2008 Moorestown Cross Country Team


2008 Team Training Racing MDRC Support History 2006 Guidebook Girls XC	2008 Moorestown Cross Country Weekly Update September 28 This Past Week Westhampton Batch. We came out of the Cinnaminson meet learning we need to work hard and pay attention to our competition - and that is just what we did at Westhampton. We had 32 PR's - Pica, Mejia, George, DerHagopian (by 2:30!), Armstrong (by 1:30!), Cody, Butler, O'Dea, Fowler, Regan, Possenriede, Klawunn, Hendrisckson, Thomas, Lavery, Cain, Sexton, Fitzsimmons, Shipley, Schwartz, Renzi, Minnick, Lentz, Inglis, Rothernberger, Szumski, Josephson (Varsity qualifying sub-19!), Wilson, Robinson, Ems, Balch and Weintraub. In our Varsity race, we asked runners to step up and take responsibility for the team by holding our top 5 (based on previous races) out. And they delivered - we took the first 8 positions against our competition, with Sam Weintraub getting his first race victory, with Robinson right on his heals, and Ems, Balch and Wilson not too far behind. . South Jersey Shootout Only 3 PR's (Van Deerlin, George, Carlino), but those were not expected on this very difficult course (it runs 20-40 seconds slower than the other courses we have run on so far this year - similar to Holmdel) on a humid day. In fact, it was our best race of the year. The Frosh again were very impressive with 8 medals coming home - Nece, Sheehan, Inglis, Lentz, Lavery, Renzi, Cain, and Hendrickson. By far the best showing a MXC Frosh class had ever had - and the times were impressive. The best part of this class is how they help each other out. They pack up in groups and visibly encourage each other. They have also caught on to how to run an MXC style race - go out solid but not too fast, and then push during the race picking up spots the whole way thru. Our JV team was solid and deep (34 of the 216 competitors). Ems and Balch ran great races up front. Very patient, coming by the mile in about 12th place, they worked their way up and finished 3rd and 6th respectively. Also winning medals were Wilson (a few problems holding in breakfast beforehand), Josephson and a fast emerging Rotherberger. Ems, Balch and Wilson are all making a good push for being in the top 7, and it will be a difficult year for the coaches to decide on the final varsity spots at the end of the season. I have to say the highlight for me was seeing Sam Weintraub emerge from the woods with 800 meters to go with the lead in the 5-6-7 race. While the guy from Eastern out kicked him in the final 100 meters, Sam's performance was simply awesome. It shows how hard work and commitment can make a real difference - he dropped over 2 minutes from last year! Guys, if you don't get the correlation that success in life comes with hard work and commitment, then go ask Sam. And Sam does not have a lock on hard work and commitment. Robinson and Wolff finished in 5th and 7th place- just 6-7 seconds behind Sam. They ran together as a team the whole way - helping to push each other. These three guys along with the top 3 form the JV race are just the epitome of what MXC is all about. Hard work, learning, team and having fun. That special combination of finishing a race being absolutely tired and happy is tough to beat. Matteson and Greenwood carried on the smart racing in the 3-4 race. They ran side-by-side for much of the race, moving steadily up during the course of the race. These two guys also had fantastic finishes with a 4th and 7th place. Matteson is just a tough, smart racer who will not let people beat him in the final 400 meters. It was good to see Greenwood back in uniform. He had rested his groin injury the past week and a half, and while he is not fully recovered, it is obvious he has not lost that determination that makes him a great runner. Ringwood and Freidman took on the rest of the "studs" in the 1-2 race. The competition up top is very tough, and they finished 9th and 14th. Ringwood had the first sub-17 minute time on that course since Leonberg and Rinehart in 2005, which bodes well for the season. They led the team to a 2nd place finish to a very tough Toms River North team, and beating teams that are ranked ahead of us like Red Bank Catholic and Haddon Heights. Overall a very good day, indeed. This coming week Wednesday - Our first Home Meet! We will have our first home meet in many, many years on our brand new cross country course! A course record will surely be set! We need parent volunteers to help marshal the race and handle the finish line. There will be a meeting in the Athletic Director's office in the MAC at 2:30 on Monday to plan stations and so forth. Eagles will be there, as I will be visiting colleges with my daughter Mollie. If you can not make it, then please come on Wednesday around 3:15 and see Bickel or Eagles for assignments. The race starts at 4PM, JV at 4:05 and Girls at 4:30. Saturday - Shore Coaches at Holmdel. This is a HUGE meet at the historic site of the State Championships. Home of the 800 meter uphill start, the bowl, the woods, the long uphill finish, the crowds, the excitement! Information is at http://shoretrackcoaches.com/documents/shore_coaches_entry_form2008.pdf. We are in the Boys Frosh B race at 12:15, the Boys JV C race at 12:45, and the Varsity C race at 3:20. Bus time will be announced this week, but it is about 1 ½ hours bus ride - so expect the boys home late... Fund Raising Update. We are doing very, very well, with nearly $12,000 raised to date, and the possibility of some additional money coming in from community organizations. Thank you to everyone who has been so generous. The excess money will go into our Boys fund and will be used for uniforms, tents and other things to support the program. If you have not given yet, and are able to and feel your son and family are getting something positive out of this experience, we would appreciate the support. THANK YOU!

