Jackucewicz, Lambert, Linnell top harriers
BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer
The girls cross country season was highlighted by the Colts Neck-Howell rivalry. It was a rivalry that started in September and didn't conclude until the Nike Team Nationals (NTN) Northeast Qualifier in Wappiner Falls, N.Y., at the end of November. The rivalry managed to make both highly ranked teams not only in New Jersey, but the Northeast region.

The Cougars invariably won the duels but had the Rebels in their shadows all the time.

The very best of the competition was the Central Jersey Group IV championship, where a mere single point separated them, 69-70, with the Cougars coming out on top. It was their fourth straight state sectional title.

The Cougars also added the Shore Conference A North Division title to their hardware as they extended their dualmeet win streak. They were second in Monmouth County, third in the Shore Conference, third in Group IV and 11th at the Meet of Champions (MOC).

Howell had its moment at the Freehold Regional District Championships where the Rebels topped the Cougars. The Rebels made the MOC for the second time ever, going as a "wild card" team and finished ahead of the Cougars in ninth.

The final meeting was the NTN in New York where the Cougars were ninth and the Rebels 10th, separated by just 12 points.

With youth on both sides, look for these teams to pick up where they left off next fall.

Freehold Borough collected championship hardware as well. The Colonials first gave signs that they might be in for something big when they won their Division at the Cougar Invitational. They followed that with their Shore Conference B North Division title and an undefeated dual-meet season. They were led by an exchange student from Sweden, Linnea Lord.

Colts Neck's Brianna Jackucewicz and Allison Linnell, and Howell's Lindsey Lambert, were runners who stood out the most in '07 and they top the Greater Media Newspaper's All-Freehold Regional District Girl's Cross Country Team. Joining them on the team is the familiar Janel Parker of Freehold Township, Howell's Jacquie Ward and Lauren Rome and Colts Neck's Jessica Fasano.

Jackucewicz had a limited season due to injury, but certainly made the most of it come race time. A calf injury kept her out of serious racing until October, but she returned with a vengeance. She was second at the Coaches Invitational up in Wappinger Falls and then won the Monnmouth County championship and was second to Southern Regional's Jillian Smith at the Shore Conference, turning in the season's fastest time at Holmdel Park, 18:35. The junior won her third straight Central Jersey title before shutting down her season after a third place at the State Group III Championships. The junior hopes to lead the Cougars back to a Northeast ranking next year.

Lambert put the most serious summer training of her scholastic career and it paid off with her best season ever. A strong run at the Cherokee Invitational (second place) was a signal that good things were in store. She followed it with a third place at the Cougar Invitational. During a dual meet, she turned in the third fastest time in Bucks Mill Park history (18:38).

The Rebels senior collected her first District cross country crown by outrunning Linnell and Parker. She went to NYC's Van Cortlandt Park and was seventh in her division at the Manhattan Invitational, running the famed 2.5-mile course in 15:29.62.

She was second to Jackucewicz in the county and fourth in the Shore Conference. She was fourth in Central Jersey, fifth at the Group IV state meet equaling her Holmdel Park personal best of 19:00. She was 19th at the MOC and 22nd at the NTN Northeast Regional.

Linnell spent most of 2006 battling injuries, but she was healthy in '07 and after a summer of serious training was ready for a big season. She stepped right in for Jackucewicz in September and was an outstanding top runner for the Cougars. She was second at the Cougar Invitational and second to Lambert at the District meet. She turned in a series of steady races - third in the county, sixth in the conference, seventh in Central Jersey, 12th in Group IV and 24th at the MOC. She did well out of state, taking seventh in the Coaches Invitational at Wappinger Falls, third at the Delaware Military Academy Invitational, and in her final race she was seventh at the NTN Northeast Regional.

Linnell lowered her Holdmel Park pb to 19:05, making her the fifth fastest in history just behind Lambert, who is No. 4.

Last year's cross country season was a washout for the Patriots Parker. A stress fracture ended her season before the championship races. She had a full season in '07 and reaffirmed her position as one of the area's best. The senior was third behind Lambert and Linnell at the District, third in the county, fifth in the SC and 13th at the state sectional. With a full cross country season behind her, look for her to excel in the 800 meters this winter.

As a foursome, Jackucewicz, Lambert, Linnell and Parker were as good as it gets, they swept the top-four places as the county championships and were second through fifth in the Shore Conference (SC).

What made Colts Neck and Howell among the state's best was their depth.

Behind Lambert, the Rebels had Ward and Rome.

Ward, a sophomore, has a very bright future following her strong '07 campaign. She was fifth at the District, 22nd in the conference, 11th in Central Jersey and 24th in State Group IV. Out of state, she was 35th at VCP. She turned in a 19:52 at Holmdel Park.

Rome, a senior, had a nice bounce-back season from an injury-plagued '06. She was ninth at the Cougar Invitational, fourth in the District, 19th in the county and 16th in Central Jersey.

The Cougars never could line everyone up at the same time healthy this fall, yet, they remained a state power thanks to the emergence of sophomore Fasano.

She was the steadiest of the Cougars behind Jackucewicz and Linnell. She was 13th at the Cougar Invitational, 25th at the Coaches Invitational in Wappinger Falls, seventh in the District, 22nd in the county, 25th in the conference and 15th in the state sectional. The junior will be one of the Cougars' cornerstones next year.

Those earning Honorable Mention in 2007 are: Rachel Morris, Morgan Clark and Allison Donaghy, Colts Neck; Linnea Lord and Jessica Papirnik, Freehold Borough; Sarah Nelson and Puja Shastri, Howell; and Brittany Pietrosh, and Suzanne Raspa, Marlboro.