Colt harriers are fifth at Meet of Champions BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer MIGUEL JUAREZ staff CBA's William Penny races to the finish at the Nov. 19 Meet of Champions at Holmdel Park. It was not a vintage year for Christian Brothers Academy cross country. But the Colts can find solace in the fact that they remain one of the best teams in the state. At the Nov. 18 NJSIAA Meet of Champions, the Colts finished fifth (181), maintaining their place among the state's elite. Shore Conference Champion Jackson (67) became the first Shore area team other than CBA (which has won a record 15 crowns) to the MOC. Junior Brandon Pierson led the Colts at the MOC in 45th place overall, posting a 16:50. Just three seconds back was senior Will Penny (16:53). Vin Ferrer (17:05) and Anthony Pellegrino (17:07) were the team's third and fourth runners and the fifth scorer was Brendan Shaw (17:50). In team scoring, the Colts were 15-19-32-33-82. Of CBA's seven runners, only Penny and Pellegrino are seniors. During the season, CBA repeated as Monmouth County champions and extended their national record of consecutive dual meet victories to 282. Mater Dei's boys qualified for the season finale and the Seraphs finished 16th (418). Their top runner was Patrick O'Boyle, who was 66th overall in 17:01. In team scoring, he was 26th. Holmdel's Richie Greco qualified for the MOC individually and was 56th (16:56). Mater Dei's girls finished 14th (351) led by freshman Liz Shaw, who was 39th overall (19:36). Marie Walsh had a rare off day for the Seraphs and was 59th (20:06). In team scoring, the duo were 17th and 29th. Raritan's Christine Altland qualified individually and finished 78th. The Central Jersey Group II champion posted a 20:22. It was a very good day for the Shore Conference as it produced all of the winners. On the boy's side in addition to Jackson's boy's defending champion Craig Forys of Colts Neck, repeated and set a new course record (15:16). Colts Neck girls were the team champions with 80 points and Danielle Tauro of Southern Regional, won her second straight title in 17:47, the third fastest time ever run at Holmdel Park. Runner-up Ashley Higginson of Colts Neck, turned in the fourth fastest time ever 17:50. Saturday, at the FootLocker Northeast Regional held at the Bronx's famed Van Cortlandt Park in New York City, O'Boyle finished second in the sophomore race establishing himself as one of the harriers to watch out for next fall. The Seraph toured the VCP 5,000-meter course in 16:34.8 second only to a fellow New Jersey runner, Ocean City's Brett Johnson, who posted a 16:21.8.