Cougars’ Forys fifth at SC x-country championships

Manalapan’s Saffer

is seventh; Brave

girls are fourth

BY TIM MORRIS

Staff Writer

After Craig Forys almost stole the Monmouth County championship on Oct. 21, the best harriers from the Shore Conference were not about to tempt fate twice.

At the county championships, Forys led from the start, running the opening, uphill mile at Holmdel Park in 5:28. Eventual winner Joe Kingsbery of Red Bank Regional posted a 5:40, after playing catch-up the whole race. Kingsbery was able to finally reel the talented Cougar freshman in over the last half-mile and used his track speed to gradually pull away from Forys, who in finishing second, would set the freshman state record at Holmdel Park (16:15).

At Saturday’s Shore Conference Championships, again at Holmdel Park, Forys ran his same opening mile in 5:28, only this time he had a different view. He was in the chase pack as RBR’s Rob Dennis pushed the pace from the start (5:20 for the opening mile) and never dropped it.

Forys stayed within himself, eventually matching the 16:15 he ran at the county. He showed a finishing kick that he said he had been working on, by making up 10 meters on Christian Brothers Academy’s Jake Zorski in the final 100 to finish fifth.

"I’m pleased with my race," said Forys. "I expected to go slower with the heat. I’m happy with my time.

"Rob and Joe ran great races," he added. "They took it out fast and kept it going."

Kingsbery edged his teammate, Dennis, for the SC title, as both dipped under 16:00 for the first time, 15:59.74-15:59.95.

Manalapan’s Laura Saffer was another runner with reason to be pleased with her race. The Manalapan senior had her best performance at the SC ever, finishing seventh (20:11).

Saffer, though was happier with the Braves’ team result. Manalapan finished fourth (200) behind Toms River East (134), Shore (138) and Toms River North (178).

"We were so excited, so shocked," said Saffer. "It’s the best Manalapan has done since 1987."

Sophia Machado, 29th (20:58), was second across the line for the Braves, who won the Shore Conference A North Division title this year. Jenn Barr was 35th (21:10) and Kristen Andrew, 46th (21:31).

Howell’s Monmouth County champions ran sixth (218), packing Kellee Hand, 32nd (21:03), Meagan Nevins, 33rd (21:07), and Lauren Wiemken, 36th (21:17), close together.

Colts Neck’s Danielle Plenzo finished second among the area harriers, placing 24th (20:52).

The Cougars finished 14th (306). Second scorer Kim Lang was 44th (21:29).

Jackson’s Jennifer Clausen, who has the fastest time in the state this year at Holmdel, won as expected, in 18:30.

Back to the boys: Freehold Borough’s Mike O’Flaherty finished second among the District runners, posting a 17:19 and finishing 30th.

Colts Neck finished 10th (281) with Zach Tedoff, the Cougars’ second runner, placing 39th overall (17:34).

Freehold Borough was 14th (356) and Manalapan, 16th (404). Up top, Christian Brothers Academy retained its title with 42 points.

The race to the Meet of Champions begins Saturday with the NJSIAA state sectional championships at Holmdel Park. This is the Central Jersey sectional. The top 10 individuals and top five teams will go on to the State Group meet on Nov. 15.

"I can’t wait," said Forys, who will again be racing against Kingsbery and Dennis in the Group III section. "I never expected to have this happen to me this year.

"I want to try and finish in the top 10," he added. "Basically, I just want to see what I can do."

Colts Neck’s boys are among the favorites to advance to the Group champions. Howell’s and Manalapan’s girls should make it to the Group IV state championship.