Holmdel HS Cross Country Team Takes 1st Place At State Meet

The stellar Holmdel High School Boys Cross Country team coached by Sean McCafferty defended its title by taking first place Saturday in the NJSIAA Group II Championships, held at Holmdel Park. 

Holmdel's Jack Baisley, Andrew Tsai, Dan Barlev, Aaron Barlev, Eric Williams, Nick De Maio, and Anton Luz ran a thrilling race for Holmdel. 

Individually, senior Jack Baisley took third place in the race. Baisley had also led the Hornets to win the Nov. 10 Sectional Championships in Delsea. In a videotaped interview with NJRunners.com after that race, he said the Hornets had prepared for the competitions by running every day, right through Hurricane Sandy. 

Star Ledger sportswriter Jim Lambert cheered senior Eric William's dash from the back in Saturday's race, which boosted the Hornets' overall score over rival Wallkill Valley to end 56-63. He called it the best team race of the day, noting the team averaged a school-record of 16:41.0 on the 5k track, and that its members earned seven personal bests. 

That's some compliment, considering the history-making Christian Brothers Academy team was also in the house. The Colts continued their domination of the meet, with its 24th Non-Public A state title, with a 16:03.2 team average.

The Asbury Park Press's Josh Newman described the CBA team as having "superior depth, plenty of moxie and a season of progress that is being talked about as potentially the greatest by any team anywhere ever in the United States." 

Rob Napolitano of Red Bank Catholic was the fastest runner in that race though, finishing the race ahead of the CBA's Mike McClemens by one second, with 15:59. 

In the girls' competition, the St. John Vianney Cross Country Team took third place in Non Public A.  Junior Tara Connelly and Courtney Thompson blew away their competitors, taking first and second place in the race. The Asbury Park Press said Connelly had a "monster personal best of 18:40." 

Complete boys race results and girls results are posted on the NJ.com website. 

The highly anticipated NJSIAA Cross Country Meet of Champions will be held Wednesday beginning at 2 p.m. at Holmdel Park. A list of participants is on NJRunners.com.