NEWARK, NJ (updated Friday Oct. 6, 12:18 p.m.) – Nutley High School cross-country runners Jimmy Quinn and Ellie McCreesh enjoyed strong finishes at the Super Essex Conference-American Division Championships held at Branch Brook Park in Newark on Oct. 3.
Quinn, a senior, finished ninth overall among 67 runners in the boys’ race with a time of 16:40.1 as he broke his own school record on the paths of Branch Brook Park.
McCreesh, a senior, finished 11th overall among 65 runners in the girls’ race with a time of 21:01.1.
Kate Contini, a junior, was the second-best finisher for the NHS girls’ team with a 42nd place finish in a time of 22:56.
For the NHS boys, sophomore Nick Duca was the Raiders’ second-best finisher with a 44th place finish in 18:29.4. Gerard Dimayuga, a senior, took 46th in 18:30.8 and junior Vinny Marinaro was 49th in 18:39.4.
Nearly every Raider ran their seasonal best time at Branch Brook.
The day got off to a rousing start with the freshman short course race. Freshman future stars Morgan DeFluri (14:12) and Luca Vespa(12:31) not only ran their fastest times of the year on the BBP course, they also placed in the top 10 of their races. DeFluri finished third in the Girls race and Vespa was eighth.
Anish Kumar was right behind Vespa in the Boys race, clocking his fastest time of the year on the short course at BBP with a 12:47 which was good for 16th overall. Matt Cozzi got back under 14 with a 13:44 and Alvin Briones pried himself away from the USCG pre-meet press conference to run his fastest time at 14:46. Ava Saccehetti clocked her fastest short course race with a 22:11.
In the JV Girls race, Sam Abernovich turned in her fastest BBP time at 26:58, while Kelly Waddleton covered the course in 30:58. In the JV Boys race, the team was led by Phil Amiths 19:40 which was his fastest time of the year at BBP. Darien Ramirez (19:54), Yuvraj Raja (20:29), Luis Hordista (20:42), Brian McCormack (20:49), Ege Dogan (21:31), Noah Roselli (21:37), Brandon DeFluri (21:43), Rich Robinson (24:36) and Anthony Gola (24:42) led the Raiders to a 6th place team finish in the JV division. All Raiders turned in their fastest performances of the year at Branch Brook Park in the Race. At the Turtle Back Zoo post-meet press conference, Yuvraj Raja stated, “I was really hoping to get under 20. I did run my seasonal best, or SB, in some cross country circles, so I am happy about that.”
The Girls Varsity team was racing without some of their top runners due to illness and injury. Competing in the the always competitive Super Essex Conference-American Division, the Raiders were able to turn in their fastest times of the season at Branch Brook. Despite their SBs and gritty performances, the Raiders were 9th overall in the division. Clocking her 2017 SB on the trails of Branch Brook Park, senior Ellie McCreesh ran a 21:01 and finished 11th in the race. At the USCG pre-meet press conference, McCressh stated, “It’s a great day to run, the weather isn’t perfect like it was Saturday at Garret, but we will take it.” Junior Kate Contini ran her Branch Brook Park SB coming in at 22:56. Jaela Small clocked a 23:31 which is her fastest BBP time of the year. Senior Taylor Waddleton ran her SB at 23:37. Izzy Bernardo clocked a 24:05, while Team Meteorologist Emily McIntyre clocked a 24:16. At the Turtle Back Zoo post=meet press conference, McIntyre stated “It’s breezy”. Bernardo seconded that thought as the breeze knocked over a garbage can. Sophomore Gianna Marinaro ran her lifetime all course best of 24:18.
In the Boys Varsity race, Jimmy Quinn led the Raiders with a Branch Brook Park school record time of 16:40. The previous record was held by Quinn set last season. Quinn ran with the lead pack as they blistered past the 1-mile mark in just over 5 minutes. As the race progressed, there was a bit of separation in that lead pack. Quinn finished 9th overall with his new school record time of 16:40. Sophomore Nick Duca also brought his A game to the race, clocking a lifetime best at Branch Brook Park at 18:29. His performance also earned him a spot on the Top Ten All-Time Branch Brook list at #10. Coming in right behind Duca was senior Gerard Dimayuga who covered the course in 18:30. Vinny “Sauce” Marinaro ran a 18:38 for the 5 spot in the Raider lineup. Rising star Sean Bernardo took another 14 seconds off of his overall 5K PR, and cut 53 seconds off of his Branch Brook Park PR clocking a 19:10. When reached for comments at the Turtle Back Zoo post meet press conference, Bernardo stated, “1910, that was a good year. Half-way through the Taft administration. All kidding aside, I am happy with the time and am gaining confidence every week.”
The Raiders are back it at it on Saturday, Oct. 7, at one of the biggest cross country events of the season, The Shore Coaches Invitational held on the challenging paths of Holmdel Park.
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