CN's State Group Champions

Fun Facts     Team     Individual     Relay

Click above to read the story of each team, individual or relay state champion.

Team Group Champions 

#1 Girls Cross Country, Group I, 11/11/00

#2 Girls Cross Country, Group III, 11/12/05

#3 Girls Cross Country, Group IV, 11/12/06 #4 Boys Winter Track, Group III, 2/20/16
#5 Boys Cross Country, Group III, 11/12/16 #6 Girls Cross Country, Group III, 11/12/16
#7 Boys Winter Track, Group III, 2/18/17 #8 Girls Cross Country, Group III, 11/11/17
#9 Girls Cross Country, Group III, 11/10/18 #10 Girls Spring Track, Group III, 6/12/21
#11 Girls Cross Country, Group III, 11/13/21 #12 Boys Cross Country, Group III, 11/09/24
#13 Girls Cross Country, Group III, 11/09/24  #14 Boys Cross Country Group III, 11/8/25

 

#1       Girls Group 1 State Cross Country Championship, Holmdel Park  Nov 11, 2000

starting from the left, Ashley Liberatore, Leisha Jackucewicz, Lianne Price, Becky Piper, Jamie Squillare, Laura Paterson, Alyssa Besho

The CN girls went into the meet knowing they had a shot to be the first Colts Neck team in any sport to win a State Championship.  This was the school's 3rd year and the first with seniors.  The girls cross country team had started with just 5 girls the 1st season and none had returned for the 2nd season.  The 2nd season with all new girls had ended at the Central Jersey Championship with only four CN girls finishing the race.  The 2000 team had won the Central Jersey Group 1 Championship by just 10 points over Metuchen.  The other sections were won by Haddon Twp, Saddle Brook and Mountain Lakes.  This team had the potential to win it all and it started with Ashley Liberatore, Leisha Jackucewicz and Lianne Price finishing 5th, 6th and 7th with Leisha and Lianne running season bests.  Jamie finished 27th and when Laura Patterson ran a season best to finish 54th, it was all over.  CN scored 86 points to beat runner-up Haddon Twp who finished with 129 points.  In fact the CN team averaged 49 secs faster a runner than they had at the Central Jersey meet.  The boys followed up moments later by just missing a 2nd State title for the school as they were 2nd, losing by just two points.
 

full race result     CN website race result     2000 season summary

 

Girls State Group 1 Results: (1st 3 teams)

1 Colts Neck 86 pts   average 22:25.9

2 Haddon Heights 129 pts   average 23:04.9

3 Gloucester City  158 pts   average 23:17.8


#2       Girls Group 3 State Cross Country Championship, Holmdel Park  Nov 12, 2005

from the left, Ashley Higginson, Allison Linnell, Allie Flott, Briana Jackucewicz, Allison Donaghy, Kristen O'Dowd, Erin Donaghy

 

The CN girls went into the meet heavily favored.  They were ranked #1 in all of NJ and #4 in the Northeast region.  They had averaged 19:22.0 as a team in the Shore Conference Champs at Holmdel Park which was the 4th fastest in state history but the pressure was on for a different reason.  They were looking for a big performance to move up in the Northeast rankings to get a chance at going to the Nike Team Nationals (NTN) in Oregon.  They started out with a 1-2 finish by Briana Jackucewicz and Ashley Higginson.  Briana broke future Olympian Erin Donahue's state freshman record for the course by 14 secs with her 18:22.  Ashley finished well off her 18:10 from the Shore Conference with her 18:55 and the others, probably too fired up, went out a little too fast.  Behind the 1-2 finish was Erin Donaghy 20th, Allison Donaghy 25th and Kristen O'Dowd 29th.  They averaged 22 secs slower than the Shore Conference race but they still managed to score just 61 pts to win by 49 pts over Ridge.  It would be the most subdued State Championship celebration ever seen.  The team would come back to average 19:23.6 the next week in the Meet of Champions to finish 2nd.  The last team to be picked of the 20 teams invited to NTN then came down to CN and a team from Alaska.  The committee picked the team from Alaska but still the Harrier magazine ranked CN 17th in the US in their final rankings to end a fantastic season.
CN website race result full state meet results
Meet of champion results 2005 season summary
Girls State Group III Results: (1st 3 teams)

