Voorhees victorious at Skyland Conference finals

PEAPACK - With just two seasons as head coach under his belt, Jeff Capone has already proved his worth to the Voorhees boys cross country team.

For the second consecutive year, Capone managed the Vikings to a Skyland Conference finals championship, held this year on Thursday afternoon at Natirar Park.

The Vikings had 46 points, 31 better than second-place Hunterdon Central.

“Our kids are improving,” Capone said. “I know we can run faster, and I think they realize they can run faster. We talked about it, and we don’t want to run our fastest yet, but we want to be ahead of people.”

Another success came for Voorhees when Robert Whitney placed first, running the course in 15:50. His teammate Chris Romero placed second at 15:55.

“This course has a fast first mile so I knew it was going to go out really fast so I went out more conservative,” Whitney said. “I was probably in 10th place at the mile, and then I just started moving on the back loop and the hills. I passed Chris going down the first hill, and then coming back I just held the lead, and we were neck-and-neck at the top of the hill coming down, then I just let loose and kicked as hard as I could.”

Whitney and Romero went into the race hoping that they could both place high.

“Right before the meet I told both of them, ‘If you guys want the race, go get it — dictate the race and go take it,’ and then I told them to play off each other,” Capone said.

Bonaguidi triumphs: Right on the heels of a victory at the Hunterdon-Warren Sussex Championship, Hannah Bonaguidi of Delaware Valley did it again. She placed first, running the Natirar course in 18:15.

“I was hoping to get sub-18, but that didn’t happen,” Bonaguidi said after receiving her first Skyland Conference finals trophy. “It’s OK, though, because it’s kind of hot out.”

Bonaguidi crossed the finish line with no competitors in sight. She was far ahead of everyone else, and she considered that to be more nerve wrecking than managing a win in a close race.

“I kept asking, ‘Is anyone behind me? How much room do I have?’ Nobody was behind me, though,” Bonaguidi said. “It makes me focus more on that than just running against the clock, and it makes it hard because I like to be chasing, not leading, ’cause then you’re more motivated to go.”

First for coach: For the first time in his 12 years with the North Hunterdon girls team, head coach Sean Walsh got to celebrate a first place. The Lions managed 52 points. Second-place Ridge had 59 points.

“We ran really well at the Hunterdon-Warren Sussex and they have been working really hard,” Walsh said. “I told them yesterday that we weren’t going to give any big speeches because as long as they all took care of their jobs the results would speak for themselves.”

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

Boys: Robert Whitney, Voorhees 15:50; Chris Romero, Voorhees 15:55; Brandon Tubby, Hillsborough 16:04; Justin Cornetta, Hunterdon Central 16:12; Ajay Sarathy, Montgomery 16:24; Ryan Martins, Watchung Hills 16:28; Josiah Park, Rutgers Prep. 16:30; Matthew Vira, Voorhees 16:31; Jeremy Shipley, Hillsborough 16:32; Jake Hardin, Phillipsburg 16:34. Girls: Hannah Bonaguidi, Delaware Valley 18:15; Anna DiMarcello, North Hunterdon 18:53; Shayna Bains, Ridge 19:07; Stephanie Mauer, Hillsborough 19:11; Paige Novak, Hillsborough 19:12; Nadia Saponara, Hunterdon Central 19:16; Elena DiMarcello, North Hunterdon 19:17; Angela Kearsley, North Hunterdon 19:19; Claire Jones, Ridge 19:20; Chloe Wong, Hillsborough 19:20.

TEAM RESULTS

Boys: Voorhees, 46; Hunterdon Central, 77; Hillsborough, 97; Montgomery, 125; North Hunterdon, 160. Girls: North Hunterdon, 52; Ridge, 59; Hillsborough, 64; Watchung Hills, 147; Voorhees, 181.

Staff writer Alyssa Davis: adavis3@gannettnj.com