2006 success isn’t enough for the Indians

By Kevin Cranston
Runningco.com Writer - Sept. 9, 2007

In 2006, the Lenape High School girls’ cross country team put together its best season in school history.

The Indians won the Burlington County Open. They finished second at South Jersey Group 4 sectionals and third at the Group 4 state meet. And in their first-ever appearance at the Meet of Champions, the team took eighth.

At the time, the high finishes were all the team could ask for.

But now that the 2007 season is upon them, the Indians want more.

“We’re definitely going after the Burlington County Open title again and we want to try and win the sectional title and finish higher than we did last year at the Meet of Champs,” senior Erika Griffith said. “Our goals are set pretty high, but I think we can accomplish them.”

Added junior Alivia Royds: “We’ve been thinking about this fall since the end of last cross country season. We want to try and win every race we can.”

And if you ask anyone who follows South Jersey girls’ cross country, what Lenape has its sights set on achieving isn’t a stretch.

With the entire top seven back from last year, the Indians are loaded with talent and big-meet experience. It’s for these two reasons that Lenape is ranked No. 1 in Runningco.com’s Preseason Top 20.

“We’ve never had all seven back before,” Lenape coach Mike DiBenedetto said. “I think we’re more ready this season than we’ve ever been. If we can stay healthy, we can have a very good year.”

The team’s strength lies in its top three, which consists of senior Miya Johnson and Griffith, who were both South Jersey Track Coaches Association All-South Jersey selections in 2006, and Royds. All three placed in the top 10 at sectionals last November.  

Johnson, who was the team’s No. 1 girl in the final three races of 2006, is coming off a great track season (2:11.07 for 800 and 5:03.52 for 1,600) and should be the top runner this fall. But Griffith and Royds aren’t far behind.

“I expect between Erika, Miya and Alivia to make up a solid 1-2-3,” DiBenedetto said. “All three of them should be at the front of races for us.”

Beyond the top three, DiBenedetto said there are five girls – senior Moira Cunningham, sophomore Caitlin Orr, junior Katie Rella, senior Brianna Beddall and junior Cynthia Cuiule – that will be competing for the final four spots.

DiBenedetto said he has been very impressed with Cunningham’s progress over the summer and feels she will be a top-five runner for the team. The only girl not 100 percent entering the season, according to DiBenedetto, is Rella, who has been battling a foot injury.

But as for the rest of the lineup, they are healthy and in good shape.

Starting in early July, a majority of the Indians met every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for captain’s practices. And according to Griffith, most of the top girls averaged 35-40 miles a week for the summer.

And ever since official practice began a few weeks ago, the girls have been looking forward to showing that they’re deserving of the No. 1 ranking.

“We know that since we’re No. 1 that team’s will be coming after us,” Royds said. “But we just have to believe in ourselves.”

Said Griffith: “Whenever you’re No. 1, you always have a target on your back. But we know we can’t slack off. We were put No. 1 for a reason, so we have to run like a No. 1 team.”

And while Lenape’s individuals will be on display at next Saturday’s Cherokee Challenge, it won’t be until the Shore Coaches Invitational at Holmdel Park on Oct. 6 that the Indians’ entire varsity lineup will race together.

No matter what the race format, this team is fully prepared and entering the season with the right mentality.

“The girls are confident and I like what I’ve seen out of them so far,” DiBenedetto said. “I have a feeling our pack will be even tighter this year than it was last season.”