CN XC: North Hunterdon focused on having dominant season

The North Hunterdon High School boys and girls cross country teams know what it takes to compete, and this season the Lions are primed to make a big run. 

On the girls side, North Hunterdon lost three seniors from its Nike Northeast Regionals championship team, Anna DiMarcello, Kelly McCarten and Skyler Farrand. While those three were big contributors to the top seven, the Lions will have four juniors returning in Angela Kearsley, Brenna Talamo, Emily Nugent and the reigning Courier News Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year Ellie DiMarcello. 

"It’s exciting, it’s good to have them back. Hopefully the experience will pay off, they’ve been through a lot already so that should carry them through," North Hunterdon girls coach Sean Walsh said of his returning juniors. "We have a bunch of girls battling for spots and have made a lot of progress."

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Last season, North Hunterdon won the Shore Coaches Invitational with a third-place finish by DiMarcello, then went on to win the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Championships where DiMarcello and Kearsley finished first and second. 

DiMarcello did it again at the Skyland Conference Championships, leading the Lions to its second-straight title and then won the North 2 Group IV individual title as North Hunterdon swept the team titles. 

At the Group IV championships and Meet of Champions, North Hunterdon placed second to Ridge before winning the Nike Northeast Regionals title. 

"They’ve done well and had a really good summer," Walsh said. "They built up mileage in a smart way and they definitely had a solid conditioning summer and I’m looking forward to see what they can do. We train always for the championship season, we’ll have a couple of races in late September and early October, but we always look forward to the championships at the end of the season and the state competition."

On the boys side, North Hunterdon lost two of its top seven from last year in Austin Frank and Connor Burson but return seniors Ray Sellaro, Joe Gallo and Will Arnold. 

Juniors Andrew Trapp, Dylan Adamy and Chris Fischer also return, along with sophomores John Ignacz and Gavin Richards who won the New Balance freshman mile and the North 2 Group IV sectional title. 

"We lost a couple but we’re still strong," North Hunterdon boys coach Tom Higgins said. "We’re not in terrible shape in terms of returning runners and we had a lot of young talent last year."

Sellaro helped the Lions to a second place finish at the Shore Coaches Invitational, then placed second behind Voorhees at the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Championships. 

At the Skyland Conference Championships, Sellaro was fifth as the Lions again took second place behind Voorhees. At the North 2 Group IV championships, Sellaro placed third as North Hunterdon won its first sectional title since 1998. 

"It’s going to be a great season, we have to keep everyone healthy. We have a lot of talent this year and with a little luck things will work out, we’ll be hoping to vie for the top spot in the Skyland and Groups," Higgins said. "We had some injuries over the track season last year, they had a great summer training and they’re rolling now, they’re itching for the first race."

Both teams will benefit from returning experienced runners along with an influx of talented newcomers. Depth will be key for both sides as the Lions try and keep their runners healthy en route to the conference, sectional and Group championships. 

"These guys want to be at the Meet of Champions this year, that’s the goal and it’s exciting," Higgins said. "It’s a tight crew, they’re all friends and I think they know what they’re capable of and it’s just a matter of making it happen."

Staff Writer Lauren Knego: lknego@gannettnj.com; on Twitter: @laurenknego