1 Colts Neck 61 pts   average 19:44.8

2 Ridge 110 pts   average 20:20.2

3 Moorestown  123 pts   average 20:40.6 


Northeast NTN rankings before Shore Conference 10/28/05 Northeast NTN rankings after State meet 11/16/05
Northeast NTN rankings after Shore Conference 11/4/05 Final Northeast NTN rankings 11/23/05
Northeast NTN rankings the week before State meet 11/9/05 Harrier magazine final US rankings

#3       Girls Group 4 State Cross Country Championship, Holmdel Park  Nov 12, 2006

From the left, Coach Jim Schlentz, Allison Donaghy, Allie Flott, Kristen O'Dowd, Ashley Higginson, Briana Jackucewicz, Morgan Clark, Erin Donaghy, Coach Joe Lykes

Having won the Group III State Championship the previous year, the CN girls moved up to Group IV for 2006.  For the 2nd year in a row, the CN girls came into the meet heavily favored, needing a big performance to help their Northeast rankings and get a chance to make it to the Nike Team Nationals (NTN).  For the 2nd year in a row they ran a bit slower than they wanted to.  After setting course team records at Ocean County Park at the Shore Conference Champs (18:29/runner) and at Thompson Park in the Central Jersey meet (18:58), they had high hopes for a great average at Holmdel Park but were hit by a warm, humid day.  Ashley Higginson would battle National mile champion, Danielle Tauro to the finish, losing by just 4 secs in 18:10 and Briana Jackucewicz would follow in 5th at 18:53.  Allison Donaghy 23rd, Allie Flott 30th and Erin Donaghy 35th completed the scoring.  The team score was 75 pts as they beat runner-up Cherry Hill East by 42 pts averaging 19:39.4.  The following week they would average the 2nd best in NJ history, 19:11.2, as they won the Meet of Champions (NJ All-Groups State Championship) by 66 pts and then move on to the Nike Team Nationals where they finished 4th.  See Meet of Champions winners for more on that.
pre-State meet story and NJ rankings
dyestat State meet story CN website race result
full state meet results 2006 season summary
Girls State Group IV Results: (1st 3 teams)

1 Colts Neck 75 pts   average 19:39.4

2 Cherry Hill East 117 pts   average 20:22.0

3 Lenape  174 pts   average 20:48.2 


Northeast NTN rankings before Shore Conference 10/27/06 Northeast NTN rankings after State meet 11/17/06
Northeast NTN rankings after Shore Conference 11/3/06 Final Northeast NTN rankings 11/23/06 
Northeast NTN rankings the week before State meet 11/10/06 Final NTN Selections 11/26/06


#4       Boys Group 3 State Winter Track Championship,   Toms River, Feb 20, 2016

From the left, back row, Brad D'Antuono, Alex Megerle, Kevin Berry, Jordan Brannan, Dean Raynor, Pat Bohen, Troy Bass, Coach Schlentz, Rob Schandall, Coach Hein, Coach Petriella; front row, Bryan Chehanske, Ryan Tompkins, Zack Csipkay, Anthony Russo.

After winning their 2nd straight Central Jersey Group III championship, the boys team suddenly found themselves favored to win their 1st Group Championship.  The key would be to score a lot of points in the 1600, High Jump and 3200.  Pennsauken, the team CN needed to keep an eye on, started big with a 1-5 finish in the 400.  Jordan Brannan finished 3rd and Zack Csipkay 4th in the 1600 but Pennsauken came back with a 2-5-6 finish in the 55 and CN was behind 23 - 10.  CN needed something big and then suddenly Pat Bohen cleared 6' 00" in the high jump for the first time and held on for 5th.  Ryan Tompkins, in just his 3rd meet back from foot surgery, jumped 6' 06", a personal best by 4", to pull off a huge upset in winning the high jump.  The score was now 23 - 22.  Pennsauken was favored to win the 4 x 400 relay, which would be worth 10 pts so CN needed at least 12 pts in the 3200 to clinch the title or get 10 and hope Timber Creek beat Pennsauken in the 4 x 400 relay.  CN had three entries in the 3200 but it was a loaded field.  Alex Roth of Princeton surged to a big lead after the first 1600 but a tired Jordan Brannan caught Roth in the last 400 to run a big personal best to win in 9:19.60.  Anthony Russo then finished 5th for a combined 12 pts for CN.  CN now led 34 - 23 with one event left which clinched the championship.  Pennsauken would then lose to Timber Creek in the 4x400, but both teams would then be disqualified after they pushed/shoved each other during the race.  Final score, Colts Neck 34 and Pennsauken 23.  CN had won their first indoor or outdoor Group State Championship!
full state meet results

