North Hunterdon girls, Kingsway boys win Group 4

By John Nepolitan of DyeStat

The top three girls teams in New Jersey faced off in the NJSIAA State Group 4 (largest schools) with No. 1 North Hunterdon coming away with an 82-104 win over 2016 Meet of Champs winner Ridge and Kingsway taking fifth. The individual crown went to junior Abby Loveys (Randolph), who kicked home for the 18:41 to 18:49 win over North Hunterdon's Chloe Gonzalez.

PHOTOS - BOYS | GIRLS

William Hare’s Group 4 individual title in 16:01 was not enough for Princeton, the defending Meet of Champs winners, in its effort to hold off Kingsway. The Dragons beat Princeton 52-91.  

Alyssa Aldridge (Mainland Regional), the two-time Meet of Champs titlist, had to kick hard over the last 200 meters to get past Monica Hebner (Northern Highlands) and the pair posted the top times of the day on Holmdel Park's 5,000-meter course in the Group 3 final. Aldridge ran 18:18 and Hebner ran 18:20. If Aldridge can win the Meet of Champs next week she would become the fifth girl to become a three-time champion. Colts Neck upset favored Northern Highlands for the team win. 

A 1-2 finish by Jack Stanley and Jack Jennings led Mendham to a 78-90 win over Hopewell Valley for Group 3 honors.

The Voorhees girls had little trouble in taking the Group 2 title, 75-119 over Haddonfield Memorial. Rachel Kenny (Matawan Regional) stormed away from Nicole Cassavell (Voorhees) in the first race of the day, running 18:51 to Cassavell’s 19:19.

Devin Hart (Point Pleasant Boro) was the top returner from last year's Meet of Champs and in the spring won the MOC 3,200. He posted the best time of the day, 15:34, to beat Chris Romero of Voorhees (15:41) for the Group 2 crown. Haddonfield Memorial scored a 53-69 win over Voorhees for the team title.

Samantha Green (Co-Op Park Ridge/Emerson) became her school’s first individual state cross country champion when she took the Group 1 title in 19:30. Metuchen scored 75 points and beat Mountain Lakes by 10 points for the team crown.

Fahd Masser (McNair Academy) continued his fine season and won the Group 1 individual title in 16:15 for a four-second win over Drew Maher (Shore Regional). Mountain Lakes beat Metuchen by three points.

The Non-Public A girls race resulted in the closest team battle of the day with Union Catholic coming away with the victory after scoring 63 points to Red Bank Catholic's 65 and Pingry School's 69. Nicole Vanasse (Pingry) held off Jerika Lufrano (Union Catholic) for the individual crown 18:45 to 18:51.

US#7 Christian Brothers Academy had little trouble winning the Non-Public A title and was able to rest a few members of its lineup for the upcoming races at Meet of Champs and NXR Northeast Regional, and possibly NXN. The Colts scored 37 points for their 28th state title, paced by Brian Hill's individual win in 16:05. 

Villa Walsh Academy put all five of its scorers in the top 15 (team scorers) to take an easy win in the Non-Public B girls competition, 39-62 over Trinity Hall. Kate McAndrews (Morris Catholic) crossed the line in front for the 19:41 win.

John Spinelli took the individual crown and led his Mater Dei team to the Non-Public B team title.

RESULTS - Group 4 | Group 3 | Group 2 | Group 1 | Non-Public A | Non-Public B

All-Groups Merge

Team Champions

Group 1 Girls – Metuchen 75 points

Group 1 Boys – Mountain Lakes 109 points

Group 2 Girls – Voorhees 75 points

Group 2 Boys – Haddonfield Memorial 53 points

Group 3 Girls – Colts Neck 89 points

Group 3 Boys – Mendham 78 points

Group 4 Girls – North Hunterdon 82 points

Group 4 Boys – Kingsway 52 points

Non Public A Girls – Union Catholic 63 points

Non Public A Boys – Christian Brothers 37 points (28th title, including 7 of last 8)

Non Public B Girls – Villa Walsh 39 points

Non Public B Boys – Mater Dei 75 points