Paul VI XC: Conference Champions Once Again!

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!

Camden Catholic 21, Paul VI 36

When it rains, it pours they say – and Wednesday, October 10th was no different. The work had been put in and the Eagles were looking ready to go physically. It had to be translated to on-course succes and from the get go, the Eagles were playing a game of catch up. Catholic’s Kevin McDonnell – who has acted as the catalyst in the Irish’s turnaround – sprinted out to the lead heading through the mile in 4:58, but no one else went with him. Mike Rankin thought about it, but saw merit in rallying the troops and trying the keep the pack as close to him as possible. Rankin was through in 5:17 and looking tough, but it was Catholic who had packed up behind him with our pack consisting of Lively, Hoban, Murphy, and Norris not too far behind. Unfortunately, the race plan was to run straight up – not catch up. The fast pace was bound to take its’ toll, but the question was whether or not it would be too late to make the catch happen. Past the two mile mark, Catholic had firmly grabbed the 1, 3, 4 spot – but the race was still on for 5, 6, 7, 8. It was the Irish who wanted it more capping off a program resurgence that looks to provide with the Eagles with continued competition over the coming years. The pouring rain part reared its’ ugly head when a placement mix-up at the finish skewed the later results for many of the competitors.

Yes, the streak is dead – yes, with nothing but utter respect for the alumni and PVI fans that came before us, it is time to move on. 28 years later, PVI’s program has waxed and waned, but we all know, the tradition here is bigger than the streak – and I’m sure Coach Glavin, Coach Steinhoff, Coach Lyons, Coach Ceislik, and all former coaches would agree with that. What’s next? Create a new niche for PVI cross country and its’ runners – build a program from its’ early stages that teaches racing, not running. There is always more to be said, but I will refrain from rambling uncontrollably.

Our race was not (and no race ever is) without a silver lining – Mike Rankin has firmly established himself as a force to be reckoned on the course, finishing in 17:12 and eagerly looking forward to flat course that awaits him on Saturday at Delsea. Freshman Tom Hoban wanted the win so bad, he shaved off 34 seconds off his PR set last week at Holmdel to finish 5th in 17:53. Joe Fiore fought his ass off – stress fracture and all – to keep the PVI pack in it coming through 2 miles and as a junior who had run 17:48 before injury, his healthy return gives PVI an extremely formidable top three. Freshmen Mike Giordano and Nick Vadino both respectively clocked 90-second and 45-second personal records. Mike finished in 21:13 and ”Little Tank” in 21:42. The seeds are there.

Our seniors – though overwhelmed a bit by the streak – have put in an intense amount of training to prepare themselves for this year. Their wear-with-all clearly didn’t pan out yesterday, but in all honesty, our goal was not the Camden Catholic race – it’s the rest of the year. These seniors led by Tom Norris and Paul Lively will rebound and get ready to make the push towards the end of the season with the goal of translating their workouts into productive races.

So – as I’ve told the kids - the alumni support doesn’t go away with the streak over. The workouts and all-out training doesn’t stop. The program doesn’t just go away, or the tradition, but it’s now up to them and Coach Rankin and I to jumpstart the program back in the right direction again. And as I see positives in everything, we are already well on our way.

“Every strike brings me closer to the next home run” – Babe Ruth 

The final number? Paul VI Cross Country: 244-0 since 1979. To every runner, coach, parent, fan – that is one hell of an accomplishment. For results, click here.   

Come Support PVIXC vs. Camden Catholic!!!

Race starts at 4pm on Wednesday, October 10th, 2007.

Held at GCC, ‘A’ Course. Hope to see you there!