Boys cross country: CBA returns to Meet of Champions throne
HOLMDEL – The senior class of the Christian Brothers Academy cross country team has been challenged like no other in the history of this storied program.
They lost most of the 2020 season due to the pandemic. In 2021, they were eclipsed by an ascendant Union Catholic squad.
On Saturday, they channeled those challenges into a return to the throne, winning the NJSIAA Meet of Champions title handily – the Colts’ 25th in the meet’s 47 runnings.
“We really wanted this bad,” senior Lucas Ward said. “All those experiences helped shape us into being motived athletes who wanted success.”
They found it. CBA is unbeaten thus far this season and was not pushed to the brink Saturday, covering Holmdel Park’s 3.1-mile course in an average time of 16:07. They compiled 44 points, well ahead of runner-up Union Catholic’s 98.
“Our main goal was to get the state title and MOC title back,” senior Nick Sullivan said. “Union Catholic has made us a lot better. We really are thankful for that.”
Sullivan (fifth place, 15:44), sophomore Joe Barrett (seventh, 15:45), junior Jack Falkowski (15th, 16:16), junior Conor Clifford (20th, 16:24) and Ward (23rd, 16:27) did the scoring, with senior Zach Shroba (34th, 16:40) and junior Alex Kemp (44th, 16:47) providing depth.
“This means everything,” Sullivan said. “We’ve had a million guys come through the program, and not only were they successful, but they worked their butts off. When you’re running for CBA, we’re not just running for our own names. It’s for the guys around us and the guys who did it years ago.”
This is among the very best groups the Colts have fielded through the years.
“When you’re looking at the leaderboard at the school and seeing the legends that have come before and all the great runners this team has had,” said Ward, “and being at practice every day with my brothers who push me to be my best, it definitely helps you reach your potential.”
Sullivan posted a nine-second personal best, edging past Barrett, a phenom who had been CBA’s ace over the past month. Colts coach Sean McCafferty said he’s seen upperclassmen in Sullivan’s shoes “lose focus and spin off a little bit. The exact opposite happened with Nick. He dug down deeper and ran better. He used Joe to make himself better. That’s the sign of a good leader.”
Clifford, a late bloomer, also came through with a big effort.
“He ran JV up until last week (at the Non-Public A meet), which was his first varsity race,” McCafferty said. “He ran 4:20 (in the 1600) and 9:30 (in the 3200) last year, but was still figuring cross country out. He timed it well.”
Next up are the regionals, and then the national meet in Oregon. CBA has been ranked in the top 10 nationally all season. No matter what happens from here on out, the program’s legacy has a new addition.
“We haven’t had a race where we’ve been really challenged after the first 800 or mile,” McCafferty said. “All in all, the senior group of guys we’ve had have been good leaders and helped pull us through.”
Top Shore Conference boys individuals: Nick Sullivan (CBA) 15:44, fifth; Joe Barrett (CBA) 15:45, seventh; Stephen Kyvelos (Manalapan) 16:12, 14th; Jack Falkowski (CBA) 16:16, 15th; Fabian Ramales (Southern) 16:18, 17th; Conor Clifford (CBA) 16:24, 20th; Lucas Ward (CBA) 16:27, 23rd; Santino D’Amelio (Southern) 16:31, 25th; Zach Shroba (CBA) 16:40, 34th; Alex Kemp (CBA) 16:47, 44th.
Top Shore Conference boys teams: CBA 16:07 (first place); Southern 17:08 (seventh place); St. Rose 18:40 (15th place).
Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Boys cross country: CBA returns to Meet of Champions throne