CN website event result 

Star Ledger Story 2015-16 season summary
Boys State Group III Results:  

1 Colts Neck  34 pts 

2 Pennsauken  23 pts  

3 Neptune  22 pts   

 


#5       Boys Group 3 State Cross Country Championship, Holmdel Park  Nov 12, 2016

From the left, back row, Kevin Berry, Jordan Brannan, Dean Raynor, Pat Bohen, Troy Bass, Coach Schlentz, Rob Schandall, Coach Hein, Coach Petriella; front row, Bryan Chehanske, Ryan Tompkins, Zack Csipkay, Anthony Russo.

The Colts Neck boys were in the midst of a great season.  They had destroyed the school, Freehold District and Shore Conference Public school team average record at Ocean County Park.  They had been ranked as high as #13 in the US. 
Colts Neck went into the Group III State Champs ranked #4 in the State (All-Groups).  The problem was that Indian Hills, the defending champs (CN was a far back 2nd in 2015), was ranked #2.  They were known to have a tight pack of five runners that often only had a spread of 20 secs.  Could they put their top five in front of CN's third runner?  Would Indian Hills prevent CN from winning their 1st Boys Group Championship for a 2nd year in a row?  As they came out of the woods, approximately 1100 meters into the race, Indian Hills had their top 5 in the top 15, all ahead of Jordan Brannan, CN's lead runner.  At the mile, Jordan and Anthony Russo had moved into the Indian Hills top five but CN's next three were way back.  Had CN gone out too slow or was Indian Hills that good?  At the top of the bowl, Indian Hills still looked good and CN's 3rd, 4th and 5th were back but were passing people. At the 2 mile, the race was changing.  Kevin Berry and Matt Schaefer, CN's 3rd and 4th were moving up.  Brad D'Antuono, CN's 5th was also on the move. With a half mile to go, Indian Hills was feeling the first 1100 while CN was flying.  At the finish, it was not even close.  Jordan was 3rd, Anthony 4th, Kevin 12th, Matt 15th and Brad 30th.  CN had put three ahead of IH's 1st and four ahead of their 2nd.  In fact, CN's 5th, was only one second behind IH's 5th.  More importantly, CN had run the fastest team average of all of the State Group Championships and had run the 16th fastest team average in Holmdel Park history, tied for the 3rd fastest Public school ever. It also broke the school record and Freehold District records. A week later in the Meet of Champions, Colts Neck would be 2nd in one of the closest MOC races ever. Just five points would separate the first three teams.  Princeton would be the surprise winners with 104, CN would finish at 106 and CBA would be 3rd with 109 pts.  CN would then finish in 4th place at the Nike Northeast Regional with senior Jordan Brannan finishing 2nd and qualifying for the Nike Cross Nationals where he finished 25th.
, often only having a spread of 20 secs fromtheir 1st to their fifth runners.
full state meet results

CN website event result 

Star Ledger Story 2015-16 season summary
Boys State Group III Results: (1st 3 teams)   

1 Colts Neck  41 pts  team average: 16:19.6 (3rd fastest NJ Public school ever)

2 Indian Hills  67 pts  team average: 16:46.0

3 Morris Hills  100 pts  team average: 16:56.2

 

 


#6       Girls Group 3 State Cross Country Championship, Holmdel Park  Nov 12, 2016

From the left, front row, Elizabeth O'Horo, Colleen Megerle, Natalie Shapiro, Raeann Giannattasio, Catie Anderson, Delia Russo, Eva Gibson; back row, Coach Lykes, Coach Schlentz.


