We don’t normally write about freshmen races, but when the freshmen run this well, we can make an exception.
The Cherokee freshmen packed five runners in 49 seconds, won the team title by 44 points and set a course record on the Holmdel County Park 2.1-mile freshman course Saturday in the Division A freshman race at Shore Coaches.
Christopher Spisak and Chase Miller placed second and third in 11:16 and 11:33, with the Chiefs’ next three runners all crossing the line in a six-second group – Ethan Wechsler 11th in 11:59, Robert Hackney 13th in 12:02 and Michael Gavio 14th in 12:05.
Cherokee outscored Christian Brothers Academy’s freshmen, 43-87, with Westfield third at 149.
The Chiefs averaged 11:47 on the hilly course, which eliminates the Bowl from the 3.1-mile varsity course.
An 11:47 on a 2.1-mile course is 17:23 pace for a 5,000-meter course.
The previous freshman record was 11:49 per man, set last year by East Brunswick in the A race. CBA averaged 11:52 in 2012.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 