Holmdel harriers second in Central Jersey meet
BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer

PHOTO BY ERIC SUCAR staff

Say this for Holmdel's George Galasso, he's raced against the best the state has to offer.

After competing against Manalapan's Robby Andrews at both the Monmouth County and Shore Conference championships, Galasso faced another of the state's elite harriers, West Windsor-Plainsboro North's Joe Rosa and his twin brother, James Rosa.

Joe Rosa turned in the fastest time of the day on the rain-soaked Thompson Park course in Jamesburg, 15:37, while James was second in 15:54.

Galasso finished fourth (16:20) just behind WWP North's third runner, Tyler Corkedale (16:20).

The Hornets' Oliver Song ran a solid race, finishing ninth (16:52).

The top 10 individuals and top five teams from the weekend's state sectional races all qualified for Saturday's NJSIAA State Group Championships back at familiar Holmdel Park.

Holmdel finished second to the powerful, nationally ranked WWP North squad with 76 points. The Pirates won with a dual meet score of 18.

The Hornet girls also finished second in a close competition with Hopewell Valley, 57-74. Holmdel had its fifth runner home before Hopewell Valley's fourth. But a one-two finish by the Bulldogs' Clare Buck (18:23), and with their third runner, Julie Jablonski (seventh in 18:56) home before the Hornets' No. 1, proved to be too much for Holmdel's pack to overcome

Shannon Nelson led Holmdel in ninth place (20:14). She was followed closely by Rachel Williams (20:29) and Cathay Zhao (20:29) in 13th and 14th.

Katie Little (20:50) and Lilia Xie (20:56) were 18th and 20th.

The top five were separated by only 42 seconds.

In Group II, Matawan's boys were third (118) and will be racing on Saturday. Sean Donohue's eighth place ((17:03) paced the Huskies. Ryan Montaparerto was 11th (17:17).

Rounding out the scorers were Dhaval Shah (17:42), Evan Norwood (17:51) and Tim Birch (18:39), who were 22-24-53.

While the public schools were contesting the state sectional, the parochial schools were up at Warinanco Park in Elizabeth for the New Jersey Catholic Track Coaches Championships. The Warinanco Park course at 5,250 meters is slightly longer than the standard high school 5,000 meters.

Nationally ranked Christian Brothers Academy ran the race as if it were a workout, together. Brendan Swan (17:21), Mike Mazzaccaro (17:21), Dennis Smith (17:21), Mark Lee (17:22) and Dan Bailey (17:22) finished in seventh through 11th place as the Colts collected yet another championship with a team score of 45.

On the girls' side, Mater Dei's Marie Walsh was fourth (19:55).

NJSIAA Central Sectional Cross-Country Championships

Championships were held at Thompson Park, Monroe Township, on Nov. 9.