Galasso, Jackucewicz shine at Cougar meet
Freehold Twp. girls win
Holmdel's George Galasso drew first blood. Saturday's New Balance Jersey Shore Cougar Invitational at Bucks Mill Park in Colts Neck was the first time that Galasso and Colts Neck's Mark Leininger, two of the best runners in the state, hooked up this fall and it was the Hornet harrier who carried the day on Leininger's home course.

Galasso, a junior, toured the Bucks Mill Park's 5K layout in 15:48.58 ahead of Leininger's 15:53.5 to win the Boy's Championship race. Their times are the ninth and 10th fastest in course history (Colts Neck's Craig Forys holds the record at 14:58).

Leininger's teammate Mike O'Dowd was fifth (16:15.64)

There will be bigger titles to shoot for later this year like the Monmouth County and Shore Conference championships for Galasso and Leininger, but, for now, round one went to the Hornet by a close decision.

An equally talented field chased after the boys championship team title. The competition featured four of the top 20 teams in the state-spirited host Colts Neck, Holmdel, Westfield and Mendham.

Mendham led by Michael Franklin, fourth overall (16:09.76) and third in team scoring, beat Colts Neck, 40-67. With Westfield third (79) just ahead of Holmdel (82).

Colts Neck Briana Jackucewicz won the girls championship race after a duel with Toms River North's Angela Rugino. Jackucewicz, now a senior, posted an 18:21.64 while Rugino clocked 18:26.51. Those marks are the second and third fastest ever at Bucks Mill, trailing only the 17:34 turned in by Colts Neck's Ashley Higginson.

The powerful TRN Mariners won the team title handily with 32 points. Behind their No. 1 Rugino, the Mariners' stacked their next six runners all in a row from sixth through 11th.

Colts Neck was second (48). Rachel Morris was second across the line for the Cougars in fourth place (19:49.76).

Freehold Borough's Cody O'Flaherty won the Boys Varsity Large School race in 16:46.82. The Colonials were second in the team competition (92).

North Brunswick won the Large School title with 45 points. Kyle Davis (17:21.29) and Zach Spiegel (17:27.77) led the Raiders, running third and fourth.

Freehold Township captured the Girls Large School title, edging Lenape, 60-64, with last year's champion Freehold Borough, third (81).

Lenape went one-two with Caitlin Orr (19:10.85) and Allivia Royds (20:05.25).

Lenape had three runners across the line before Township's No. 1, Chelsea Thorsheim (20:35.21), who was sixth overall and fifth in team scoring. However, the Pats had all five of their scorers home before Lenape's fourth, paving the way for the victory.

Amanda Rosenberg (21:34.77), Bridget Joyce (21:38.09), Madeline Coburn (21:39.13) and Meghan Burns (21:44.35) were 11-13-14-17 in team scoring.

Mackenzie Roche led Freehold Borough (20:17.80) with her fourth-place overall finish. Laura Coyne was 11th (21:11.16).

Rumson-Fair Haven's Max Sparshatt won the Boy's Varsity Small School race in 16:19.92. Teammates Michael Caracappa (17:39.96) and Patrick Hill (17:44.52) were ninth and 10th. But, the Bulldogs were second to Hightstown, 53-64.

Hightstown used 3-4 finishes by Brendan Walsh (17:121.14) and Karon Purcell (17:14.4) to pave the way for the Rams' team victory.

It was a three race for the Girl's Small School championship between St. John Vianney, Rumson and Raritan. The Lancers edged RFH, 64-69, with Raritan at 73.

Chelsea Delaney, who was second to Manasquan's Rachel Honrath, 19:28.83- 20:05.18, led SJV.

RFH's Hannah Satzke was third (20:28.94), followed by Raritan's Kaylee Bythell (20:40.43).

The Lancers Megan Connelly (21:40.94) and Maria Pesce (21:42,32) finished one after the other in 13th and 14th overall, and Missy Repoli (21:51.2) was able to split RFH's third- and fourth-place runners in 18th. The Lancer's fifth scorer was Katie Coyle (22:26.96) in 223rd.

In team scoring, the Lancers were 2-11-12- 16-23.

Lilly Shebell (21:43.59), Caroline Saba (21:47.39), Samantha O'Brien (21:52.07) and Courtney Armstrong (22:02.66) completed the Bulldog scorers. They were 13- 15-17-21 in team scoring.

The Rockets had three runners in the top 10. Running behind Bythell were Amanda Stabile (21:11.86) and Erin Byrne (21:24.48), who were sixth and ninth.

A tradition of the Cougar Invitational is to award green jackets to the fastest boy and girl finishers in the varsity races who, this year, were Galasso and Jackucewicz.

Saturday for the harriers, it's on to Holmdel Park for the Shore Coaches Invitational, the first major meet of the season at the site of the Nov. 22 Meet of Champions.