PVIXC has set the first day of new XC season for Wednesday, June 17th at 6:00PM. We will be meeting at “the tree” in front of the school and afterwards there will be a barbeque of sorts to kick of the new season! Please – alumni – come and join us, just make sure you bring something – food, water, old PVIXC memorabilia.
As XC prep continues our distance guys have taken to the track with vengeance. Over the past couple weeks we have had significant improvement from just about everybody and with the Championship season upon us we are bound to see even more.
Paul VI is undefeated – beating Camden, Bishop Eustace, Camden Catholic, Woodrow Wilson, and Camco Tech over the past couple months. Those dual meets set up perfect racing opportunities and our kids took hold of them. In a showdown with Eustace’s number one Andy Arnold in the 800(a sub 4:20 miler), juniors Mike Rankin and Brian Walter went 2-3 in huge PRs, 1:58.7 and 1:59.2. Those great times mean that their season PRs of 4:32 and 4:36 respectively look set to fall sometime over the next couple weeks.
Sophomore Tom Hoban has also announced himself as a formidable powerhouse in the 3200, running 10:01.9 at the SJ Open to go with a solid 4:41 in the 1600. He most recently finished 2nd in Camden County running a great race until Cherry Hill East senior Dave Berger was able to pull away for the win.
Senior Alec Connelly has improved his 1600 PR to 4:45 and looks set to do even more damage as the Olympic Conference meet and SJ Parochials fast approaches. Rich McKean has also dipped under the 4:50 barrier, but more impressively won the 3200 vs. Eustace in a solid 10:24 with negative splits and a lot left in the tank.
Let us not forget the freshmen! Peter Gallagher and Pat Henkel have taken remarkable strides throughout the spring. Pete is now “running with the big boys” and is on pace to break 5 by the end of the season. His workouts have impressed the upperclassmen and many expect big things out of him come fall. Pat Henkel has been the breakthrough of the year. No question about it. He was running 5:50-6:00 range early in the season but has since found his way into the 2:20 for the 8, 5:20 range for the 1600 all after a 4×800 leg at SJ Relays that surprised us all. We have had numerous other PRs as people gear for the end of the season and the transition into cross country. Vadino lowered his 800 PR, Nole his 800 and 1600 PRs, and we have some youngsters that are really starting to come around.
The future bodes well for Paul VI distance and – as much as we love spring track – cross country is so close we can taste it. Belmont Plateau/Holmdel – here we come.
