Red Raiders beat Cherry Hill West 14-21
By Kevin Cranston
Runningco.com Writer
DEPTFORD
Ocean City High School boys’ cross country coach Bill Moreland should start thanking his son, Billy, for convincing seniors Stephen Hoffman and Connor Martin to run cross country this season.
It’s because of Hoffman and Martin emerging as the team’s Nos. 3 and 4 runners that the Red Raiders have been a tough team to beat in the early-going of the 2007 season.
Bill Moreland knew heading into the season what he could expect from junior Brett Johnson and senior Ryan Birchmeier, the team’s Nos. 1 and 2 runners. But beyond those two, he was uncertain as to how strong the lineup would be.
He can rest a little easier now.
Thanks to Hoffman (17:06 on Gloucester County College’s 3.1-mile course) and Martin (17:27) taking first and fifth in the 3-4 race, Johnson (16:20) and Birchmeier (16:31) grabbing the top-two spots in the 1-2 race and sophomore Mike Hagen (17:54) placing fifth in the 5-6-7 race, Ocean City, ranked No. 10 in Runningco.com’s Preseason Top 20, scored 14 points to win the team title on Saturday at the Fourth Annual South Jersey Cross Country Shootout.
No. 9 Cherry Hill West was second with 21 and No. 13 Pennsville was third with 43.
Team scores were compiled by taking a team’s top two runners in the 1-2 race, the top two runners in the 3-4 race and the top runner from the 5-6-7 race.
“For Hoffman and Martin to be doing what they’re doing with no experience is impressive,” Bill Moreland said. “It’s their first year running cross country and they’ve already been big for us.
For Ocean City, Saturday was just a continuation of what has been some early-season success for the team. Along with the Shootout title, the Red Raiders have a Cherokee Challenge team title, which they won last Saturday, and are 5-0 in dual meets, including a win over No. 4 Mainland.
“We came into the meet with the idea to challenge for the title,” Bill Moreland said. “West ran a great race, but our guys ran well also. This is certainly a great way to start the season.”
