Paul VI XC: Conference Champions Once Again!
Posted by Breton on October 15, 2008
PVI 15, Camden Catholic 44
PVI 20, Bishop Eustace 37
Bishop Eustace 20, Camden Catholic 35
2. Rankin 16:42
3. Hoban 16:44 (-:04 PR)
4. Connelly 17:30
5. McKean 17:34
6. Walter 17:37
10. Catrino 18:01
18. Mastrando 19:00
19. Nuccio 19:15 (-:09 PR)
23. Vadino 19:39 (-:06 PR)
25. Gallagher 19:43
27. Hubbs 20:35
32. Bretschneider 21:14
39. Nole 22:43
41. T. Pellegrino 22:50
It was all business on Tuesday at Gloucester County College. Well, I hate to say that because we’ve been stressing the odd fun of this sport all summer and fall…but business it still was. A lot of our guys were running on worn legs, starting to feel a little bit of the fatigue that a high school XC season puts on you. They knew the challenge, however. Even though only a couple of the guys were at this crossroads last year – a loss at the hands of Camden Catholic, a goodbye to one of the greatest streaks in high school cross country, and the loss of a conference title. You could see it in captain Mike Rankin’s face. A little uneasy, sure, as last year was not so far removed…but confident that this year has brought new prospects, new beginnings, and a new program. This time it was a tri-meet against our two conference rivals, something one could hope for every season. It’s swift, efficient, and calls for ONE big race from your guys instead of TWO.
Both Rankin and Tom Hoban got the go-ahead to try and hunt down Bishop Eustace’s stud senior Andy Arnold. Arnold was a first-year XC runner last year. He then had a breakthrough spring track season, dipping just below 4:20 for the mile before putting in a great summer in preparation of tackling South Jersey and the rest of the state this year. Rankin and Hoban went with him early, but Arnold - almost through the mile – threw a small surge that was enough to put a little bit of distance between himself and our own stud duo. The lead was never relinquished, but Rankin and Hoban certainly did the work to keep him close. Hoban led the way from about 1.5 all the way to the 3 mile mark, when Rankin used that trademark kick around the softball field to put some distance between himself and the super soph. That kick pushed Hoban to a new PR of 16:44 (…remember this is a sophomore people…). Rankin came in a couple seconds before at 16:42, looking stronger every time out. The internal fight between those two is going to be key with Championship season looming as it’s plain to see they push each other on the course to new heights.
The race was won about a half way through. Sure, plenty of terrible things could of happened - you never know when cramps are going to hit, twisted ankles, brain-farts that lead to a DQ – but the 3-4-5 guys ran together yet again. Rich McKean led the group of Alec Connelly and Brian Walter through most of the race, until the last mile or so when senior captain Connelly started to push the envelope. In the midst of this “intra-squad battle” the boys had absorbed Walter Cantwell, Camden Catholic’s rising junior and number one. They continued to surge, finishing within 7 seconds of each other for a solid 4-5-6 positioning and ultimately sealing the win against both teams. We stressed consistency before the race and our Top Five delivered it with no questions. A sure sign that these guys are hungry for greater things in the coming races. Paul Catrino and Stefano Mastrando rounded out the Top 7 with strong performances that still indicated a bit of fatigue…but with 10 days until our next race, a little bit of rest is in order, and they deserve it.
The rest of the squad ran particularly well, with several PR performances highlighting the bunch! Freshman Joe Nuccio PR’ed the second race in a row, shaving another 9-seconds off with a respectable 19:15. Both Mastrando and Nuccio are making firm statements, the biggest being that the future is bright in the hands of our freshmen and sophomores. Behind him, Nick Vadino hustled home (looking eerily like a sprinter in the last 100) to PR by 6 seconds with a 19:39. Frosh Pete Gallagher didn’t PR, but he stayed consistent and looked real strong in the last mile of the race to run 19:43.
Overall, mission accomplished. The boys won back their title and many were saying “here’s the start of a new streak”, but the older guys know that our focus remains somewhere else. Conference titles aren’t everything, but challenging ourselves day-in, day-out, season-in, season-out is a much more desirable goal. Congrats once again to the Eagles, 2008 Conference Champions.
- Coach Bonnette and Coach Rankin
PICTURES TO COME!
