Frosh Race (12:05PM)

The guys had been told about the first hill at Holmdel but there’s not much to know until you experience it first-hand. As coaches, we could only tell them to expect to be winded at the top of the hill but that “trusting your training” was what was needed as you started your eventual descent into the last mile of the race. All of our freshmen showed their racing prowess this past Saturday as Patterson missed the top 10 all-time frosh list by several seconds and was the 6th fastest SJ finisher in his race. Mike Boldurian was not too far behind as he gets ready to hopefully break the 20 minute barrier this coming weekend. Pezzano and Munns hung on for great races as well.

27. Patterson 12:51
38. Boldurian 13:07
57. Pezzano 13:25
118. Munns 14:28

JV ‘C’ Race – 12:40PM

The JV guys were led by top 40 finishes from junior Nick Vadino and sophomore Chris Booth. Vadino assaulted his PR on Holmdel from last year, shedding more than 70 seconds off. Booth – who previously PR’ed on ‘C’ course at GCC in 19:42 was only a couple seconds off at the hillier Holmdel in 19:46. Both Hubbs and Bretschneider have continued to consistently deliver decent times but I know they’ll expect a lot more in the upcoming weeks.

out of 237 runners
29. Vadino 19:42
33. Booth 19:46
67. Hubbs 20:35
100. Bretschneider 21:24

Varsity ‘C’ Race – 1:20PM

Mike Rankin finished 2nd in the Boys Varsity C race running the 19th fastest time ever for a Paul VI harrier on the famous Holmdel course. Brian Walter followed in 8th running a 43rd best time, 16:56. Coming off an injury, Walter’s time is impressive and Mike has cemented himself as one of the best the state has to offer. They both paced PVIXC to a 4th place finish, missing 3rd by one point. Our average of 17:32 was good for Top 25 in the state. With all of the adversity thrown at us over the past couple weeks, it was a great showing. Rich McKean, Nick Lamberto, and sophomore Stefano Mastrando ran great races to round out the top five (Mastrando PR’ing on Holmdel by over 70 seconds!).

To piggyback at the blurb above, posted a couple days ago, we have the seeds of something great here. Mike and Brian proved this past Saturday that they’re ready to run with anyone in the state (Brian took almost a minute off his previous Holmdel time) while the “inexperienced” guys – Catrino, Mastrando, Gallagher, and Lamberto – were led admirably by senior Rich McKean to a great showing on a very challenging course. The guys know that we need the pack tighter together and closer to Mike and Brian if they’re to really do something this year. But as far things go for this early in the season, it was a great performance. Catrino had a little bit of an off day but it certainly gives him motivation for the rest of the season. Gallagher took over 30 seconds from when he raced here at Parochial States last season.

out of 176
2. Rankin 16:27
8. Walter 16:56
32. McKean 17:58
38. Mastrando 18:06
46. Lamberto 18:16
101. Catrino 19:09
106. Gallagher 19:13

Still plenty of work to do and this gives us a gauge on where we stand in Parochial A and once again, it looks like it’s going to be one heck of a dogfight! And it’s one that these guys look like they’re ready for.

NEXT UP: South Jersey Open at Delsea HS, 10/10