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Women's Cross Country Win 2009 NJCAA National Championship - Jen Nelson Takes 1st in Women's Race!

The Ocean County College Women's Cross Country Team (above) captured the first ever cross country national title for Ocean County College on November 7, 2009 at Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua, NY.  Ocean finished first in the team competition (NJCAA Division III) out of 17 full teams with 73 points, surpassing the next team score by 23 points. 

Leading the team was OCC's lead runner, Jennifer Nelson (above), who outlasted all runners for the individual title.  Nelson won Ocean's first ever individual national champion cross country title with a time of 19:48 on the tough 5k course.  Jen ran a tough race," said Coach Ed Baynes.  "She was up with the leaders from the gun, and made a huge move with about a half mile to go.  She's a tremendous athlete, a real competitor, and a great listener.  No one is more deserving of the crown."

Nelson was supported by Erine O'Connor (21:18) and Alyssa Collier (21:19), who finished 12th and 13th respectively in the 115 runner field.  The three ladies earned All-American Honors for their efforts, which was awarded to the top 15 runners.  Priscilla Robinson (21:37) was 17th, and Lauren Ashman (22:32) finished 30th to seal the victory for the Vikings.  Taylor Madden and Elaine Josefowski also had fantastic races, finishing 42nd and 68th overall.  "It was a great day for the women.  They hung in there and fought all the way through the finish line, which is what has to be done at a national championship," said Baynes, who won NJCAA Women's Coach of the Meet and of the Year for his team's efforts. "The girls knew what they had to do.  Each had her own job to make sure it was a successful day, and they all delivered.  We wanted to have our top 4 out there running with the lead group, and our 5th and 6th around the other teams' fifth runners.  Lauren and Taylor both finished ahead of all the other teams' 5th runners, and that played as big a role in the success as the top four.  The women listened well, made the right moves, and ran tough.  It was such a successful day."

The men's team also had a strong showing as two of the men set personal bests over the 8k distance.  Mike Neigel (30:14) was 35th overall, and Jarryd Novin (31:59) was 55th overall in the men's race, won by Chris Burke of SUNY Delhi (27:42).  Mike Romano battled the hilly course on a bad knee to finish 105th.  "The men ran great today.  They set the stage for a good day by getting out there and mixing it up," said Baynes.  "All three of our men are new to the sport, and have made tremendous improvements in just two months.  All three return next year, and we are hopeful that next year will bring us the same success on the men's side as we had on the women's side.  It's a first year program, and we feel that with a little help from the local high school programs, we can start a tradition of excellence against some well-established community colleges."