Higginson leads parade of underclass XC stars Lambert, Parker among other harriers on All-District Team BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Colts Neck’s Ashley Higginson was the top District harrier this fall in a season where a talented group of underclassmen emerged as runners to watch. It may have been the Year of the Freshman in cross country in the Freehold Regional District, but it was a sophomore, Colts Neck’s Ashley Higginson, who was the best runner in the area. Higginson was the top newcomer of the 2004 season, and her presence turned Colts Neck into the best team in the District. Last fall, Higginson was playing soccer when an outstanding spring track season at 3,200 meters convinced her that cross country was her future. The Cougars are glad she did. Janel Parker Never before have so many freshmen had as much of an impact as this year. Thanks to a pair of freshmen, Lindsey Lambert and Sarah Nelson, Howell High School went undefeated during the dual meet season and regained the Shore Conference A North Division title. Freehold Township became a power this year, thanks to addition of two freshman stars of their own, Janel Parker and Lindsie Sai. The battle for the A North title came down to the final dual meet of the season in Freehold Township with Howell edging the host Patriots. Higginson and senior teammates Danielle Plenzo and Kim Lang made the Cougars the best team in the District. The Cougars not only won the District championship, but captured the Shore Conference B North Division crown. They were second in Monmouth County, third in Central Jersey and Group III and finished the season with a 12th place at the Meet of Champions (MOC). Higginson, Plenzo and Lang head the News Transcript’s 2004 All-Freehold Regional District Girls’ Cross Country Team. Joining them on the squad are Lambert and Lauren Wiemken, of Howell; Parker and Charlotte Walsh, of Freehold Township; and Sofia Machado, Manalapan. Higginson revealed her potential in her first trip to Holmdel Park when she ran a 19:09, the second-fastest time ever by a District harrier. From that point on, the Cougar became one of the state’s best. She won the Cougar Invitational at her Bucks Mill Park home course in a record 18:52 back in September. She led the Cougars to the District title with her first-place finish there. She won her division at the Eastern States at historic Van Cortlandt Park, the Bronx, N.Y., running the 2.5-mile layout in 15:31.6. In Delaware, she was second at the Salesianum Invitational. Back in New Jersey, Higginson was second in the county, fourth in the Shore Conference (SC) (18:23 at Ocean County Park, Lakewood), first in Central Jersey Group III, third in state Group III and 11th at the Meet of Champions. At the MOC she lowered her Holmdel Park pb to 19:00, second only to the 18:55 run by Howell’s Lindsey Gallo. Higginson had one of the great seasons ever by a District harrier, and her best is still in front her. Parker and Lambert went back and forth all year, starting with the Battle of Monmouth (BOM) Class Meet, where Parker was first and Lambert second. Lambert would eventually become the No. 1 runner on a stacked Howell team. Her breakthrough was the Freehold District meet where she was second to Higginson at the Bucks Mill Park course. She was 10th at the Shore Coaches, fourth in the county, seventh in the conference, third in Central Jersey IV and 27th at the State Group IV championships. Her Holmdel Park pb, 19:37, was second only to Higginson this year and moved her to No. 6 all-time in the District. Her fastest 5K of the year was the 18:52 at Ocean County Park (OCP) at the SC. Parker went further than any harrier outside of the Cougars. She showed promise by winning the BOM freshman race over Lambert. She followed that with a fifth in the District, third at Monmouth County, ninth at the conference, seventh in Central Jersey IV, 16th at the State Group championships, earning a wild card entry to the MOC, where she was 38th. Her Holmdel pb of 19:47 moved her to No. 10 all-time in the District. She was under 20:00 more than any harrier save Higginson this fall. He best 5K was 19:08 at OCP. Wiemken and Walsh were stars as freshmen last year and were even better this year. Wiemken and Lambert were the steady one-two punch up top that helped the Rebels secure A North. Wiemken was 11th at the Cougar Invitational, 10th at the Shore Coaches, eighth in the District, 19th in the county, 22nd in the conference, 14th in CJ IV and 28th at the State Group championships. She ran a 19:45 at OCP. Walsh ran with the same consistency as Wiemken, and with Parker was Howell’s answer to Lambert-Wiemken. Walsh won the sophomore division at the Battle of Monmouth, out-running Wiemken. She was seventh in the District, ninth in the county, 21st in the conference and seventh in CJ IV. She had a huge pb down to 20:00 at Holmdel and 19:42 at OCP. It is going to be exciting to see the likes of Higginson, Lambert, Parker, Wiemken, Walsh and the other freshmen chase themselves and records the next few years. The year didn’t completely belong to underclassmen. Seniors Plenzo and Lang were the solid foundation that the Cougars’ championships were built upon. Plenzo was 13th at the Cougar Invitational, 12th in Delaware, third in the District, sixth in Monmouth County, 40th in the conference, 10 in CJ III and 21st at the State Group III championships. Lang was 12th at the Cougar, fourth in the District, seventh in the county, 13th in the conference, fourth in the CJ Group IV and 19th at the state Group meet. Machado, another senior, shined as well. The Brave was seventh at the Shore Coaches, 21st at the Cougar, 10th in the District, 15th in the county, 17th in the conference and 13th in the state sectional. Her fastest time of the year was the 19:35 she turned in at OCP. At season’s end, Lang and Plenzo had 20:04 pb’s at Holmdel Park. Just how good were this year’s All-District selections? Six of the 15 fastest times ever run by a District harrier were turned in by this year’s class. Those earning honorable mention are: Rachel Grande and Jackie Austin, Colts Neck; Megan Patterson, Freehold Borough; Lindsie Sai and Jenna Brock, Freehold Township; Sarah Nelson, Brittany Bovenzi and Kellee Hand, Howell; Jenn Barr, Manalapan; and Erica Weitz, Marlboro. 2004 All-Freehold Regional District Girls Cross Country Team Ashley HigginsonColts Necksophomore Janel ParkerFreehold Townshipfreshman Lindsey LambertHowellfreshman Danielle PlenzoColts Necksenior Kim LangColts Necksenior Lauren WiemkenHowellsophomore Charlotte WalshFreehold Townshipsophomore Sofia MachadoManalapansenior