The 2016 Girls cross country team started the season with so many questions.  Three of the top seven had never run high school cross country before.  Three others had never really trained over the summer before.  Could they handle training in the heat of the summer? Could they handle the 5000 meter distance?  Could they stay healthy for the whole season?  So many questions.
They started the season slow and as they adapted to the longer race distance, they started winning.  They won the Six Flags Inv, then the Monmouth County Championship and then showed New Jersey they were the real thing in winning the Shore Conference Champs in a blazing 18:48.0 team average.  They could do no wrong!  Then they had their first hiccup.  Middletown South, who they had beat in both the Monmouth County and Shore Conference Champs, beat CN by 8 pts in the North Jersey Group 3 Champs.  They would meet for the 4th time in the State Group Championships. 
The boys had won their 1st State Group Championships just 45 minutes earlier.  The girls were excited but kept to the race plan, they got out under control and moved up the 2nd half of the race.  Soph Colleen Megerle would finish 2nd in 18:59, after finishing 66th the year before, improving 2 mins and 26 secs.  Soph Delia Russo was 17th at 19:50 in her 1st season. Soph Eva Gibson was 19th in 19:54, after finishing 97th in 22:23 the year before.  Senior Raeann Giannatassio, finishing the race with what would turn out to be a stress fracture, was 36th, still only 17 secs over her personal best.  Frosh Natalie Shapiro finished 38th with a new personal best at Holmdel.  It all added up to an average of 19:58.0 and a victory by 27 pts over Northern Highlands.  A week later, they would finish 6th in the Meet of Champions, just 4 pts out of 4th, without Raeann.  They then finished 11th in the Nike Northeast Regional Champs.
full state meet results

CN website event result 

Star Ledger Story 2016 season summary

Girls State Group III Results: (1st 3 teams)
 

1 Colts Neck  84 pts  team average: 19:58.0

2 Northern Highlands  111 pts  team average: 20:19.6  

3 Middletown South  112 pts  team average: 20:15.6 

 


#7       Boys Group 3 State Winter Track Championship,   Toms River, Feb 18, 2017

 

From the left, back row, Ryan Tompkins, Coach Hein, Coach Schlentz, Coach Petriella, Jordan Brannan, Matt Schaefer, Anthony Russo, Kevin Berry, Gavin McDonnell, Jack Hayes, Kyle Roeder, Coach Lykes; front row, John Pezzolanti and Brad D'Antuono.

After winning their 3rd straight Central Jersey Group III championship, by it's largest margin, 62 -34, the boys team was favored to win it's 2nd straight Group III Championship.  They would have to do it like the previous year, score big in the 1600, High Jump and 3200.  Pennsauken, the team CN needed to keep an eye on, started fast with a 1-6 finish in the 400.  Jordan Brannan finished 2nd and Matt Schaefer was 6th in the 1600 and Pennsauken only led 11 - 9.  CN then went ahead as Ryan Tompkins defended his title in the high jump.  Now it was CN 19- 11.  Pennsauken came back with a 3-5 finish in the 55 and it was now tied at 19.  Pennsauken was favored to win the 4 x 400 relay, which would be worth 10 pts so CN needed at least 11 pts in the 3200 to clinch the title.  CN had gone 1-2-3 in the Central Jersey 3200 but this was the State Group Champs and that was unprecedented.  Over the last 800, that's exactly what happened as Jordan, Anthony Russo and Kevin Berry went 1-2-3 for 24 pts.  Pennsauken won the 4 x 400 but it was too little to late and CN had defended their title.  Final score, Colts Neck 43 and Pennsauken 29.  CN had won their 2nd indoor or outdoor Group State Championship!
full state meet results

CN website race result 

Star Ledger Story

2016-17 season summary

Boys State Group III Results:  

1 Colts Neck  43 pts 

2 Pennsauken  29 pts  

3 Old Tappan  18 pts           

 

 


#8       Girls Group 3 State Cross Country Championship, Holmdel Park  Nov 11, 2017

From the left, Lucy Gardner, Natalie Shapiro, Colleen Megerle, Eva Gibson, Delia Russo, Veronica Banat, Catie Anderson


The 2017 Girls cross country team started the season with big goals.  They were defending Group III State Champs and only one of the top 6 had graduated.  They felt they had a shot at the Meet of Champions title and a top two finish at the Nike Northeast Regional Champs, which would qualify them for the National Champs in Portland, Oregon.  There was a big gap after the top 5, so they had to stay healthy. Unfortunately, that never happened.  It wasn't until the Monmouth County meet on October 17th that they would have their top 5 all in the same race and be able to race all out, and even then, Delia could not wear spikes.  They won with a great early season average at Holmdel of 19:53.  The bad news, after the race, Delia rehurt her achilles and Catie's leg bothered her.  The good news, the trio of freshmen girls were getting closer to the top 5.  Delia was unable to run at the Shore Conference meet so the team finished 2nd.  The team was able to run easy in Central Jersey Group III Champs and won with 6 in the top 10.  The Group III State Champs was the first time everyone was able to race and wear spikes.  Middletown South, the team that had beat them at the Shore Conference, was the main competition.  CN was ready to repeat!  The Cougars put 4 in the top 20, Colleen 10th, Eva 18th, Delia 19th and Natalie 20th and Catie and Lucy were close behind at 32nd and 35th to win by 11 pts.  At the Monmouth County Champs,  Middletown South had put 6 ahead of CN's 5th.  At the Group IIII Champs, we put our 5th and 6th ahead of their 5th.  With no seniors on the team and freshmen as the 6th, 7th and 8th runners on the team, the Cougars will be looking for their 3rd title in a row next year.

