Eustace’s Bischof wins girls’ Meet of Champs

LINCROFT - About two-thirds of the way through Saturday's NJSIAA girls' cross-country Meet of Champions, Bishop Eustace's Holly Bischof decided to make her move.

That decision resulted in the senior completing her New Jersey scholastic cross-country career as she had hoped, capturing first place with a time of 18 minutes, 13 seconds on the 5-kilometer course at Holmdel Park.

"I wanted to be up front with the lead pack," said Bischof, who will attend Duke University next year. "About a mile and a half in, just as we were coming out of the bowl [section of the course], I made my move on the uphill. I felt good and decided it was time to get going."

Although Bischof took the lead, she sensed she wasn't entirely alone.

"I didn't look behind me, but I felt people on my back the entire race," said Bischof, who had won the state Non-Public A title last week and is the first Eustace runner to win the Meet of Champions.

"As I approached the finish line, I knew I had the lead and just kept pushing. It's so exciting to win my last race on this course."

Bischof, who finished second in the Meet of Champions last year with a time of 18:09, was the third consecutive South Jersey girl to win the overall state championship. Kingsway's Chelsea Ley won in 2009, and Highland's Megan Venables took the crown in 2010.

"Way to represent," Bischof said with a smile. "It's nice to show North Jersey runners who's in charge."

The race ended in disappointment for Cherokee senior Megan Lacy, and in hope for Haddonfield junior Meghan Malloy.

Lacy, the state Group 4 champion, running despite a groin injury, turned in a gutsy performance with a seventh-place finish, in 18:30. Her best time on the Holmdel course is 17:54, during the 2010 Group 4 championships.

"I'm still bothered by my injury and didn't get a chance to train prior to the race," Lacy said. "I had hoped to survive on the training I did the previous week, but things just didn't work out.

"I'm disappointed because my time today is probably the worst I've run on this course since my sophomore year."

Malloy, who was 15th with a time of 18:50, was excited about her run.

"I was hoping to break 20 [minutes] today," Malloy said. "This is my best time ever on this course. I'm really looking forward to next year and improving."

For the second time in three years, Delsea was the top South Jersey team running at the Meet of Champs. The Crusaders finished 14th overall.

"One of our goals coming into the race was to finish as the top team from our area," Delsea coach Linda Marchese said.

"We were a little disappointed with the way we ran last week [at the state Group 3 meet]. The girls refocused and got what they wanted. They're a nice group of kids who've been working hard since July."

The Results

Team scoring: Rumson-Fair Haven 126, Hillsborough 142, Mount St. Dominic 142, Randolph 153, Voorhees 162. (South Jersey teams: 14, Delsea 360; 16, Moorestown 377).

Individual leaders: 1, Holly Bischof, Bishop Eustace, 18:13. 2, Caroline Kellner, West Windsor-Plainsboro South, 18:20. 3, Mackenzie Barry, Mendham, 18:21. 4, Marisa Ruskan, Bridgewater-Raritan, 18:23. 5, Kristen Traub, Eastern Christian, 18:25. (Other South Jersey runners: 7, Megan Lacy, Cherokee, 18:30. 15, Meghan Malloy, Haddonfield, 18:50. 18, Shelby Cain, Haddonfield, 19:08. 25, Paige Senatore, Delsea, 19:21).