WEST ORANGE, NJ – The Seton Hall Prep varsity cross-country team finished 8-1 to clinch the regular season co-championship of the Super Essex Conference-American Division with Millburn.
The Pirates this season defeated Montclair Kimberley Academy, 27-30; Columbia, 15-50; East Orange Campus, 15-50; Nutley, 18-43; Montclair, 22-33; Livington, 17-43; West Essex, 17-45; and West Orange, 21-38. They lost to Millburn, 29-26.
The Pirates also took fifth at the Roxbury Invitiational and 11th at the Bowdoin Classic in Wappingers Falls, N.Y.
The Super Essex Conference Championships were scheduled for Oct. 5 at Branch Brook Park.
The Pirates overcame adversity to achieve the SEC regular-season title.
“Despite some unexpected setbacks due to injuries, our top runners had strong summers of training and have been able to work through the weekly conference races confidently and consistently,” SHP head coach Chris Barnitt said. “I am very proud of the work ethic of our 58 runners, which is likely the largest team in Seton Hall Prep history. We are hopeful that all levels will be competitive when we reach the Conference Championship on Oct. 5 at Branch Brook Park and the County Championship on Oct. 28 at Brookdale Park.”
The Pirates have been led by senior captain Malik Kosanovich, who has run 16:51 at Branch Brook and 16:26 at Roxbury. Other top runners for SHP are juniors Dan Gizzo (16:44 at Roxbury and 17:16 at Branch Brook) and Mike DiDonato (17:24 at Branch Brook).
On Oct. 15, the SHP varsity and junior varsity squads will travel to Rhode Island to compete in the Brown Northeast Cross-Country Invitational held at Goddard Park, which is always a competitive tune-up for the Essex County meet, Barnitt said.
The West Orange High School boys’ team finished 4-5 and the WOHS girls’ team went 5-4.
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