After the Group meet, the girls finished 3rd at the Meet of Champions, 9 pts behind the 2nd place team, Kingsway.  At the Nike Northeast Regional Champs, Colleen would catch the flu and Natalie's foot would be hurt and neither one was able to race.  North Hunterdon and Kingsway would go 1 - 2 and move on to the Nike Nationals.


full state meet results

CN website event result 

Star Ledger Story 2017 season summary

Girls State Group III Results: (1st 3 teams)
 

1 Colts Neck  89 pts  team average: 19:55.4

2 Middletown South  100 pts  team average: 20:00.2  

3 Indian Hills  120 pts  team average: 20:14.2 

 


#9       Girls Group 3 State Cross Country Championship, Holmdel Park  Nov 10, 2018

From the left, front row, Coach Adam Petriella, Coach Joe Lykes, Alex Martarella, Eva Gibson, Kavita Shah, Coach Jim Schlentz; back row, Colleen Megerle, Lucy Gardner, Catie Anderson, Natalie Shapiro, Delia Russo.


The 2018 Girls cross country team returned everyone from the 2017 Group III State Champs.  They were going for their 3rd straight Group III State Champs and had been 3rd in the 2017 Meet of Champions. They had an outstanding stretch of training from early July to running camp in mid-August.  Then, the returning #3, Eva Gibson, strained her hip flexor after camp and then two weeks later their returning #1, Collen Megerle, got a stress fracture in her foot.  This year, they did return a strong 7, so the other five had to pick up the slack.  Eva was back by the Monmouth County meet but had been sick after recovering from the hip flexor.  The team still was able to finish 2nd in the Monmouth County and Shore Conference Champs.  In the Central Jersey Group III Champs, the team was able to run easy for the first mile and push the last 2 miles and win with only 29 pts, only 3 pts over the school record of 26 pts from 2017.  Their top 5 all finished in the top 11.  This led them to the Group III State Champs where they were underdogs to Mendham, the #6 team in the state.  (CN was ranked #14.)  Colleen was now training but still a week away from returning to racing.  Delia Russo hd been the surprise star of the team, having improved 50 secs at Holmdel Park to win the Monmouth County meet in 18:45.  On a very cold, windy day, she would start the scoring with a strong 3rd place.  Natalie Shapiro would come through with a fantastic last mile to finish 5th.  Behind them, Catie Anderson would finish 15th, Eva Gibson 20th and Kavita Shah 24th.  The team would put 2 ahead of Mendham's 1st and then beat them at every spot to score a girls school record 55 pts for a 21 pt victory.  It was the first CN sport to win three straight Group State Championships.  The team would finish 5th in the merge of all the group races on that day.

After the Group meet, Colleen returned and the girls finished 6th at the Meet of Champions, 1 pt behind the 5th place team, South Brunswick.  At the Nike Northeast Regional Champs, the team would finish 6th, the 3rd best finish for NJ teams and Delia would finish 9th and be the 1st girl knocked out of going to the Nike Nationals.  She would miss the Nationals by just 9 secs. 

full state meet results

CN website event result 

Star Ledger Story 2018 season summary

Girls State Group III Results: (1st 3 teams)
 

1 Colts Neck  55 pts  team average: 20:00.0

2 Mendham  76 pts  team average: 20:21.6  

3 Middletown South  93 pts  team average: 20:29.6 

 


 #10      Girls Group 3 State Spring Track Championship, Pennsauken  June 11-12, 2021

 

From the left, front row, Ava Wilmot, Kylie Jacoutot, Isabella Marcinkiewicz, Katherine Taylor, Ava Suhocki; 2nd row Lilly Shapiro, Kavita Shah, Grace Suhocki, Jasmine Bhattarcharjee, Grace Pacchiano, Kelsey Kaub, Olivia Petschauer, Coach Camille Bertholon; 3rd row Coach Dennis Bruch, Coach Kevin Hein, Coach Jim Schlentz, Coach John Hickey, Coach John Flood.


