Rumson, Fair Haven, Sea Bright

Nov 08, 2022

Rumson-Fair Haven Girls Cross Country Claims New Balance Title

By Les Pierce

RFH girls varsity team (from left): Logan Rettino, Julia Shanes, Sarah Grace Butler, Katie Murray, Ryan Malone, Mary Applegate, Hannah Nitka

The Rumson-Fair Haven girls’ cross country team topped a field of 15 schools to claim the New Balance Shore Coaches Invitational D Division Title at Holmdel Park on Oct. 1. The Bulldogs posted a low score of 46 points to easily outrun nearest competitors Voorhees (94) and Paul VI (147).  

It was the team’s second major win of 2022. Earlier in the season, the squad captured the St. Dominic Invitational championship.

Senior Julia Shanes led the victors with second-place finish, trailing Notre Dame Academy’s Lola Dinneen by eight seconds. Also scoring were Sarah Grace Butler (seventh), Logan Rettino (ninth), Mary Applegate (13th), Katie Murray (15th), Hannah Nitka (16th) and Ryan Malone (23rd).  

The girls’ junior varsity team just missed the Division C crown yielding to Union Catholic by a close 32-36 tally. Carrying RFH colors across the finish line were Olivia Rivera (fourth), Cassedy Stypul (sixth), Reese Reynolds Malone (seventh), Rachel James (eighth), Georgia Watt (11th), Mary Grace Cosgrove (23rd) and Maya Singer (26th).

The boys’ varsity team took third place in Division D. Picking up bronze medals were Mickey Schroeder (12th), Jake D’Angelo (17th), Kevin Medrow (18th), Evan McCormick (22nd), Patrick Simpson (29th) and Cameron Adamson (69th).

  Bowing only to powerhouse Union Catholic, the boys’ junior varsity squad finished second in Division D. Scoring for the Ridge Road school were Liam Shell (11th), Jack Butler (12th), Phil Gambino (13th), Justin Creekmore (15th), Ben Plesser (28th), Jake Chubrik (41st) and Donovan Kane (53rd).  

“We were really pleased with the performances of our girls varsity being able to win despite one of our strong runners, Georgia Edwards, being unavailable as she was taking her SATs,” Head Coach Tim McLoone said. “That also goes for the boys who got third without their top finisher the week before, Quinn Padovano, who was also at SATs. We always try to develop deep teams and this was proof that it is working.”