(Paul Schwartz / Record Sports)
WOODLAND PARK – Nathan Armstrong is coming into his own.
Fresh off a new personal record and a runner-up finish in Saturday’s Garrett Invitational cross country meet on Garrett Mountain, the Pompton Lakes sophomore believes he has what it takes this season to compete with some of the top runners in the state.
Armstrong posted a 16:51 in the boys Group C race and finished behind heralded senior Jared Cooper of Mountain Lakes, who crossed the finish line in 16:34.
Cooper, sixth in last year’s Group 1 meet and 16th in the State Meet of Champions, is one of the favorites to win this year’s Group title in November.
“I’m really happy with my performances so far this year and I feel like everything is all starting to come together for me,” said Armstrong, who ran the fourth best time of the day among the boys’ competitors. “I’ve been training a lot since last year and over the summer and it’s been a lot of fun. I’m hoping to build off this performance and set up for the rest of the season.”
In the Season Opener Invitational at Darlington two weeks ago, Armstrong was fourth in 17:00.32 and had the top time and finish among underclassmen.
“I competed in this race last year and didn’t do as well as I would have liked to,” Armstrong said. “I’m a different runner this year.”
Harrier Notes
In the Varsity C division, Weehawken sophomore Delaney Rice finished first in 20:45. She is believed to be the first runner from the Hudson County school to win a major cross country meet in history. It was only three years ago that Weehawken first introduced a varsity program.
Sophomore Shannon Artuso of Hasbrouck Heights was third in 20:54 to lead the Aviators to a third-place team finish, while Mountain Lakes captured the C team title, finishing ahead of runner-up Pascack Hills.
