Joe Rosa, impressive throughout his athletic career at North, has achieved yet another milestone: a national title. He won the boys’ two-mile championship in record time at the New Balance Outdoor National Track and Field Championships at North Carolina A&T.
The junior finished in a record time of 8:44.06 at the event on June 18. Meanwhile, his twin brother, Jim, finished second with a time of 8:51.46, his own personal best.
With the win, Joe Rosa is only the fourth male Mercer County high school star to win on the national level. The brothers were also part of the North distance medley relay team, which finished third at the event in a time of 9:59.07.
The win adds to the Rosas’ already decorated career at North, which began when they were freshmen. Just prior to the event, Jim Rosa finished third, with a time of 4:07.70 at the Inaugural Jim Ryun High School Dream Mile on June 12. Jim finished fifth, with a time of 4:08.65.
This year Jim Rosa won the 1,600 in a meet-record of 4:07.89 at the Meet of Champions on June 3 at the Frank Jost Field in South Plainfield, beating the old record of 4:08.11 set by Morris Hills’ Liam Tansey in 2009. Joe finished second in the 3,200, with a time of 8:48.55. At the Group III championships in May, Joe picked up the state title in the 3,200, finishing with a time of 9:08.07.
During the fall season, they took first and second place not only at the state Meet of Champions, but also at the Nike Northeast Regional in November. Joe broke the course record with a time of 14:55.52 when he claimed the title at the Meet of Champions in November. Jim was second, also beating the previous record with a time of 15:14.22. The previous record of 15:15.2 was set in 2006 by Craig Forys of Colts Neck.
The first and second place finishes led the North boys’ cross country team to a third-place finish at the state meet, with an average time of 16:15.6.
Joe Rosa also finished first at the Nike Northeast Regionals with a time of 16:01.3. Jim finished second with a time of 16:01.6.
At the most recent national event, North senior Corey Abernathy also finished big: a ninth place finish in the boys’ shot put championship, with a 57-1/2, to cap his high school career.
In WW-P track this past spring, in North’s sectional championship win over Ocean Township, 83-72, on May 22, Joe Rosa broke records in the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs.
