Coach: Bill Moreland

Conference: Cape-Atlantic, American Division

Group Classification: South Jersey Group 3

2006 Dual/Batch Meet Record: 8-1

Titles Won in 2006: Cherokee Challenge, Cape May County meet

Key Loss: John Fennekohl, the South Jersey Runner of the Year in 2006 who finished eighth at the Meet of Champions in a Holmdel PR of 16:03.      

Key Returnees: Junior Brett Johnson and senior Ryan Birchmeier. Johnson, a first team All-South Jersey selection by the SJTCA in 2006, is South Jersey’s top returning runner from last season’s Meet of Champions as he finished 20th in 16:22. Johnson, whose Holmdel PR is 16:13, won titles at the Cherokee Challenge (sophomore race), South Jersey Shootout (1, 2 race) and Shore Coaches Invitational (Varsity B). Birchmeier was a top three runner for the Red Raiders last fall before an IT band injury ended his season in mid-October. According to coach Bill Moreland, Birchmeier has had a solid summer of training and is expected to be the team’s No. 2 man.       

Team Roster

Ryan Birchmeier, Sr.
Bill Moreland, Sr.
Stephen Hoffman, Sr.
Connor Martin, Sr.
Brett Johnson, Jr.
Ryan Mazzeo, Jr.
Jeff Raab, Jr.
Jack McCarroll, Jr.
Mike Hagan, So.
Kyle Mckelvey, So.
Doug Weiland, Fr.
Jimmy O’Connor, Fr.
Rocky Camano, Fr.
Josh Clark, Fr.
Frank Martin, Fr.
Joe Richardson, Fr.

Runningco.com says: The good news for Ocean City coach Bill Moreland heading into the season is that his top two guys – junior Brett Johnson and senior Ryan Birchmeier – are completely healthy. Johnson’s sophomore track season was ended prematurely by a stress fracture in his foot, while an IT band injury forced Birchmeier to sit out the last few races of the 2006 cross season. Johnson, who had a breakout season last fall, will be one of the candidates for South Jersey Runner of the Year, while Birchmeier will be a solid No. 2. For Nos. 3 through 7 in the lineup, Moreland will look to senior Stephen Hoffman, sophomore Mike Hagan, senior Bill Moreland, junior Ryan Mazzeo, and senior Connor Martin. For the Red Raiders, which return five top seven runners from 2006, a lot will depend on how well the team’s 3-4-5 men compete. With Johnson and Birchmeier at the front of races, Ocean City will place high in many meets. But if the rest of the lineup can close the gap on Birchmeier, the Red Raiders will be a real tough team to run with.