Colts give big effort at Manhattan Invitational

BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

CHRIS KELLY staff Chris Horel led an inspired Colts’ effort this past weekend, as the CBA squad reaffirmed their status as the state’s top team with a second-place finish at the Manhattan Invitational. Tom Heath was waiting all week for the other shoe to drop.His Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) cross country team had not performed up to expectations at the Shore Coaches Invitational and lost its top ranking in the state. It raised some obvious doubts.

“It was more mental than anything else,” said Heath.

Two days later, in a freak accident while on a training run around the school’s course, Justin Wheat strained the tendon that runs from his hamstring to the back of his knee.

With the biggest meet of the season coming up on Saturday, and the Colts already reeling from their Shore Coaches effort, the last thing they needed was to lose one of their top five runners.

“The kids were down for a while,” said Heath.

But when Saturday arrived, the Colts were ready to redeem themselves. They came up with the kind an effort that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing CBA harriers muster when they need it the most. The other shoe didn’t drop.

CBA finished second to New York power Fayetteville-Manlius, the No. 1-ranked team in the Northeast (NE) and No. 2 in the country, 45-64, in the Varsity C race.

The Colts, who had slipped to fifth from third in the NE after their Shore Coaches effort, finished ahead of Morris Hills (No. 3 in the NE), which had turned in a faster team average at the Shore Coaches than CBA without Wheat.

“We definitely needed to have it,” said Heath. “What a comeback.”

Chris Horel came up with a great effort for the Colts, finishing third on the famed 2.5-mile layout, slogging his way through the rain and mud to a 12:40.7. It was the fastest time of the day by a New Jersey runner and third fastest of the day. Justin Harbour, of Flagler Palm Coast, Fla., the winner (12:34.5), and second-place Owne Kimple of Fayetteville-Manlius (12:39.7), who finished ahead of Horel, had the day’s two best times.

Kevin Rogers was eighth (12:59.5) and Greg Leach, 11th (13:09.1) for the Colts.

But the stars of the day, according to Heath, were CBA’s underclassmen, who stepped up and helped make up for the loss of Wheat.

Chris Lombardi (13:32) was 21st and Brendon Pierson (13:38.2) 24th while sixth man, Anthony Pellegrino was 30th (13:45.9).

CBA’s team average of 13:12 was the second best of the day.

CBA may have restored order in the state and improved their NE ranking, but they know a return trip to the Nike Team Nationals is not a given, and that Morris Hills will be a threat at the Meet of Champions.

The Colts will test themselves against ranked competition Saturday in Rhode Island at the Brown Invitational.