If any team in the WW-P school district has consistently proven to be unstoppable, it is the North boys’ cross country team. Having repeated as Mercer County champs, the North boys’ country team is looking to defend its state title, and it has promising talent in more than just the record-breaking Rosa twins.
Jim and Joe Rosa have undoubtedly led the team this year, but behind the Rosa twins is a group of reliable runners who have continued to contribute to Knights’ successful reign over the past three years.
When the team won the F Division title at the Manhattan Invitational with 84 points this season, Joe Rosa won the individual title with a time of 12:03.8 that technically beat the course record of 12:06.7. The meet director decided not to credit the time as a course record because of the construction taking place at the site, which moved the starting line up by 120 yards. Not surprisingly, following close behind him was his brother, Jim, who finished with a time of 12:08.8.
But behind the Rosa twins, considered to be two of the best runners in the U.S., is a steady and consistent runner in Jon Squeri. He finished fourth in the meet against Notre Dame, Lawrenceville, Steinert, and South. He was the first place finisher at the Mercer County championship with a time of 16:05, as the Rosas slowed down at the end to allow him to take the victory after he fought past South’s Sam Macaluso. They followed in one-second increments behind him.
The Rosas’ show of respect for their teammate does not overshadow Squeri’s own ability — he is ranked among the top 50 runners in the nation.
Squeri’s accomplishment, as well as the Knights’ other runners, helped them to garner a 38-point win — well ahead of all other teams competing at the meet. Casey Dalrymple placed 14th, while Patrick O’Connell was 18th.
North ended up with seven runners finishing in the top 33, a familiar theme when it comes to the Knights. Back in September, Joe Rosa took first place at the Briarwood Invitational, another event where the team came out with a big first place win, with a 63-68 edge over LaSalle. Again, in that victory, Rosa broke a record — his own this time, which he had set last year at the event. That record time was 15:33.1. This year, he finished the course with a time of 15:19.3. And again, his brother Jim placed second in the event, with a time of 15:38.
Who was the next Knight to finish? Squeri, who placed sixth. And he was followed by Dalrymple, who was 14th, and O’Connell, who was 40th. At the Shore Coaches Invitational last month, Joe Rosa again set a new course record of 15:04, beating the old record by 12 seconds. Jim came in second, Squeri finished fourth, and Dalrymple followed. At the New Balance Jersey Shore Cougar Invitational in September, Squeri finished second, and Dalrymple finished fourth.
Last year the team took the title in Group III at the NJSIAA Group Meet run at Holmdel Park. Joe Rosa took third place in Group III, while Jim took fifth. Jon Squeri took 11th place. The team also won the sectional title at the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III Championships at Thompson Park. In that event, Joe Rosa took first place, followed by his brother. Jon Squeri made the top eight.
The team will get its chance to shine again in the state tournament on Saturday, November 7, when it heads to Thompson Park. The top 10 individuals and top five teams in each race will advance to the state group championships the following weekend at Holmdel Park.
Caroline Kellner. At South, meanwhile, Caroline Kellner is following in the footsteps of her sister, Katie, who was South’s standout throughout her running career.
The younger Kellner took first place at the Mercer County Championship with a time of 18:42, and next up for her is the Central Jersey Group IV meet at Thompson Park (where she placed fifth last season) on Saturday, November 7.
North’s Emily Scott came in second behind Kellner with her personal best time and has been leading the Lady Knights this year.
