It has been a busy last month of racing and odds are you have witnessed our inability to get up meet recaps! Let’s just say there has been tremendous progress with this young group and even though there have been several firsts (some good, some not so good) this season – these guys have fought and improved tremendously over the last month.
First order of the day, please join me in congratulating South Jersey Parochial individual champion Tom Hoban. The team didn’t win on the day but they ran respectably well (which you’ll see below) and Hoban led that charge with a commanding 17 second victory. He broke the school course record of 16:06 (previously set in 2008 by Michael Rankin)with a controlled 16:02. After a topsy-turvy start to the year, Hoban has grown into one of the better runners in the state of New Jersey. Brimming with confidence, November should be a fun month for ‘Tommy’.
Two other seniors in Nick Lamberto and Nick Vadino have come on strong at the right time this season – putting previous challenges aside to register big performances in big moments. Even though they aren’t destroying last year’s PRs, their leadership and fight has been vital to the team’s identity early in the Championship season.
Sophomores Adam Verna and Neil MacFarlane have taken huge strides and have really set themselves up nicely for the future. Both were 6th and 8th respectively at the SJ Parochials and have surpassed the 17 minute barrier. Expect them to lead an impressive squad in 2011.
We have seen HUGE drops in times recently. Dan Marino, a 20:14 runner last year as a freshman, ran as our 5th man this past weekend, taking 21st in 17:43. A true testament to the reciprocal nature of this sport. You get out what you put in.
Freshman George Balzer has followed Marino’s lead in the time department but he decided it would be better not to wait until sophomore year to do it. After starting the year in the mid-21s, Balzer finished top 30 at Delsea this past weekend in a 17:57. He is one of many freshmen that have shown us tremendous commitment through out the season.
Though the results have not panned out as envisioned team-wise, these guys have done amazingly so far this season with the hand they were dealt – loss of talent to graduation and other talent to unfortunate circumstances. Future stars have emerged, a senior captain has finally had the “healthy” year he yearned for, and the team has shown resolve amidst big ups and downs.
If you want proof of that – check out the Times 2007- tab or the Delsea time list…
Here are results from the 2010 SJ Parochials.
With all this said, States awaits!
