College of New Jersey senior Katherine Rice from Haddonfield and sophomore Savannah Hodgens from Mainland Regional placed 2nd and 3rd Saturday at the inaugural Herb Lorenz Invitational at the Green Lane Fields in Ewing.
Rice placed 2nd in 20:07 over the 5,000-meter course, and Hodgens was 3rd in 20:13. Overall winner was Emily Hoegler, who ran 20:04.
The College of New Jersey swept the first five spots and won the team title in the 5,000-meter event, held to honor legendary runner Herb Lorenz, who grew up in Pemberton, starred at The College of New Jersey and went on to become a record-setting Masters runner, a 2:17 marathon runner, a two-time member of the U.S. national team that went to World XC and an inductee of the Road Runner’s Club of America Hall of Fame. Lorenz died in 2011 at 71.
Herb Lorenz’s wife Irma was honorary starter for the women’s race and TCNJ assistant coach and former Rancocas Valley runner Mike Walker spoke about Lorenz’s legacy before the event began. Lorenz’s son Eric and daughter Diane – both outstanding runners as well – were on hand for the ceremony along with their kids.
The TCNJ women are ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division 3 Metro Region by the USTFCCCA behind only Widener.
The College of New Jersey also swept the men’s race, led by Michael Rodriguez in 20:10 over 6,000 meters.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 