CROSS COUNTRY

Quinn leads Morristown at Greystone Park

Jim Hague
Correspondent

MORRIS PLAINS – Maybe Evan Quinn will wake up from this dream season he’s enjoying as an elite cross country runner and realize that it all wasn’t really happening.

Let’s face facts. How does a kid who has carved his niche as one of the top golfers in the state suddenly become the best cross country runner in the very competitive world of Morris County cross country?

That’s what continued to take place Tuesday at the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference larger schools championships at Greystone Park.

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Once again, Quinn, the Morristown senior, blew away the field crossing the line in a stellar 16:01.84. Quinn was 15 seconds faster than the rest of the runners, as teammate Eric Clay came in second in 16:16.85. For good measure, fellow Colonial Ben Edwards was third in 16:20.35.

Needless to say, the Colonials ran away with the team title, outdistancing runner-up Chatham by almost 50 points.

“It was just a great meet for us,” said Morristown head coach Paul Buccino, whose team has to be the heavy favorite to win the team title at next week’s Morris County Championships. “For them to run as well as they did is amazing. I couldn’t ask for anything better than what they did today.”

Quinn’s time of 16:01 set a new Morristown record for the course.

“Evan just has a lot of natural talent,” Buccino said. “He’s just a great runner. I think they all feed off each other. I would like to carry the momentum into the county and then the state sectionals. We’ll take it one week at a time, because there are a lot of good runners out there.”

None as good as Quinn. He’s no longer a fluke, no more an abnormality. He’s clearly the real deal and shows it every time he laces up his spikes.
“When I talk to Bucc (Buccino), he tells you that anything is possible,” Quinn said. “I guess if I listened to him and put in the workouts, this is the result.”

Quinn loved the fact that he and his teammates finished 1-2-3.

“We talk about that all the time, trying to cross the line like that,” Quinn said. “I look back and see all that maroon and white (Morristown’s colors) and it’s a great feeling.”

Clay didn’t mind playing runner-up to Quinn.

“It feels great to have Evan in front of me and Ben right behind me,” Clay said. “There’s no better feeling in the world. I think it sends a message to the rest of the county.”

Edwards also loved the way the Colonials finished.

“It’s kind of awesome,” Edwards said. “I think he’s (Quinn) is the best runner on our team and the best runner on any team. The key to our success is the team concept.”

Consistently strong Jenks Hehmeyer of Montville was fourth in 16:33.95, while Jason Schweizer of Morris Hills was fifth in 16:38.12.

But there are no words to describe how one of the state’s best golfers has become one of the state’s best cross country runners.

“Things turned out pretty well,” Quinn said.

In the smaller schools division, Joe Dragon of High Point ran away from everyone, romping home in 15:28.60, a full minute ahead of runner-up Luke Vanderhoff of Wallkill Valley. Chris Singer of Kinnelon was fourth and Mark Cappuccitti of Mountain Lakes was fifth.

BOYS LARGE SCHOOLS

Team points: Morristown 43, Chatham 92, Mendham 109, Morris Hills 121, Mount Olive 129.

Individuals: 1-Evan Quinn, Morristown 16:01.84; 2. Eric Clay, Morristown 16:16.85; 3. Ben Edwards, Morristown 16:20.35; 4. Jenks Hehmeyer, Montville 16:33.95; 5. Jason Schweizer, Morris Hills 16:38.12; 6. Joey DeFeo, Delbarton 16:39.88; 7. Joshua Holihan, Randolph 16:41.21; 8. Liam Hynes, Chatham 16:42.04; 9. Robert Hammond, Mount Olive 16:46.00; 10. Jack Stanley, Mendham 16:52.79.

BOYS SMALL SCHOOLS

Team points: Wallkill Valley 61, Mountain Lakes 84, North Warren 109, Newton 126, Whippany Park 158.

Individuals: 1. Joe Dragon, High Point 15:28.60; 2. Luke Vanderhoff, Wallkill Valley 16:32.12; 3, Matt Oscovitch, Sussex Tech 16:47.70; 4. Chris Singer, Kinnelon 16:48.04; 5.Mark Cappuccitti, Mountain Lakes 16:48.16; 6. Jared Cooper, Mountain Lakes 16:49.24; 7. Mack Wilowski, Wallkill Valley 16:53.88; 8. Eric Schlosser, Parsippany 17:00.88; 9. Cameron Gec, Wallkill Valley 17:04.73; 10. Josh Magalhaes, North Warren 17:09.37.

Start of the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference boys Varsity small school cross country championships at Greystone Park. October 20, 2015, Morris Plains, NJ
Morristown's Evan Quinn comes in to win the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference varsity boys large school cross country championships at Greystone Park. October 20, 2015, Morris Plains, NJ
Mountain Lakes Mark Cappuccitti during the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference varsity small school boys cross country championships at Greystone Park. October 20, 2015, Morris Plains, NJ
Montville's Jenks Hehmeyer, c,  sandwiched in between Morristown's Evan Quinn, l, Ben Edwards and Eric Clay in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference varsity large school boys cross country championships at Greystone Park. October 20, 2015, Morris Plains, NJ
Start of the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference varsity large school boys cross country championships at Greystone Park. October 20, 2015, Morris Plains, NJ