Colt harriers pass first big test of 2007 BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer Tom Heath looked at the Bowdoin Park Classic in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Saturday as a barometer for his Christian Brothers Academy cross country team. "We'll find out where we are," Heath said prior to the race. What he found out is that his Colts are in pretty good shape for a run at the Nike Team Nationals. Bowdoin Park will host the Northeast Region qualifier on Nov. 24 and the Colts got their first look at the course and some of their opposition Saturday. Competing against a field loaded with ranked teams, the Colts finished a strong third behind a pair of teams that have been ranked in the Top 25 in the country, Brookline, Mass., which won with 66 points and New York State power Shenendehowa (96). The Colts were third, but first among New Jersey teams, with 117 points. Jackson Memorial, last year's state champions, was eighth (178). "We did OK," said Heath. "We were hoping to beat one of them [Brookline or Shenendehowa]. We beat a lot of good teams, just not enough." Shaker (No. 3 in New York State) and Jackson (No. 8 in the Northeast) were the ranked teams that CBA beat. The Colts wanted to beat one of the two teams ahead of them to give themselves a crack at gaining a national ranking. Only 36 seconds separated the Colts five scorers on Saturday. Vin Ferrer posted a 16:59 on the Bowdoin Park course and was 13th overall. Brendon Pierson was 21st (17:20) and Chris LaMorte (17:20) was 24th. Kyle Havard (17:27) and Ben Horel (17:35) were the Colts fourth and fifth scorers in 27th and 32nd, respectively. The Colts got a better feel for the course where two teams will automatically qualify for the Dec. 1 NTN in Portland, Ore. "It was a difficult course," said Heath. "We were not aggressive early. It's uphill for the first half, which is twice as long as Holmdel Park. "The last half is downhill and there was not as much movement as I thought," he added. "I'm glad we went. The course is deceiving. Now we have a better idea of it." The Colts did little to harm their No. 6 ranking in the Northeast or top ranking in the state. Next up for the CBA will be the Shore Coaches Invitational at familiar Holmdel Park on Oct. 6.