Hightstown Cross Country Bringing Back Experienced Girls

While the Hightstown High girls cross country team did lose one of its best runners to graduation, the talent and experience coming back has Coach Tom McCafferty excited.

"We lost Megan Mitchell, but I still have the rest of the team coming back," McCafferty said. "They all made great improvements over the track season. Hopefully, that will transfer into the cross country season."

Cross country runners have one big advantage over the athletes in other sports at a school like Hightstown High. Hightstown has winter and spring track teams. After the cross country season ends, the runners can continue in distance events the rest of the school year.

Hannah Foss, a sophomore, kept running after last year's cross country season ended.

"She was the number one middle distance runner in track," McCafferty said. "She was our number three cross country runner last year."

The top two spots last season were usually held by Mitchell and Nikki Khandelwal, a junior. Khandelwal comes into this season as Hightstown's top runner.

"Megan and Nikki went back and forth as the number one last year," McCafferty said. "They mostly ran together in races. It came down to whoever felt better in the last quarter mile."

Olivia Gerritts, a senior, is another girl that runs throughout the school year for Hightstown.

"She was out of track a little with an injury," McCafferty said. "Hopefully, she'll be healthy all season. She'll be a good runner for us."

Serina Sokoloff, a sophomore, is another person who hopes Gerritts is completely healthy. After all, the two usually run together in practices.

"By the end of last season, she had dropped four or five minutes (from her cross country times)," McCafferty said. "She had a solid winter season and carried that over into the spring. She was very strong in the two-mile run."

In cross country, the top five girls in each race establish a team's score. Depth is important, however, as the sixth or seventh girl on a team can often finish ahead of an opponent's fifth runner and determine the outcome of a race.

Hightstown has nine girls out for its team.

"Not sure who will be in that fifth spot yet," McCafferty said.

Rachel Wilson, a junior, has the athletic ability, but is new to cross country.

"She was a pole vaulter in track," McCafferty said. "She's used to running 70 feet. I just have to convince her that three miles is not that far (laughs)."

Hannah Schmitt, a sophomore, is also new to cross country. Fortunately, she ran in the spring and has done some road races.

"I expect one of those two (Schmitt or Wilson) will be my fifth runner," McCafferty said.

The beauty of cross country is everyone gets the chance to be in the top five. If Diana Tavares (senior), Kira Costantino (senior) or Alyssa Husko (freshman) are fast enough, they will be in the top five.

"Not sure what to expect from the new girls," McCafferty said. "We'll just have to wait and see."

"It'll be tough to replace Megan, but that front four can do some damage," McCafferty said. "I'm just hoping that fifth runner isn't too far behind."

Hightstown will open the season Sept. 10 when it runs in the Cherokee Classic. The format for this event has the races held by grade.

The regular season for Hightstown will open on Sept. 13 when Hightstown runs against Trenton, Steinert and Lawrence at Mercer County Park.