Princeton boys, Ridge girls claim NJ MOC titles

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

The Group 4 winners -- Princeton boys and Ridge girls -- put together impressive performances for the second consecutive week at Holmdel Park and won the New Jersey (NJSIAA) Meet of Champions team titles. 

RESULTS

Princeton won its first MOC title and ended a record-tying six-year streak by Christian Brothers Academy. 

It was a tight ream race. Princeton scored 104 points, with Colts Neck next at 106 and CBA third at 109. 

Elliot Gindi from Ocean Township, the fastest runner across all groups last week, stamped himself as the top runner in the state with a victory in 15:45. Jordan Brannan of Colts Neck was second in 15:51, Alex Roth of Princeton was third in 15:54 and Matt Grossman of Millburn was fourth in 15:55.

Gindi ran 15:27 a week ago at Holmdel and his winning time on Saturday was the slowest at MOC since 2002. 

Ridge and Alyssa Aldridge from Mainland Regional won MOC titles for the second straight year.

Ridge packed five scorers within 45 seconds, led by Lexy Donaldson's 15th place overall finish (19:17). 

Aldridge, a junior, ran 12 seconds faster than she did in 2015 and clocked 17:55 on the difficult course. Her winning time ties for the 10th fastest in Holmdel Park history.

Briana Gess of Haddonfield Memorial was second in 18:35.

The top teams will go to NXR Northeast for the Nov. 26 NXN qualifying meet at Bowdoin Park in New York. Some of the top individuals will run at the Foot Locker Northeast regional the same day at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.