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Saffer, Hand out front on all-district XC squad
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
The Howell-Manalapan rivalry highlighted an outstanding girls cross country season in 2003.
The two teams battled back-and-forth all season, pushing each other to run faster with both collecting hardware.
Manalapan, led by a resurgent Laura Saffer, won the first battle, capturing the Shore Conference A North Division title.
Howell, led by Kellee Hand, countered by defending its Freehold Regional District title and capturing the crowning achievement of the year, the Monmouth County championship title. It was the first time in school history the school won the title. The Rebels joined Manalapan as the only school from the District to win the county championship. The Rebels edged Shore Regional 74-85.
Both Howell and Manalapan would like to advance to the Group IV state championships where the Rebels were 10th and Manalapan, 13th. Howell was ranked 18th in the state at season’s end.
While Howell and Manalapan were dominating the season, Colts Neck quietly won another championship, repeating as the B Central champion.
As would be expected, championship teams produce quality runners.
Saffer, the Freehold District champion, and Hand, head the News Transcript’s 2003 All-Freehold District Girls’ Cross Country Team.
Joining them on the squad are Heather Garleb and Lauren Wiemken of Howell, Jenn Barr and Sophia Machado of Manalapan, and Danielle Plenzo of Colts Neck.
Saffer was the comeback kid in 2003, regaining the form that made her the Freehold District’s best in 2001. It all began with her quick victory in the senior race at the Battle of Monmouth, which was the first true indicator that she was back. She was second in the Senior Division at the Bog Iron Bonanza at Allaire State Park, Wall. Saffer reclaimed the District title she lost to Hand in 2002 with a convincing win at Holmdel Park in a personal best, 19:45. That is the seventh fastest time ever run in District history.
Saffer went on to finish fourth in Monmouth County, seventh at the Shore Conference, seventh in Central Jersey Group IV and 34th in Group IV.
Hand was the front-runner for the Rebels throughout the season, a season in which they ranked 18th in the state and put Howell cross country on the map. She started the year with a win in the Sophomore Division at the Battle of Monmouth. She followed that up with a third place at the Cougar Invitational in the Large School Division (won by Howell), and an eighth place at the Shore Coaches Invitational in the Varsity B section in her best time of the year at Holmdel, 20:00.82. She was second at the Districts, fifth in Monmouth County, 32nd at the Shore Conference, 14th in Central Jersey and 20th in Group IV. She was the only the District harrier to qualify for the Meet of Champions where she finished 93rd.
Howell’s rise to a state ranking this fall was the result of a very deep squad that had no significant time gaps between its top scorers.
Senior Garleb enjoyed a fine comeback season of her own. She was there when Howell was taking its baby steps as a program, and when the Rebels fulfilled their potential, winning the county championship.
Garleb finished third at the District championships behind Saffer and Hand. She was 13th in Monmouth County, 20th in CJ and 44th in Group IV.
Wiemken is just a freshman but ran her way onto the all-district team with strong performances in the championship meets. Her emergence as one of the team’s top scorers added depth to an already deep team. As expected, she got stronger as the season progressed as she adjusted to the varsity 5,000-meter distance. Wiemken, after starting the season with a second place in the Freshman Division at the Battle of Monmouth, was fifth at the District championships, 16th at the county and 36th at the SC.In CJ IV she actually finished ahead of Hand placing 13th. She was 47th in Group IV.
With Wiemken just a freshman and Hand a sophomore, don’t look for Howell to take any steps backward any time soon.
Barr and Machado had very consistent seasons for the Braves, making up a very formidable trio with Saffer. They came up big in the dual meet win over Howell which helped secure the A North title. At the Battle of Monmouth, Barr was fifth and Machado seventh in the Junior Division race. At the Bog Iron Bonanza, Machado was first and Barr second in the Junior Division.
Barr was fourth at the District meet, 17th in Monmouth County, 35th in the conference, 17th in Central Jersey and 32nd in Group IV, beating Saffer for the only time this year.
Machado was sixth in the District, 14th in the county, 29th in the Shore Conference and 18th in CJ IV. As juniors, Barr and Machado will be the Braves team leaders next year.
Plenzo, a junior, was the most consistent harrier on a balanced Colts Neck squad, which may have lacked star power but not depth. The Cougars not only won the division title but were second in Central Jersey Group III.
Plenzo was 11th at the Cougar Invitational, ninth at the District championships, 18th in the county, 24th in the SC and 11th in CJ III.
Underclassmen dominate the Cougar squad, so expect more of the same next fall.
Those earning honorable mention to the News Transcript district team are Kim Lang and Melanie Mahoney, Colts Neck; Deanna Shea, Freehold Borough; Charlotte Walsh, Freehold Township; Megan Nevins and Jessica Hoffman, Howell; Kristen Andrews, Manalapan; and Jessica Whang, Marlboro.
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