Finishing fifth at the Group IV State meet on November 11 was not what the girls’ cross country team wanted to do.  It was very cold and dreary, not optimal conditions for running a hilly, difficult course at Holmdel State Park. Despite the conditions, Senior Alexis Mullarkey managed to finish 4th overall with a time of 19:05, just 4 seconds shy of her personal record on this treacherous five-kilometer course. Her finish along with some tough runs from the rest of her teammates, Kylie Anici, Ashlynne Burke, Allie Pierontoni, Lauren Krott, Sydney Watts, and Caleigh Kupnewski gave the girls another chance at proving they are one of the best teams in the state at the Meet of Champions, November 18. The team has been outstanding all season, winning the Tri-County Conference and the  Gloucester County Championships and then the South Jersey Group IV title at Delsea Regional High School on Nov. 4. Coach Hess and Coach Lynch are hoping to have the girls ready to run their best at the Meet of Champions which hosts the best three teams from all four public school groups in New Jersey and the best three teams from the two private school divisions in the state, plus the fastest wild card teams from all the groups. They will also face the top ten fastest individual runners from every group in the state.