The 2021 Girls spring track team was trying to achieve something special, win their 1st State Team Track title.  They had dominated the Central Jersey Group III Championship, winning by over 50 pts and scoring a team record 148 pts, one of the highest scoring totals ever in a NJ sectional championship.
Winslow had been the dominate Group III school for many years.  Northern Highlands was a better balanced team than Winslow so they would be tougher to beat.  At the end of Day 1, Northern Highlands had 34 pts including State titles in the Shot Put and the Pole Vault.  Colts Neck was 2nd with 27 pts, winning championships in the 1600 (Lilly Shapiro) and the 4 x 800 as well as a 4th from Grace Suhocki in the 400 hurdles, Kylie Jacoutot 5th in the 400 and Ashley Cataneo 6th in javelin.  Winslow had a disastrous 1st day and had only 7 pts.  CN felt that their 2nd day had more potential so they were very excited for the Day 2. 
Day 2 started with a 3rd and 6th in the 3200 from Kavita Shah and Ava Wilmot.  It was now  NH 34, CN 34, Wins 7.  Winslow won the 100 hurdles with Northern Highlands 6th but Lilly Shapiro won the 800 and CN was now in 1st.  CN 44, NH 35, Wins 17.  In the Triple Jump, Winslow would score 14 pts and in the High Jump, NH was 3rd for 6 pts.  CN 44, NH 41, Wins 31.  In the 4 x 100 relay, Winslow was only 3rd while CN was 5th.  In the Discus, it was NH finishing 2nd for 8 pts and CN 5th for 2 pts.  It was now NH 49 to CN 48.  1 point separating CN and NH!  Winslow now was out of it.  Colts Neck had to beat Northern Highlands and place at least 4th to clinch the team title.  Using times from the sectionals, Northern Highlands was seeded 3rd with Colts Neck 4th.  It was going to be an exciting finish! 
Grace Suhocki would lead off with a personal best of 60.55 and hand off in 2nd, NH was in 8th.  Kyle Jacoutot would then run 58.87 (PB) and hand off to Kelsey Nager with a 2.5 sec lead.  Kelsey would run 61.08 (PB) to give CN a 1/2 sec lead with Northern Highlands way back.  The team title was tied up, now could CN win their 4th Group III title of the weekend.  Lilly Shapiro, going for her 4th State title of the weekend, would allow Ramapo, the favored team, to come up to her shoulder with 100 meters left and run side-by-side until 50 meters to go, where Lilly pulled away for the win in 3:58.20.  She was 57.71 (PB).  It was the 2nd fastest 4 x 400 in CN history. CN would end up with 58 pts as NH was 6th in the 4 x 400 and 2nd team with 50 pts.  Title #1 was completed!

full state meet results

CN website event result 

NJ.Milesplit Story 2021 season summary

Girls State Group III Results: (1st 3 teams)
 

1 Colts Neck  58 pts

2 Northern Highlands  50 pts    

3 Winslow  42 pts  

 


#11       Girls Group 3 State Cross Country Championship, Holmdel Park  Nov 13, 2021

From the left, front row, Olivia Petschauer, Ashley Pavlovsky, Lilly Shapiro, Presslie Mariner, Liz Scarpa, Ava Suhocki, Ava Wilmot; back row, Coach Camille Bertholon, Coach Jim Schlentz, Coach John Hickey, Coach Mike Pinnola.


The 2021 Girls cross country team had five girls back who had run under 5:17 for 1600 the previous spring but would need a 6th girl to step forward, in case of sickness or injury.  The plan was different than previous years because the Spring Track Nationals had taken place in July in Oregon.  This forced the team to start summer training almost 3 weeks later than normal.  The varsity did not compete in a meet until the last week of September and then took another training block without races of almost 4 more weeks. This was due to the fact that they would then have to race 5 races in 5 weeks.
The first big race was Six Flags Wild Safari Inv where the team destroyed the Meet Team Average record by 20+ secs.  They then won the Monmouth County meet by 50 pts with the 4th best CN team average ever.  They followed that with course records for Team Average and Lilly Shapiro at Ocean County Park.  The 18:16.8 ave broke the record of 18:22.8 as the team won by 45 pts.  The team ran through the Central Jersey Group III Champs, winning their 5th straight title with just 29 pts.  Ava Wilmot, who was still having trouble with Lymes Disease, had struggled at the Central Jersey Champs. The decision was made to hold her out of the Group III Champs and save her for the Meet of Champions.  This was where the importance of a good 6th girl was critical.  Freshman Liz Scarpa had steadily improved all year and it was felt she would be able to make up for most of the absence of Ava W.  With Lilly winning her 1st Group III cross country title and Presslie Mariner 9th, CN was leading 10-11 over North Hunterdon after two.  NH's 3rd was 13th to CN's 22nd so CN was now down by 8 pts.  Olivia Petschauer followed Ashley Pavlovsky's 22nd with a 23rd and Liz's 28th place wrapped up a 30 pt win, CN's 4th title in the last 5 and their 7th in cross country overall.

