Christian Brothers Academy Primed To Extend Dominance In New Jersey And The Northeast

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Boys NXR Northeast Preview

Christian Brothers Academy has the New Jersey stuff and the NXR Northeast meet pretty much on lock at this point. But last year's 18th place at Nike Cross Nationals wasn't the result the Colts were looking for. 

Joe Barrett may have only been a sophomore last year, but 164th place in the national meet had to be eye-opening for someone who is accustomed to being at the front of races. 

Barrett and another deep group at CBA will seek its 14 appearance at the national meet this fall, but this group wants to do more than just make the trip. The Colts won the national championship in 2011 and this year's group should at least be closer to first than 18th. 

Union Catholic, which burst onto the scene in 2021 and dipped a bit in 2022, welcomes back a healthy Jimmy Wischusen for his senior season. He was part of the country's No. 4-ranked team two years ago and this year he could lead his team to Portland. There is enough depth behind him to get the Vikings there. 

Massachusetts has a team that could get to nationals, something no team from the state has done in more than a decade. Brookline, the reigning MIAA Division 1 champions, returns a solid core of five that could make the Warriors nationally relevant. 

Westfield NJ is probably no worse than Union Catholic on paper and brings back a strong group that can also be a legitimate contender for top-two finish at Bowdoin Park. 

Episcopal of Pennsylvania brings back four members of the travelling squad to NXN last year but has some holes to fill this season if it wants to compete for a national berth. 

1. Christian Brothers Academy NJ. The Colts' stable of runners was on display again last spring, when nine guys ran under 4:25 in the 1,600 meters and 11 ran under 9:40 for 3,200 meters. Only four of those 11 graduated and CBA once again welcomes a dedicated pack whose objective includes domination in New Jersey and another crack at NXN in Portland. In addition to Barrett, who ran 9:04 for 3,200 meters this spring, CBA's lineup includes seniors Conor Clifford (4:13 for 1,600m), Jack Falkowski, Alex Kemp and William De Marco, juniors Alex Mastroly and Ryan Schmitt, and sophomore Wyatt Falkowski. 

2. Union Catholic NJ. Wischusen only raced twice last fall during cross country season and also race sparingly last spring. But reports that he is healthy and running well is great news for a cross country team that brings back nine of its top 11 athletes from 2022. If Wischusen is in top form, it could give UC a major lift toward an NXN berth. Behind him, seniors Alex Saldana, Sean Wilson, Alessandro Alvarez-Tullo and Gavin Devine, and juniors Evan Weber, Aidan Cichocki and Michael Devine provide overall depth that may exceed every team in the region except CBA. 

3. Brookline MA. The Massachusetts Division 1 champions bring back five of seven from a team that won the state title by nearly 40 points. The team followed up with a seventh-place finish at NXR Northeast and can chalk that up as valuable experience. Senior Kailas Ciatto was the team's No. 1 last year and was one of three members of the team to run under 4:26 in the mile last spring. Returning seniors Pablo Tejedor Meyers and Ben Kasen and juniors Lysander Duffield and Altamo Aschkenasy give the team quality through six deep and there are plenty of runners competing for the seventh spot. Brookline last made the national field in 2007 and is one of only two Massachusetts school to ever make it. The last was Pembroke in 2011. 

4. Westfield NJ. The Blue Devils, led by senior Avery Keith, have legitimate hopes of reaching the top two in the Northeast this fall thanks to the return of an intact top five from a team that finished fourth at the New Jersey Meet of Champions. Keith ran 9:06 in the 2-mile last spring and figures to be one of the top runners in the region. Seniors Tage Mehta, Eamon Mason and Graham Korins, and junior Ryan Daly, all will be key members of a team that seeks to improve upon last year's tough outing and ninth place finish at Bowdoin Park. 

5. Episcopal PA. Last year's breakthrough peaked by reaching NXN for the first time. It wasn't a smooth ride at the national meet, with 21st place, but four members of that team are back. Seniors Michael Woolery and Dawson French and sophomores Ethan Zhou and Eli Engelman may face an uphill battle to return to Portland, but at least the Churchmen have done it. Returning seniors Nicky Criville, Austin Bouvel and Fran Forte are next in line to put a strong lineup together again.

WATCHLIST

Phillips Exeter NH

Ridgefield CT

North Allegheny PA

Danbury CT

Cherokee NJ

Westford Academy MA

New Milford CT