This Past Week
Westhampton Batch. We came out of the Cinnaminson meet learning we need to work hard and pay attention to our competition - and that is just what we did at Westhampton. We had 32 PR's - Pica, Mejia, George, DerHagopian (by 2:30!), Armstrong (by 1:30!), Cody, Butler, O'Dea, Fowler, Regan, Possenriede, Klawunn, Hendrisckson, Thomas, Lavery, Cain, Sexton, Fitzsimmons, Shipley, Schwartz, Renzi, Minnick, Lentz, Inglis, Rothernberger, Szumski, Josephson (Varsity qualifying sub-19!), Wilson, Robinson, Ems, Balch and Weintraub.

In our Varsity race, we asked runners to step up and take responsibility for the team by holding our top 5 (based on previous races) out. And they delivered - we took the first 8 positions against our competition, with Sam Weintraub getting his first race victory, with Robinson right on his heals, and Ems, Balch and Wilson not too far behind.
.
South Jersey Shootout
Only 3 PR's (Van Deerlin, George, Carlino), but those were not expected on this very difficult course (it runs 20-40 seconds slower than the other courses we have run on so far this year - similar to Holmdel) on a humid day. In fact, it was our best race of the year.
The Frosh again were very impressive with 8 medals coming home - Nece, Sheehan, Inglis, Lentz, Lavery, Renzi, Cain, and Hendrickson. By far the best showing a MXC Frosh class had ever had - and the times were impressive. The best part of this class is how they help each other out. They pack up in groups and visibly encourage each other. They have also caught on to how to run an MXC style race - go out solid but not too fast, and then push during the race picking up spots the whole way thru.
Our JV team was solid and deep (34 of the 216 competitors). Ems and Balch ran great races up front. Very patient, coming by the mile in about 12th place, they worked their way up and finished 3rd and 6th respectively. Also winning medals were Wilson (a few problems holding in breakfast beforehand), Josephson and a fast emerging Rotherberger. Ems, Balch and Wilson are all making a good push for being in the top 7, and it will be a difficult year for the coaches to decide on the final varsity spots at the end of the season.
I have to say the highlight for me was seeing Sam Weintraub emerge from the woods with 800 meters to go with the lead in the 5-6-7 race. While the guy from Eastern out kicked him in the final 100 meters, Sam's performance was simply awesome. It shows how hard work and commitment can make a real difference - he dropped over 2 minutes from last year! Guys, if you don't get the correlation that success in life comes with hard work and commitment, then go ask Sam.
And Sam does not have a lock on hard work and commitment. Robinson and Wolff finished in 5th and 7th place- just 6-7 seconds behind Sam. They ran together as a team the whole way - helping to push each other. These three guys along with the top 3 form the JV race are just the epitome of what MXC is all about. Hard work, learning, team and having fun. That special combination of finishing a race being absolutely tired and happy is tough to beat.
Matteson and Greenwood carried on the smart racing in the 3-4 race. They ran side-by-side for much of the race, moving steadily up during the course of the race. These two guys also had fantastic finishes with a 4th and 7th place. Matteson is just a tough, smart racer who will not let people beat him in the final 400 meters. It was good to see Greenwood back in uniform. He had rested his groin injury the past week and a half, and while he is not fully recovered, it is obvious he has not lost that determination that makes him a great runner.
Ringwood and Freidman took on the rest of the "studs" in the 1-2 race. The competition up top is very tough, and they finished 9th and 14th. Ringwood had the first sub-17 minute time on that course since Leonberg and Rinehart in 2005, which bodes well for the season. They led the team to a 2nd place finish to a very tough Toms River North team, and beating teams that are ranked ahead of us like Red Bank Catholic and Haddon Heights. Overall a very good day, indeed.

This coming week

Wednesday - Our first Home Meet! We will have our first home meet in many, many years on our brand new cross country course! A course record will surely be set! We need parent volunteers to help marshal the race and handle the finish line. There will be a meeting in the Athletic Director's office in the MAC at 2:30 on Monday to plan stations and so forth. Eagles will be there, as I will be visiting colleges with my daughter Mollie. If you can not make it, then please come on Wednesday around 3:15 and see Bickel or Eagles for assignments. The race starts at 4PM, JV at 4:05 and Girls at 4:30.

Saturday - Shore Coaches at Holmdel. This is a HUGE meet at the historic site of the State Championships. Home of the 800 meter uphill start, the bowl, the woods, the long uphill finish, the crowds, the excitement! Information is at http://shoretrackcoaches.com/documents/shore_coaches_entry_form2008.pdf. We are in the Boys Frosh B race at 12:15, the Boys JV C race at 12:45, and the Varsity C race at 3:20. Bus time will be announced this week, but it is about 1 ½ hours bus ride - so expect the boys home late...

Fund Raising Update. We are doing very, very well, with nearly $12,000 raised to date, and the possibility of some additional money coming in from community organizations. Thank you to everyone who has been so generous. The excess money will go into our Boys fund and will be used for uniforms, tents and other things to support the program. If you have not given yet, and are able to and feel your son and family are getting something positive out of this experience, we would appreciate the support. THANK YOU!

2008 Moorestown Cross Country Weekly Update