RBC girls finish season with big effort at MOC
Caseys finish third in x-country final
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

Red Bank Catholic had enjoyed a great season before Saturday's NJSIAA Cross County Meet of Champions.

On Saturday, the season became even better. Mary Bank's Caseys came up with their collective race of the season in finishing third (159) behind Colts Neck (80) and Voorhees (146) at Holmdel Park. RBC's team average of 20:01.60 was more than 40 seconds per runner better than its average the week before at the Non-Public A Group Championships.

Senior Erin Lunny led the big Casey effort with a 21st-place finish overall, clocking 19:11. Caitlin Dorgan (20:08), Janine Louie (20:09), Emily Rooney (20:15) and Michelle Capozzi (20:25) were separated by just 17 seconds.

In team scoring, the Caseys were 10-31-33-38-47.

Since the start of the season, Banks had pointed to RBC's solid pack as being the team's greatest strength. The Casey's lacked a star out front, but more than made up for it with the scant time differential between its runners.

It was enough to win them team titles at the Shore Conference Battle of Monmouth and the Shore Coaches Invitational, as well as the Shore Conference A Central Division title and a perfect dual meet season. It all culminated with Saturday's third-place finish at the MOC.

MIGUEL JUAREZ staff RBC's Shawn Platz races to a strong 20th-place finish at the season-ending Meet of Champions at Holmdel Park On Saturday.

It was a great day for the Shore Conference. Besides Colts Neck's win, Southern Regional's Danielle Tauro repeated as the individual champion, running the third fastest time ever at Holmdel Park, 17:47. Second-place finisher Ashley Higginson of Colts Neck ran 17:50, good enough for the fourth best ever.

RBC's boys qualified for the MOC and finished 14th (308). Leading the Caseys were Shawn Platz (16:55) and Nick Bond (17:04), who finished 20th and 29th in team scoring.

The Shore Conference dominated the boys as well. Colts Neck's Craig Forys took down the 18-year-old course record of 15:16.2 by Jason DiJoseph of Paul VI, with his 15:16. The Cougar was clocked in 15:15.11, but cross country times are rounded out to the nearest second for his 15:16.

Jackson won the team title over pre-race favorite Don Bosco, 67-135.

For the very best runners in the state, the season is not quite over. Saturday at New York City's famed Van Cortland Park course in the Bronx, the Foot Locker Northeast Qualifier will be held. The top 10 boys and top 10 girls will advance to the Foot Locker National Championships Dec. 9 in San Diego, Calif.