Basking Ridge Runners Advance To Meet Of Champions

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — The Ridge cross country team qualified for the Meet of Champions at the Group Championships, sending both its boys and girls teams into a race featuring the top 14 teams in the state.

The next meet is scheduled for next week at Holmdel Park.

Jenny Friedman led the girls' effort in the Group IV race. She set a new Ridge Holmdel record of 18:42, placed fourth and earned a medal, while also qualifying individually for the Meet of Champions.

Isabella Beaudry finished 11th and set a new Holmdel personal record in 19:28.

Rachel Ellis, Maia Zalmover and Lily-Josephine Stephen took 15th, 18th and 19th, all with sub-20 times.

Those finishes helped Ridge secure second place with 67 points and advance as a team.

On the boys' side, Owen James and Andrew Bandrowski also qualified individually for the Meet of Champions.

James placed fifth in 16:15, and Bandrowski was sixth in 16:21. With Nishank Shivapur, Rehaan Wadhwani and Ernan

Nargotra contributing to the team result, Ridge placed second and moved on to the Meet of Champions.

The advancement marks a notable milestone for the program.

For the first time in many years, both the Ridge girls and boys cross country teams will compete at the Meet of Champions.

The statewide race will again be held at Holmdel Park.

— Submitted by Keiko Hou