It is a designation that Jim Rosa can now share with the likes of New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez and New York Yankees pitcher Derek Jeter.
Jim Rosa, a senior cross country runner at North, was named the 2010-11 Gatorade New Jersey Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year. Jim Rosa joins his twin brother, Joe, who previously earned the designation, as the second runner from North to be recognized by the award.
Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year award to be announced in January, Rosa joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners in 12 sports, including Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.) and Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.). The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE, made the announcement last month.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the racecourse, distinguishes Rosa as New Jersey’s best high school boys cross country runner.
This past fall, Rosa raced to the Group 3 individual state championship this past season with a time of 15:46, leading the Knights to the state title as a team. Rosa also won the state Meet of Champions in 15:15 and the Nike Cross Nationals Northeast Regional championships in a course-record time of 15:35.5. He added victories at the Manhattan Invitational, the Shore Coaches Invitational, the Mercer County Championships and the Central Jersey Sectional
Championships.
In addition to his achievements as a runner, Rosa has maintained a 4.16 GPA in the classroom. He has also volunteered locally on behalf of the Special Olympics.
Rosa joins Gatorade New Jersey Boys Cross Country Runners of the Year Joe Rosa (2009-10, West Windsor-Plainsboro North), Tyler Udland (2008-09, Millburn), and Brandon Jarrett (2007-08, St. Benedict’s Prep) as athletes who have won the cross country award since its inception in 2007.
