Forys, O’Flaherty head
all-district boys team
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

Freshmen just don’t make an impact in boys cross country. That was until Craig Forys arrived at Colts Neck.

The brother of Howell graduate Matt Forys (the Freehold District’s top distance runner the last two years), Craig wasted little time becoming the Cougars’ top runner, claiming the District crown.

The next question was how would the youngster stack up against the Shore area’s and state’s best.

Very well, thank you.

Showing a competitive tenacity that wouldn’t allow him to back down to anyone, and a tactical versatility beyond his years, Forys did what no other frosh has ever done, he qualified for the season-ending Meet of Champions. One of the highlights of the season was Forys’ shattering of the freshman record at Holmdel Park. After running a 16:32 early in the season, and flirting with the old mark of 16:26 held by Matt Elmuccio of Westfield, he took it all the way down to 16:14.58. He already ranks third all-time in the District behind Tom Fischer of Manalapan (15:41) and Ty Jensen of Marlboro (15:56).

Jim Schlentz’s Cougars not only had the best harrier, but the best team. Colts Neck won its third straight B Central title and regained the Freehold District championship. They were third in the county, third in Central Jersey III and 10th in Group III.

Forys tops the News Transcript’s 2003 All-Freehold District Boys Cross Country Team. Joining him are Mike O’Flaherty, Freehold Borough; Zach Tedoff and Jose Melendez, Colts Neck; Mike St. George, Manalapan; Scott Cohen, Marlboro, and Eric Hendrickson, Howell.

Forys earned the respect of seniors like Red Bank Regional’s Rob Dennis (the Group III state champion) and Joe Kingsbery (Monmouth County and Shore Conference winner) for his competitiveness.

He flashed his promise early on when he beat a veteran field at the inaugural Cougar Invitational, and then ran a 16:32 at Holmdel Park in finishing third at the Shore Coaches Invitational. He cruised to the Freehold District title, becoming the first freshman to win the crown. Forys held his own the rest of the season, going up against the state’s best.

He was second to Kingsbery at the Monmouth County meet, posting his 16:15. He was fifth in the Shore Conference, fifth in Central Jersey, and then came up with one of his greatest efforts of the year, a second-place finish to Dennis at the Group III state championships. He finished 34th at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions.

"I’m not upset really," Forys said after running 16:36 at the MOC. "I had a great season. It was successful. I got the experience behind me and I’m excited about next year."

Forys’ season overshadowed the fine campaign put in by the Colonials’ O’Flaherty. The Colonial junior put in the work during the summer (he won several of the Freehold Area Running Club’s Summer Race Series runs), and it paid off this fall. He started off by finishing ninth in the Junior Division at the Battle of Monmouth and fifth at the Iron Bog Bonanza at Allaire State Park, Wall. He ran second to Forys in the District and was 19th in the county. O’Flaherty was 30th in the Shore Conference, 10th in CJ III and 24th in Group III.

Tedoff was second to Forys on the Cougars squad. The senior put in some strong races during the season that helped the Cougars win championships. He was fourth at the Cougar Invitational and fourth at the Freehold District. He was 32nd at the Shore Coaches, 34th in the county, 39th in the conference, 14th in CJ III and 46th in the Group III state race.

Melendez gave the Cougars a solid trio that led to invitational and championship meet success. He was eighth at the District championship, 36 at the Shore Coaches, 27th in the county and 22nd in Central Jersey.

Hendrickson ran well in the big races, earning his spot on the all-district team. The junior was eighth at the Battle of Monmouth. His best race may have been the Freehold District where he was third behind Forys and O’Flaherty. Hendrickson was 13th at the Battle of Monmouth, eighth at the Bog Iron Bonanza, behind O’Flaherty’s fifth in the Junior Division, and 34th in the county.

St. George, a veteran of all-district teams, put together a workman-like senior season for the Braves. He was ninth at the Battle of Monmouth in the Senior Division and the top District finisher in the Senior Division at the Bog Iron Bonanza, where he was seventh. He finished fifth at the Freehold District and 20th in Monmouth County.

Those earning honorable mention are Kenny Liu and Joe Schauer, Colts Neck; Mirza Salhagic and Nick Mastriani, Freehold Borough; Ryan Donohue, Freehold Township; Matt Theriault, Howell; Matt Richmond, Manalapan, and Alex Ziabko, Marlboro.