The team would finish 3rd in the Meet of Champions, the 3rd best finish for a CN team behind the 2006 winner and the 2005 runner-up.  They would then run in the Running Lane Nationals (Nike Nationals were canceled due to the pandemic) in Huntsville, AL and finish 26th.  Lilly Shapiro would finish 2nd in the Meet of Champions in 17:35, a Shore Conference record and the 4th fastest time in NJ history.

full state meet results

CN website event result 

NJ.Milesplit Story 2021 season summary

Girls State Group III Results: (1st 3 teams)
 

1 Colts Neck  79 pts  team average: 19:41.8

2 North Hunterdon  109 pts  team average: 20:02.2  

3 Mendham  111 pts  team average: 20:18.4 

 


#12       Boys Group 3 State Cross Country Championship, Holmdel Park  Nov 9, 2024

 

From the left, Coach Jake Brown, Coach Samantha Hoagland, John Shapiro, Deeko Rudko, Jay Adimala, Hunter Celkupa, Dom Marino, Rowan O'Connor, Coach Zach Greenberg, Kyle Schandall, Coach Jim Schlentz.


The 2024 Boys team had finished 2nd, just 7 points out of 1st, at the 2023 Group III State meet.  They dedicated the summer to making sure they didn't feel that failure again.  After 5 days in the Poconos of training/bonding, the team was fit but would still need to rely on 4 sophomores at the 4-5-6-7 spots  Two were running cross country for the 1st time.  The Pre-Season NJ ranking had the team as # 8, the top Group III school, with Ocean City #11.  The season opener was the Shore Conference A North meet at Holmdel Park, against #1, US #2 CBA and NJ #7 Manalapan. The Cougars were 2nd but beat Manalapan by 1 point.  The sophomores would need to improve a lot but they were on the right path.  Skipping Six Flags to compete at the Bowdoin Classic in Wappingers Falls, NY, the now #7 Cougars finished 1st, beating #9 Westfield by 4 pts and #8 Manalapan.  At the Monmouth County Champs, with CBA holding out their top 7, the Cougars ended CBA's run of 22 straight County titles, beating them by 39 pts.  The sophomores had shown they were the real deal!  After a 2nd place finish to CBA at the Shore Conference Champs, the Cougars were able to hold back and easily win the Central Jersey Group III Champs, as John Shapiro, Hunter Celkupa and Jay Adimala tied for 1st.  The day of the Group III State Champs dawned with now #3 Colts Neck ready to battle #11 Ocean City and #12 Chatham.  They had both easily won their sectional titles.  With Jay and Hunter finishing together in 1st and 3-4-5 all finishing within the top 30, CN was victorious, winning by 18 points to win their 2nd state title in XC.  

Without John Shapiro, who suffered a major hip injury in the Group meet, the team still managed to finish 6th and make the podium at the Meet of Champions.  they continued on to finish 11th at the Nike Northeast Championships.
full state meet results

CN website event result 

NJ.Milesplit Story 2024 season summary

Boys State Group III Results: (1st 3 teams)
 

1 Colts Neck  64 pts  team average: 16:38.4

2 Ocean City  82 pts  team average: 16:45.8  

3 Chatham  146 pts  team average: 17:03.8 

 


#13       Girls Group 3 State Cross Country Championship, Holmdel Park  Nov 9, 2024

 

From the left, Coach Zach Greenberg, Coach Jake Brown, Coach Samantha Hoagland, Siena Nicholson, Lydia Bereznitski, Julianna Sciacca, Hailey Molina, Elizabeth Scarpa, Emily Scarpa, Natalie O'Connor, Coach Jim Schlentz


