Memorial set for sectionals, SPC’s Kopacz wins MAACP>The Memorial cross-country teams were dominant in northern New Jersey from 1975 to 1979, winning five straight NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group IV sectional titles during that span.
Last year, the Tigers made a return to glory by capturing their first state title in 20 years. And as they prepare for the sectional meet once again this weekend at Garrett Mountain Park in West Paterson, the team is confident that a second straight championship is in the making.
In fact, the Tigers are so confident that they are actually thinking about breaking long-standing records, as well as taking home another state sectional crown.
Head coach Julio Lopez was a member of the 1976 Memorial team that set the record for the lowest point total, 23, at the state sectionals. He’s hoping that this year’s team can top that mark.
"We want to go for that record," a confident Lopez said. "It would be a sign that this is truly a great team. And we’re not peaking for this meet. We have the [Group IV] state championships [in Holmdel] in mind. That’s been our goal since we started training in the summer, to make it to the Meet of Champions."
The key to the Tigers’ success this season has been consistent performances from throughout the lineup. For example, top runner William Canon is expected to win the individual sectional title and has posted the best time in the sectional at 16:26.
But teammate Luis Ortiz has also posted the same best time at 16:26, with junior Anderson Tejada (16:48) and sophomore Luis Capellan (17:08) right behind.
"We have the top three runners in the sectional and four of the top six," Lopez said. "So we definitely have a reason to be excited about this race."
Lopez, whose team is currently ranked no. 6 in the state, believes that the competition between his runners keeps them fresh and motivated.
"Usually, we have one good runner and he’s ahead of everyone else," Lopez said. "But with this team, everyone pushes each other and that makes them better. You can’t slack off, because someone can come along and knock you off."
Canon, who will look to become the first Memorial runner to win a state sectional title since Aurelio Saladrigas won in 1997, agrees.
"Luis [Ortiz] can do whatever I do," Canon said. "And Anderson just follows us. We all work hard to make each other better."
Canon knows that there are no sure things in cross-country meets. For example, the Tigers were extremely fortunate last year to avoid catastrophe when two of their runners tripped each other and fell during the race. Luckily, they were able to recover and get back on track.
And there are never any guarantees. Last year, the Tigers simply expected to finish among the top five at the Group IV meet, so they could advance to the Meet of Champions. It was a given that they would advance. But they collectively came up with a clunker and finished a disappointing 10th in the Group IV meet.
"That was just a bad race for us," Canon said. "I was sick and some others were hurt. I never even think about it."
"I’ve been telling them to remember what happened last year," Lopez said. "I thought we would end up fourth and we ended up 10th. That was a big shock to all of us. It’s been a motivational thing since the summer."
Lopez believes that the experience of a past poor performance can only help this time around.
"I think the experience does help," Lopez said. "These kids have been in a lot of races and they’ve become more consistent. We’re really motivated and we should be able to surprise some people."
And perhaps a record-setting performance.
Speaking of record-setters, St. Peter’s College junior Katie Kopacz has been posting some eye-popping times, but none more impressive than the 17:07 she ran to capture the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship last Saturday in Orlando, Fla.
The time set a new league record, shattering the old league mark by a full 30 seconds. Needless to say, Kopacz was the recipient of the MAAC’s Most Outstanding Runner award for her performance.
Kopacz, who never ran competitively while attending Holy Family Academy in Bayonne, concentrating on soccer and softball instead, is considered one of the rising stars in the sport. Coaches and administrators alike feel that she has a solid chance to compete for even higher honors before her career at SPC is through.