at the Bowdoin Classic, the site of the Nike Northeast Regional meet.
Other key races this season will be the Group II Championship on Nov. 10 and the Meet of Champions, Nov. 17, both at Holmdel Park.
