BELLEVILLE - The Belleville cross country teams were some of the most successful in the county last season.
The Lady Bucs won the Super Essex Conference Liberty division title last season while the boys came in second. Both Belleville teams finished with 7-1 marks with the boys just behind Montclair Kimberley Academy in 2010.
There is a great hope for the girls who return several runners while Belleville head coach Scott Herman believes some new blood will invigorate the boys team that graduated several seniors.
On the boys side several of their top runners graduated, including Terrance Boyce, Bryon Cure, Jeffrey Chacon and Danny Campos, so Herman is banking on some youngsters to go for the SEC Liberty title.
"I feel if the team stays together and works hard just like the senior that graduated, the boy’s team will have success in the future," said Herman. "The boys team will be competing in the SEC Liberty division."
Overall both teams have a total of 60 runners from freshmen to seniors and Herman is encouraged about a large freshmen class that is sure to pay dividends in the future.
Girls
The Belleville girls team is led by it seniors Jamie and Kristy Bono (who are twin sisters), Mary Diaz and Analee Delgado, along with solid contributions from juniors Arnelle Ackon, Jada Clark and Tatiana Gomez.
The Bono twins are two of the best runners on the team and were both first team All SEC last season. Kristy has a personal 5K best of 21:02 and Jamie has a personal 5K best of 21:49. "Both girls have been training hard this summer, and hope to improve on their times from last year," said Herman. "Jamie and Kristy regularly run over 40 miles a week. Their training includes hill work and tempo runs during the summer."
In Diaz Herman has a four-year runner with a personal best of 23:00 in the 5K and was second team All SEC last season. "Mary has worked very hard at practice and in the weight room," said Herman. "She is the strongest girl athlete on the team. Mary has been running for four years and holds many of the Belleville freshman course records."
Both juniors Ackon and Clark garnered second team All SEC honors last season. Ackon's personal 5K best is 22:37 and Clark has a best of 22:24. Clark holds the Belleville freshman course record at Branch Brook Park. The other top junior is Gomez who has a personal best of 24:44 for 5,000 meters. In Lazo she adds a spark as a transfer from Kearny High School with her personal best being 24:33.
The key sophomores this season are Catherine Allende, Kattya Bermeo, Nicole Gibson, Kelsey Graham, Chole Mecka, Reyna Moreira, Tiffany Polite, Erika Santiago and Maria Tacco.
Boys
While many of the top runners graduated, Herman does have sophomore Devon Strom returning as the top runner with a personal best of 20:33. Right behind Strom is senior Paul Smagula with a best of 20:39 last season. The other top senior is Luis Angamarra who runs his second season of cross country after a personal best in 2010 of 21:53.
While this is the first season in cross country for senior Gursimran Singh, he had a big indoor season in track and Herman is expecting a breakout season this fall.
In addition the Bucs have a quality up and coming junior class with Xavier Cuenca (24:20 personal best), Galo Ojeda (20:58) and Giuseppe Zarfino (23:46).
Belleville 2011 girls cross country schedule
Sept. 13 Caldwell, Eastside
Sept. 20 West Side, Bloomfield
Sept. 27 Newark Academy, West Essex
Oct. 4 Irvington, Montclair Kimberley
Oct. 11 SEC League Division Championship
Oct. 28 Essex County Championship
Nov. 4 Junior varsity and Frosh Championships
Nov. 5 State sectional Championship
Belleville 2011 boys cross country schedule
Sept. 13 Irvington, Eastside
Sept. 20 Cedar Grove, Montclair Kimberley
Sept. 27 Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Christ the King
Oct. 4 Caldwell, Nutley
Oct. 11 SEC League Division Championship
Oct. 28 Essex County Championship
Nov. 4 Junior varsity and Frosh Championship
Nov. 5 State sectional Championship
