NJIC GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY PREVIEW / By Paul Schwartz – Record Sports
COLONIAL
Eastern Christian returns junior second team all-Passaic runner Emily Byrnes, senior Allison Steiginga and soph Elise Reitsma.
Garfield has the makings of a league contender in seniors Janice Vargas, Kornelia Jablonska and Evan Wos and juniors Angela Portillo, Rachael Ramos and Michelle Salas.
Glen Rock lost a lot to graduation but as long as steady and solid Alex Walter is on the squad, they’ll contend within the league. Seniors Sabina Sose and Maddie Dill and junior Steph Nam give the Panthers a good quartet.
Harrison has some good runners led by junior Yeisy Rojas.
Leonia has a new head coach in veteran track coach Chris Kearns and has some experienced runners back in seniors Alma Erickson, Sydney Keller and Isabel Valdez and juniors Akari Uchida and Juliana Choi.
Lyndhurst is favored to win the league again with first team all-league performers sophomore Gizette Perez and seniors Megan Rudden and Kelly Weckstein leading the pack.
New Milford welcomes back seniors Vanessa and Katarina Toledo and Alisa Kuchmak and hopes to craft a team around a group of newcomers and the veteran trio.
Pompton Lakes is led by junior Meghan Keating and senior Juliana Valencia.
Rutherford lost its top runners to graduation and injury and hopes senior Ceili Waller, junior Noelle Hanlon and a strong sophomore class can keep the Bulldogs near the top of the division.
MEADOWLANDS
Becton/Wallington is rebuilding.
Hasbrouck Heights returns league champion Giana DiLascio, back after missing the spring season with a stress fracture. Junior all-leaguer Brianna Kelly also returns and if the Aviators can stay healthy, they will compete for the league title.
Immaculate Conception is rebuilding.
North Arlington returns junior Francesca Petrullo.
Paterson Charter lost six seniors but has a good group of freshman runners. Senior Rachelle Tejada, junior Milena Diaz, and sophs Lyanna McFadden and Dulce Martinez are returning runners.
Ridgefield is rebuilding.
Saddle Brook has six returnees from its league meet championship team, including seniors Bianca Asencio, Erin Baker and Celina Faustini, junior Kayla Artemisio and sophs Natalie Travisano and Caroline Poskroba.
Secaucus returns all 16 runners from last year and 15 newcomers and should be in contention in both the league and North 2, group 1 meets. The Patriots, who have adopted the signature light blue bucket hat worn by the legendary coach Stan Fryczynski as their logo, are led by seniors Saumya Parikh, Emma Bowers and Victoria Saniko and junior Alexandra Molta.
St. Mary has a potential league champ in sophomore Elizabeth Szambel.
Weehawken is rebuilding.
PATRIOT
Bergen Charter is rebuilding.
Bogota returns all-league stars Alanah O’Brien and Angela Jaipersaud. Juniors Angela Gomez, Gabrielle Grant and Catherine Zapata make the Bucs a dangerous team in the league.
Cresskill returns league runner-up senior Veronica Dunphy and soph Elyssa Ledven and with junior Sierra Mehlbrech and soph Ashley Allen showing development, the Cougars should be very competitive.
Dwight-Englewood returns team captain Samantha Lovett and also counts on seniors Laurie Savic and Jennifer Su.
Hawthorne Christian has no seniors and a nice junior class of Christine Pelliccio, Lydia Jackson, Evelyn Lewis and Rachel Rypkema.
Midland Park has some experience in seniors Sabrina VanderWiele, Jess Wallace and Emily Padavano and depth with sophs Mary Gackowski, Adrianna Kearney and Sofia Perraski.
Palisades Park looks for junior Jasleen Nanda to help rebuild.
Park Ridge/Emerson is the defending league meet champion and if they stay healthy would contend again. Seniors Sophia Castronovo (a wonderful sprinter in the spring), Julia Drennan and Alli Uhl are back from last year’s team but the key could be junior Samantha Green, the defending league and County D champion. She should be ready to make some noise in the state meet.
Saddle River Day is rebuilding.
Waldwick continues to rebuild behind seniors Christina Sullivan, Nicole Semus and Alexa Carnevale and junior Sloane Irwin.
