Cranford Boys Group II

Saturday was the capper for the Cranford High School Boys Cross Country team. Erasing last years’ disappointing
fifth place finish, the Cougars dominated the state Group II meet as they have at almost every other competition this season, easily outscoring Spotswood 58-124 to capture veteran coach Ray White’s third state title, the others in Group IV in 1975 and Group III in 2000.

“We’ll have to switch to Group I next year , “ joked White in his 36th year as Cranford coach.
Then he got more serious. “You have to win these when you can. They’re not easy to win ,” said White.
“I have had more than my share of close calls and second places so I’ll savor this one.”

Although they had gone undefeated in dual meets, and dominated their conference, county and sectional races, the season could not have been considered successful unless the Cougars finished first. Using the same formula they have employed all year, the Cougars got dominating performances from their big two, junior Kevin Brown and sophomore Joe McKenney and followed with a tight pack of runners three through seven, who all finished before any other team could score five runners.

Thomas Walsh of Matawan, who had been run down by McKenney and Brown at the sectional race on the same course two weeks ago, turned the tables and held off the late charging Brown to win by three seconds in 16:30.38.
Brown was second in 16:33.40 and McKenney suffering cramps, held on for seventh overall in 17:04.21.

“Both Joe and Kevin were in the top group of four coming up the bowl and Joe felt a cramp and just couldn't respond ,” said assistant coach and former Cougar star Tim Styler.
“Kevin let (Ben) Massam (of Chatham) and Walsh go at the top of the bowl and had to close a sixty meter gap in the last 3/4 of a mile. Walsh is a good runner and he knew what he had to do. In running, one mental lapse can cost you the race and that's what happened to Kevin but he made a valiant effort to strike back, just ran out of room.”

Senior Nate Thompson followed in fourteenth place in 17:22.20, Junior Josh Hanke was twentieth in 17:26.82 and
senior Glenn Brown was twenty-seventh in 17:46.74. The senior Mahoney twins, Brian and Kevin were thirtieth and thirty-third in 17:53.87 and 17:56.47 respectively..

The Cougars were actually ten seconds slower than two weeks earlier, owing to a combination of windy conditions and a course muddied from torrential rains as well as injuries.
” I still think we can improve upon our 17:03 average that we had at Sectionals. Joe and Kevin are both capable of running in the 16:20 range and Josh and Nate can dip under 17 minutes ,” said Styler.
“Glenn, Brian and Kevin are running well and Glenn is improving. The Mahoney twins have been touched with the injury bug but have run well despite being in the pool the majority of the time. That is why we start early training in case of instances like that. “

“We tried to limit their races this year to keep them fresher ,” said White, who was quick to give major credit to Styler for the teams’ success this year.. “Tim has been a huge help with the team the past couple of years ,” said White.
“We couldn’t have been as successful without him.”

White realizes that winning the final race of the year, tomorrow’s Meet of Champions is unrealistic with such powerful teams as Christian Brothers Academy, Old Bridge and Toms River North. “We hope to finish from fifth to seventh
to hold onto our state ranking ,” said White.

“We aren't expecting to win the MOC and that will take the pressure off but these boys are competitive and have a lot of pride and having Westfield in the race and going against the best in the state will be a motivator ,” said Styler.