GCIT wins boys and girls races, both team titles in NJTAC cross-country meet; Salem Tech’s boys second
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN — Matt DiTizio was in a quandary, like every other coach and runner at Wednesday’s NJTAC cross-country meet.
How much do you push your runners today, in a state championship meet for your kind of schools and on your home course, with an even bigger for a bigger opportunity on tap Saturday. If you’re a particularly deep program, how do you choose which runners to send to the line knowing what lies ahead.
Run them hard and risk burning out for the sectionals. Use it as an extended training day and give up a chance to win the whole tech school title after winning the South Jersey tech meet earlier in the season.
He found a compromise. Run at a pace that makes you comfortable and if you’ve got a shot to win go for it.
The Chargers ran a pace consistent with their season, placed three runners in the top 10 (all five in the top 20) and finished second to GCIT.
“We did the best we could given the situation,” DiTizio said. “It wasn’t ideal, but we did the best we could given the time frame of this week compared to the sectionals.
“It was a feel out the race kind of deal and see what’s going on. If it looks like we’ve got a shot, go for it. If we’re in solid position kind of hold your ground, and I think that’s kind of how it played out today. All things considered I’m really happy how it went today.”
The Cheetahs placed all five of their runners in the top 10 and scored 21 points. The GCIT girls were equally impressive, finishing 1-2-3 and also placing all five runners in the top 10.
Wyatt Evans (16:35.74) edged teammate Shepard Byrnes by two seconds to win the boys race. Jordan Moczydlowski won the girls race (20:28.23).
This story will be updated.
Top photo: GCIT’s Wyatt Evans beats teammate Shepard Byrne to the wire to win the NJTAC boys cross country race Wednesday.
NJTAC Cross Country Championship
| BOYS STANDINGS: GCIT 21, Salem Tech 51, Passaic Tech 74, Medford Tech 148, Morris Tech 160, Bergen Tech 178, Payne Tech-Essex 199, East Brunswick Magnet 252, Warren Tech 255, Penn Tech 271, West Caldwell Tech-Essex 281, Cape May Tech 327, Sussex Tech 329, Newark Tech-Essex 352 |
| GIRLS STANDINGS: GCIT 19, Morris Tech 42, Passaic Tech 81, East Brunswick Magnet 104, Medford Tech 109 |
| BOYS TOP 10 | GIRLS TOP 10 | ||
| Wyatt Evans, GCIT | 16:35.74 | Jordan Moczydłowski, GCIT | 20:28.23 |
| Shepard Byrne, GCIT | 16:37.90 | Savannah Vai, GCIT | 21:05.38 |
| Chris Davis, Medford | 16:58.91 | Kelsey Connell, GCIT | 21:30.50 |
| Kevin Whelan, GCIT | 17:15.86 | Maeve McNiel, Morris | 21:41.21 |
| Duke Snyder-Shellito, GCIT | 17:29.24 | Julianna Carroll, GCIT | 21:45.03 |
| Levi Seals, Salem Tech | 17:34.02 | Siddhee Pathak, Morris | 22:31.62 |
| Anthony Morano, Salem Tech | 17:53.61 | Cameron Mikaela Fuerte, Morris | 22:32.84 |
| Jean-Pierre Pozo, Salem Tech | 18:05.35 | Francesca Carnevale, GCIT | 22:41.84 |
| AJ Trampe, GCIT | 18:14.34 | Olivia Davis, Warren | 22:52.41 |
| Lukasz Popa, Passaic | 18:15.36 | Liana Horanic, Morris | 22:58.75 |
