Nick Barnabic, Ken Marshall, Billy Byrne Named All-Suburban Boys Cross-Country Team
December 12, 2014 Last updated: Friday, December 12, 2014, 12:31 AM
By Greg Tartaglia
RIDGEWOOD — The top three boys cross-country teams at this season’s Bergen Meet of Champions (BMOC) were Don Bosco Prep, Ridgewood and Indian Hills.
The latter two added state-sectional titles, and Don Bosco – whose group does not crown section champs – tied for first place at the State Non-Public A meet. All three schools went on to qualify for the State Meet of Champions (SMOC).
Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the trio dominates the All-Suburban first team, which features five Ironmen, three Maroons and two Braves. The 10-man squad includes four seniors, four juniors and two sophomores.:
Nick Barnabic
GRADE: Junior
SCHOOL/HOMETOWN: Ridgewood
PREVIOUS HONORS: 2013 second team
SEASON BEST: 15:58
FAST FACTS: Barnabic was one of the Maroons’ top three runners and also took a couple turns at the No. 1 spot. He led Ridgewood with a second-place finish in the Big North Freedom Division meet, where the team held off Indian Hills for the title, and added a sixth-place showing at the Bergen Group A meet to pace his squad to second behind Don Bosco.
Billy Byrne
GRADE: Sophomore
SCHOOL/HOMETOWN: Ridgewood
SEASON BEST: 16:04
FAST FACTS: Byrne qualified for the SMOC as a wildcard by clocking a 23rd-place 16:35 in the State Group 4 finals at Holmdel Park, a 40-plus second improvement from his previous course best. He logged top-five finishes at the Big North Freedom (fifth) and North 1, Group 4 (fourth) meets, helping the Maroons to championships in both.
Ken Marshall
GRADE: Junior
SCHOOL/HOMETOWN: Ridgewood
PREVIOUS HONORS: 2013 second team
SEASON BEST: 15:55
FAST FACTS: Marshall emerged as the Maroons’ No. 1 runner down the stretch, leading them in every meet from the BMOC onward. He won the individual title at the North 1, Group 4 meet — where Ridgewood captured its fifth straight sectional crown – and finished 20th at the Group 4 finals to earn an SMOC wildcard bid.
https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/boys-cross-country/best-in-bergen-highlight-star-boys-xc-teams-1.1152177
