RFH Girls Win NJSIAA Girls Group II Cross Country Title

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By Jim Hintelmann

HOLMDEL – Rumson-Fair Haven Regional celebrated its third NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II title in five years Saturday at Holmdel Park, when the Lady Bulldogs pulled off a mild upset with a 91-109 win over Voorhees.
RFH had won previous titles in 2011 and 2013.
Christian Brothers Academy, however, just missed its sixth straight Non-Public A championship in a row when it dropped a tough 33-35 decision to Don Bosco Prep.
“All three titles were great,” said Rumson coach Henry Mercer, “but this team winning was sort of a surprise. We struggled a bit in the middle of the season but came on strong at the end.”
Emily Hellman led the way for Rumson with a 10th place finish in 20:07. Sarah Nelson (20:44), Julia Tambaro (20:55), Morgan Steinhacker (20:57) and Becca Ley were 17th, 24th, 28th and 40th for the Lady Bulldogs.
Trinity Hall of Middletown finished second in the Non-Public B meet while Red Bank Catholic was second in Non-Public A.
St. John Vianney’s Nora Honrath won the Non-Public A race with a time of 19:23.
CBA’s Blaisé Ferro, running only his second race of the season due to an injury, won the boys race in 15:49, but Don Bosco put its top three runners in the 2-3-4 positions. CBA took fifth and sixth, but Don Bosco clinched the title when its No. 5 runner was 16th.
The top two teams, in each of the six groups along with the wild cards, qualified for Saturday’s Meet of Champions. The Meet of Champions pits all the State Group winners against one another regardless of school size.
Photo: RFH Girls Cross Country team champs, from left to right: Becca Ley, Ryanne Mulligan, Emily Hellman, Cameron Irvine, Morgan Steinhacker, Sarah Nelson, and Julia Tambaro