Folders |
Northeast Region Boys Early Season Rankings 2025Published by
Christian Brothers Academy Brings Back Unprecedented Depth To Mission Of Securing 16th Trip To Nike Cross Nationals By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor Boys NXR Northeast Preview Christian Brothers Academy has so consistently been the best boys cross country team in the Northeast that it feels sometimes like the group from Lincroft, N.J. could book their travel for Portland in August. Most years, CBA comes into the season with the credentials to be a national championship, or podium (top three) contender. The past two years, Lincroft has finshed sixth (2023) and fifth (2024) at NXN. But the expectations are high even by CBA standards this fall. The team returns five runners who ran under 9:14 for 3,200 meters on the track, and its the best group of returners with recorded times at Holmdel Park in school history. "The boys are ready to roll," coach Sean McCaffery said. Despite graduating three members of last year's top seven, the Colts are setting their sights high. Haddonfield Memorial of New Jersey is the clear No. 2 with a bunch of quality seniors coming back. A third New Jersey school, Cherokee, might be a year away from competing for a top-two spot in the region, but is a team on the rise. La Salle College PA and Bishop Hendricken RI also have the depth to compete at a high level. Alex Fisher of Loomis Chaffee CT is the top individual returner after finishing second behind CBA's Joe Barrett last year. Marshall Vernon of La Salle Academy RI was fourth last year and Sean Gray of Portsmouth RI was sixth. 1. Christian Brothers Academy NJ. On paper, CBA has everything needed to compete with the best teams in Colorado and Utah except for the altitude. Senior Luke Hnatt is back this fall with shiny new PRs of 8:57 in the 3,200 and 4:09 in the 1,600. Seniors Ryan Collins, Wyatt Falkowski and Sean Galvin could be interchangeable in the top five. Junior Gavin Schmitt is in that mix and sophomores Liam Schmitt, John Clark and Justin Ventimiglia are also competing for top-seven spots. Freshman newcomer Dominic Moscatello is another one to keep an eye on. 2. Haddonfield Memorial NJ. A loaded senior class should give the Bulldawgs a great chance to qualify for NXN for the first time. Ben Andrus (4:13/9:08) leads the way with Peter Simpson, Ryan Gibson, Luke Andresen, Brandon Stoner, Aaron Keith and Michael Sinnes all coming back as well. Sophomores Connor Brand and Augustan Coley add even more depth. 3. Cherokee NJ. With five guys coming back who ran under 9:50 for 3,200 meters in the spring, the Chiefs have the talent to make a big jump up from 18th place at last year's NXR Northeast. Junior Benjamin Really and sophomore Jack Tindall should give team a strong 1-2 and senior Logan Bromley, junior Sean Sooy and junior Maximo Harada are important pieces in the pack. Freshman Hamza Salahuddin could quickly become part of that top five as well. 4. La Salle College PA. The Explorers return four from last year's team that placed fifth at NXR Northeast and are powered by an especially strong junior class that feaures Bobby Franklin (4:10 1,600m) and Benjamin DiCola (9:12.9 3,200m). Juniors Gregory Hock, Matthew Tate, Anthony Ukalovic and Seamus O'Connell could all be building up for special year in 2026. For seniors Brayden Perry and Ryan McCabe, the time is now. 5. Bishop Hendricken RI - The Hawks opened the season impressively at the RITCA Injury Fund Carnival, with eight runners in the top nine of their section at Deerfield Park. Junior Colby Flynn was 30 seconds clear of his teammates in 15:43. Seniors Fred Russell, Brayden Seraichyk and Jacob Silva and sophomores Oliver Redmond and Shepherd Butler should make a big jump up from last year's 13th place a NXR Northeast. WATCHLIST More news |
