Riley Tolson of Ocean City and Amelia Patwell of Middletown South dropped super fast times to lead their teams to big victories, and Christian Brothers Academy and Owen Munn led the New Jersey boys with third-place finshes in the Eastern States race at Saturday’s 54th Manhattan Invitational presented by Hoka at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, N.Y.
TOLSON AND PATWELL LEAVE LOTS OF SMOKE
Tolson and Pattwell, both juniors, ran two of the fastest times in recent years by N.J. girls on the iconic 2.5-mile layout, which has hosted championship meets since 1957.
Tolson won the A Division race in 14:29.4, the 13th fastest time ever by a NJ girl on the course and the third fastest time of the day in the 6 varsity races. Pattwell stopped the clock at 14:31.2, No. 15 on NJ’s all-time list and the fourth fastest of the meet, to finish first in the C Division race.
With Tolson leading the charge, NJ No. 4 Ocean City ran away with a big victory as the ? averaged 15:46 and used a 1-5-8-15-18 scoring combination to finish with 47 points. Ocean City finished fourth overall and first among NJ squads in the team merge with 393.
Pattwelll’s performance ignited NJ No. 3 Middletown South to a 15:48.1 average and 1-5-14-28-27 finish for a winning total of 65 points. Middletown South fiished sixh in the team merge with 426 points, 33 points behind Ocean City.
Ocean City, the defending State Group 3 champions, and Middletown South are on a collision course for what is shaping up to be an absolute classic battle for the state title next month at Holmdel Park.
Here is a look at NJ’s updated all-time list at Van Cortandt.
Charlotte Bednar
Lawrenceville
14:01.4
2019
2
Abby Loveys
Randolph
14:03.0
2018
3
Briana Gess
Haddonfield
14:10.4
2015
4
Karen Ahearn
Bernards
14:12.8
1985
5
Melanie Thompson
Voorhees
14:12.8
2008
6
Janet Smith
J.P. Stevens
14:13.1
1983
7
Ashley Higginson
Colts Neck
14:16.0
2006
8
Lanie Thompson
Voorhees
14:17.4
2007
9
Jodie Bilotta
North Hunterdon
14:20.7
1986
10
Meg Waldron
Bernards
14:23.2
1982
11
Alexa Westley
Warren Hills
14:23.4
2018
12
Mackenzie Barry
Mendham
14:25.5
2012
13
Riley Tolson
Ocean City
14:29.4
2026
14
Vanessa Wright
Haddonfield
14:30.4
2004
15
Amelia Patwell
Middletown South
14:31.2
2026
CBA AND MUNN
There were some epic clashes in the boys’ Eastern States Championship race!
In the team battle, three nationally ranked powerhouses squared off, ,No. 9 ranked Broughton of North Carolina, averaged 12:44.3 and finished on top with 64 points, No. 14 ranked Bishop Hendricken of Rhode Island averaged 12:54.4 and placed second with 115, and No. 20 Christian Brothers Academy, who won the last four titles, ra 12:55.2 and finished third with 123. LaSalle College of Pa. was fourth with 134. West Windsor-Plainsboro North, ranked No. 4 in NJ, finished fifth with 233, No. 5 Ridge placed seventh with 274, and No. 15 ranked Bergen Catholic was 13th with 386.
Broughton, Bishop Hendricken, and CBA also went 1-2-3 in the overall team merge as Broughton scored 92, Bishop Hendricken finished with 198, and CBA had 207.
This was the first real showdown of the season between CBA and Bishop, Hendricken and LaSalle College, so this race served as a preview of the Nike Northeast Regional next month at Bowdoin, which should be a fierce battle
CBA and Bishop Hendricken both ran at the Bowdoin Invitational two weeks ago, and at the Shore Coaches Invitational at Holmdel last week, but they won different races at Bowdoin (CBA came out on top in the team merge by 11 points), while at the Shore Coaches meet, Hendricken won their race, finishing ahead of a CBA squad that didn’t run their top guns.
There was also a great individual showdown between NJ’s top 2 runners, Owen Munn of Wilberforce and Gavin Schmitt of CBA. Munn won the first clash between the two stars, placing third in 12:16.4. Schmitt was fourth in 12:18.9.
Munn and Schmitt should have a memorable duel for the Meet of Champions title next month.
