The boys cross country team has been able to establish itself as one of the elite squads in the state. According to Coach Michael Harnett, the team has a lot of work ahead of it if it wants to maintain that position.
"We've been very good lately," Harnett said. "For the last three years, we've been a top 20 team in the state. This year? Uncertainty."
Sometimes when a team is having a great season, it's doing it with a lot of talented and experienced seniors. That was the case with the 2010 East Brunswick boys.
Find out what's happening in East Brunswickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"We've graduated seven of the top eight runners," Harnett said.
The need for replacements doesn't stop there as Harnett added "the runners who projected to be this year's third and fourth will not be back."
Find out what's happening in East Brunswickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
East Brunswick does have 60 runners out for the team. They all will be given a chance to establish themselves and move into one of those top seven spots used for tournaments like the Greater Middlesex Conference and Central Jersey Group IV championships.
"For the first time in over a decade, East Brunswick High School does not return a sub-17 minute runner," Harnett noted. "We actually are only returning two sub-18 minute runners."
Kevin Ma is the top returning runner. He had a best time of 17:33 at Thompson Park, the site of the GMC and Central Jersey Group IV championships.
Ben Belzer was the GMC JV champion. He has run 17:45 at Thompson Park.
Ross Teicher (18:13), Torin Donohue (18:35), Will Roeder (18:35) and Jon Sweet (18:55) all run under 19 minutes.
Zak Hijazi (19:21), Dave Chwatel (19:29), Maks Berger (19:51), Dave Schafer (19:59) and Joe Larkin (20:00) have all run 20 minutes or below. Brandon Young (22:24) could also figure into the mix on the team this season.
There is work to be done, but that's what preseasons are for. That's why they run the races.
"Right now, there are more questions than answers," Harnett said.
East Brunswick will try and get some of those answers when they open the season on Sept. 10 at the St. Dominics Invitational. The regular season will start with a meet at St. Joes on Sept. 13.