The 2024 Girls team was coming off a 11th place finish at the 2023 Group III State meet, the worse finish for a CN team since the 12th place finish in 2015.  There was a lot of urgency to go back to the days of old, being on the podium (top 3) at the State meet.  After a great summer of training and 5 days in the Poconos of training/bonding, the team was ready to leave the past behind.  The Pre-Season NJ ranking had the team as # 14, the 4th best Group III school.  The season opener was the Shore Conference A North meet at Holmdel Park and they lost but competed well against Freehold Twp, the #4 team in the state, despite sickness on the team.  After winning the Six Flags Wild Safari Inv, the Girls had momentum going into the Monmouth County meet.  Now ranked #17 in NJ, the Cougars had to compete against NJ #6, #7, #8, #12 and #14.  They finished 2nd, 1 pt behind Middletown South as the top 4 teams were within 2 pts.  After a 4th place finish at the Shore Conference Champs, the #9 Cougars had to race #7 Middletown South for the Central Jersey Group III Champs.  Trailing by 20 points at the mile, they took a 3 point lead at 2 miles before extending it to 13 by the finish for the win.  At the Group III State Championships, the now #7 girls would have to beat #2 Ocean City, #9 Middletown South and #13 Moorestown to win their 8th state title.  At 2 miles, Middletown had a 10 point lead over the Cougars with Ocean City 3 points back. (not counting non-team runners).  What followed was one of the best closing 1.1 miles in CN history as the girls passed a comined 30 runners to score 89 points to win by 11 pts.  The dream was complete!!

After upsets at the Central Jersey Group III and Group III champs, the team went into the Meet of Champions ranked 5th in the merge of all teams competing at the Group Championships.  They then stunned NJ by finishing 3rd.
full state meet results

CN website event result 

NJ.Milesplit Story 2024 season summary

Girls State Group III Results: (1st 3 teams)
 

1 Colts Neck  89 pts  team average: 20:06.8

2 Middletown South  100 pts  team average: 20:09.4  

3 Ocean City  137 pts  team average: 20:28.0 

 


#14       Boys Group 3 State Cross Country Championship, Holmdel Park  Nov 8, 2025

 

From the left, Coach Jim Schlentz, Dom Marino, Anthony Venditolli, Coach Samantha Hoagland, Jay Adimala, Coach John Hickey, Zack Metzger, Deeko Rudko, Rowan O'Connor, Jayden Camera, Kyle Schandall, Coach Jake Brown


The Boys team was aiming to defend their state title and had a great summer of training.  Right before the time trial, Dom hurt his knee.  Shortly after, Kyle hurt himself.  They were now without 2 of their top 4 runners.  Kyle was able to run the Monmouth County Champs but needed that race to burn off the rust.  The team had started the season ranked #4 in NJ and when they finished 2nd at the Central Jersey Group III Champs, they dropped out of the top 20.  Dom was able to finally race at the CJ Group III Champs but just like Kyle, he needed one race to burn the rust off. 
Into the Group III meet, the unranked Cougars would be against, #8 Ocean City, #9 North Hunterdon, #15 West Windsor-Plainsboro North and #19 Morris Knolls but they now had their top 6 healthy.  If they executed what they knew they could do, they felt they could win it.  Jay Adimala, 6 secs behind the leader at 2 miles, would take the lead with 100 meters left to win.  Kyle Schandall would finish 19th (though the video shows him finish 18th.)  Rowan O'Connor struggling with iron problems, hung on for 21st and Deeko Rudko was 22nd.  (The video actually shows them reversed.)  Dom Marino finished 46th and Zack Metzger 56th.  Race Video  With Freshman Jayden Camera as the 7th, the team had accomplished the almost impossible and won by 15 pts.  You should never count the Cougars out!

At the Meet of Champions, Jay Adimala, running his fastest race ever at Holmdel Park, had his calf seize up around the tennis courts which made him unable to finish.  The team finished 14th. 
Team Interview                                                 Race Video
full state meet results

CN website event result 

NJ.Milesplit Story 2025 season summary

Boys State Group III Results: (1st 3 teams)
 

1 Colts Neck  87 pts  team average: 17:02.2

2 Ocean City  102 pts  team average: 17:07.4  

3 North Hunterdon  118 pts  team average: 17:22.2 

4 West Windsor South 119; 5 Morris Knolls 121