RFH Cross Country Claims Another Title

The (RFH) girls cross country team has claimed yet another title.

With Junior Rachel Christ leading the way, the team dominated the Central Jersey, Group 2 State Sectional Championship on November 5 held at Thompson Park in Jamesburg with seven runners finishing in the top twenty.

In a field of 99 runners, Christ took first place in the 5000 meter race in 18:38, which is an average of 6 minutes per mile. Senior Shannon McCarthy came in second in 19:10.39 and Freshman Hannah Anderson came in third in 19:10.59. Junior Michaella Irvine came in sixth place in 19:31, Senior Molly Hellman came in nineth place in 19:54, Junior Isabella Maita came in fourteenth place in 20:23 and Sophomore Courtney Howley came in eighteenth place in 20:32.

Claiming its second title in three years, the RFH girls beat the second place team, Holmdel, 21-65. Robbinsville came in third with 66 points. Raritan and Manasquan were the 4^th and 5^th place teams, all advancing to the NJSIAA Group Championships. With this win, NJRunners.com ranked the RFH girls team number 1 in the state.

The RFH boys cross country team came in fifth place, also advancing to the Group Championships. Leading the way for the Bulldogs were Senior Ryan Corbett who finished in 18^th place in 17:15, Senior Sam Gottuso who finished in 25^th place in 17:32 and Junior Blake Goodwyn who finished in 40^th place in 17:50. The other members of the team included Freshman Brendan Thorp (18:10), Senior Jack Maris (18:17), Sophomore James Ball (18:34), and Sophomore Jake Albers (18:54).

The NJSIAA Group Championships will be held this Saturday, November 12, 2011 at Holmdel Park. This meet is a qualifier for the 2011 NJSIAA Meet of Champions.