Girls' Cross Country Focused On Adding to Legacy

Division champs for the third straight year. A 9-0 dual meet record. Runners-up in the Union County meet and a berth in the NJSIAA State Group IV race.

Those were the highlights created by the Westfield High School girls’ cross country team last season.

Long-time head coach Thom Hornish, who has been at Westfield since 1973 and lead the cross country team since it began in 1979, is confident last year's achievements will serve as a pivotal point for future teams. His teams have gone 235-35 with 13 conference (Watchung Conference and Union County Conference), 14 Union County and seven North 2 IV sectional titles.

Will this year's team be capable of adding to the legacy?

The team should be anchored by senior Danielle Grimes, who will be in her fourth season as a varsity runner. Senior Julia Fisher, a three-year varsity runner, and senior Allegra Larche are two other leaders.

The 2009, the team was unable to qualify for the state group meet for the first time since 1984. Last year, Hornish was glad to get back to championship race at Holmdel Park, which isn’t a small feat, considering powerful Hunterdon Central, Hillsborough, North Hunterdon and Ridge compete in the same section.

“I believe it’s the strongest of all state sections,’’ Hornish said. “It’s monstrous competition.’’

The top five teams qualify for the overall group meet. The 2009 team was sixth.

“Last year’s team laid a strong foundation for this year’s team,’’ Hornish said. Between 100 and 110 female runners signed up for the team. “I know most cross country teams around the state are lucky to see 30 for both boys and girls," he added.

“It’s not a recent phenomena either,’’ Hornish added, talking about the great Blue Devils’ turnout. “It’s been building for the last 10 years,’’ he said. “Sports like volleyball and soccer cut, we don’t.’’

The team enters the season with 18 consecutive victories at dual meets, a recent example of a long-standing trend. The Lady Blue Devils won 92 straight between 1994 and 2003 – the longest of any sport in school history. They ran off 37 straight between 2005 and 2009. Both streaks were ended by rival Scotch Plains-Fanwood.

“We’re going to have to focus on Summit (the defending county champ). They are really the team to watch and you can’t dismiss Cranford or Union Catholic,’’ Hornish said. “For the conference, it should be Scotch Plains and us.’’

The team will miss the graduated Alyssa Hatch, Shannon Mooney, Ellie Tanji and Abbie Kwok. But youngsters like sophomore Elizabeth Neylan, the conference freshman champ last year, and sophomore Jeannette Cusina, who made the varsity as a freshman, should help smooth the transition. Neylan is also a talented musician, having made all-state orchestra.

“It’s wide open after those kids,’’ Hornish said.

Girls track coach Jen Buccino has told Hornish to expect some talent he may not be with familiar with.

“They might make a significant impact,’’ Hornish said. The long-term objective is for the team to tighten up their pack. The county, conference and sectional meets are held at relatively flat Warinanco Park. Holmdel Park is a much more of a challenge.

“The varsity goal will be to get 10 people to run 21 minutes or better (at Holmdel and Warinanco),’’ Hornish said. “To be among the top teams in the state, that’s what we’re going to have to do.’’