High School South Senior Caroline Kellner will be making her second straight trip to the national cross country championships on December 10.
Kellner qualified by placing eighth overall in the Foot Locker Northeast Regional on November 26 at Sunken Meadow State Park in Long Island with a time of 18:35.9.
The trip to nationals, held at Balboa Park in San Diego, California, will be the third in four years for the Kellner family. Kellner’s older sister, Katie, qualified as a senior in 2008.
Last year at nationals, Kellner finished 37th in 18:39.
A week earlier, Kellner also ran strong in the NJSIAA Girls Meet of Champions race held at Holmdel Park on November 19, finishing second overall.
Kellner’s time of 18:19.08 was bettered only by the first place time Holly Bischof of Bishop Eustace Prep.
Kellner averaged 5:53.8 each mile and passed five runners in the final 800 meters to earn her first MofC medal.
“It was nice to end my experience at Holmdel with maybe the best race I ever had,” said Kellner. “I will never forget this race.
“I was able to gain on people the entire race and I don’t think anyone ever passed me. I was never convinced I could not catch Holly,” said Kellner.
Meanwhile, the South boys’ cross country team also saw some success.
Riff twins, juniors Jake and Dan, had strong performances to help lead High School South to an eighth-place finish in the 30-team boys’ race at the Nike Northeast Regional on November 26 at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, NY
Led by Jake (16th in 16:35.6) and Dan Riff (21st in 16:43.4), the Pirates finished with 232 points. Also for WW-P South, senior AJ Chavez was 65th in 17:19.4, sophomore Tom Vinci 88th in 17:37.0 and junior George Hamilton was 103rd in 17:45.7.
In the MofC, Jake and Dan Riff finished 21st and 23rd to lead five Pirate runners in the top 72 spots as the South team came in fourth with 169 points.
Jake Riff finished four seconds ahead of his brother in 16:13.46, while Dan finished in 16:17.01. Also contributing to the Pirates’ point total were A.J. Chavez in 58th (16:42.44), George Hamilton in 71st (16:51.24), and Tom Vinci who was 109th overall in 17:26.27.
