Senior Will Mrozinski became the first Paul VI individual winner at Shore Coaches in 30 years and led Paul VI to its second consecutive team title in the Varsity G race Saturday at Holmdel County Park.
We’re still not sure about the accuracy of the Shore Coaches results, thanks to some timing issues, but we’re pretty sure Paul VI packed all five scorers among the top 25 finishers to outdistance Metuchen, 62-92.
Mrozinski ran 16:44 and edged Hasbrouck Heights junior Aidan Morrow by one second. The Eagles’ first four finishers all ran between 16:44 and 16:49, with Audubon’s Aiden Williams placing 3rd in 16:49.
PVI’s four other scorers all ran between 17:50 and 18:22, with junior Sean Alemi 13th in 17:50, junior Christian Napoli 14th in 17:51, freshman Caden Briggs 20th in 18:08 and freshman Chris Monaghan 23rd in 18:22.
The team title is Paul VI’s 11th at Shore Coaches. The Eagles also won Varsity A in 1984 and 1989, Varsity B in 1981, 1993, 1994 and 2000, Varsity C in 1995 and 1999 and Varsity G in 2017 and 2022.
Mrozinski was 4th last year in 17:03. He’s the first Paul VI runner to win a Shore Coaches title since John Williams ran 17:00 to win Varsity B in 1993. PVI’s other Shore Coaches winner was Joe Margre in Varsity A with a 16:42 in 1987.
Haddon Heights junior Reggie Hernandez placed 7th in 17:21 and led the Garnets to 3rd place behind Paul VI and Metuchen with 120 points. Senior Jayden Gonzalez was Heights’ second runner with a 17:49 for 12th place overall.
Junior Isaac Linden of Moorestown Friends ran 17:47 for 11th place. That’s a 42-second Holmdel PR for Linden.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 