Montville Rec Cross Country Team Rebounds, Anna George Sets Record

“After many years of trying to rebuild our program since Jason Fenness' arrest, the Montville Recreation Track and Cross Country team is finally back on the map,” said Coach Anthony SanFilippo. 

Led by seventh-grader Anna George and 8th grade captain Katie Onello, the Montville girls team won the 13-14 year old division Lakeland League Cross Country Championship on Sunday, said SanFilippo.

“George was the overall League Individual Champion in a team record 16:01 over the 4k course at Greystone Park. Teammate Katie Onello was 2nd overall. The team finished with 8th graders Blythe Hehmeyer in 9th, Katherine Liu in 16th, Gabby Yates in 18th, and Riya Gupta in 24th. The top 5 finishers for the team earned medals,” said SanFilippo.

The team record that George broke was previously set by Cassandra Harast in 2010. Harast, 15, a sophomore at Montville High School, is still making her own track success with her recent competition, the USATF NJ Championship.

“We really came through and put our heart and soul into every practice,” said Onello. “Blood, sweat and tears went into those medals and our goal was to beat Mendham and we passed that.”

"I couldn't be prouder of these girls. Any time you go head to head with Mendham (who has dominated this league for a decade) and you come out on top, you've done something special,” said SanFilippo. “Katie led this team all year. She's the hardest worker in this program. She runs hurt, she runs sick, she runs because she loves to compete. Every kid in this program looks up to Katie."

This is the first time in five years the team has received a team title and the first under Head Coach SanFilippo. SanFilippo, the current Throws Coach for a The College of New Jersey, coached at Montville High School from 2004-2012 and at Kinnelon High School for the 2012-2013 school year.

“We said, ‘we’re doing this for you (the coach). We’re a team, a family,” said Onello, adding that the team wanted to make their coach proud and move forward from the past Fenness controversy.

"After four years of coaching this program, I can honestly say that this is the most fun I've had during a season," said SanFilippo. "Every kid made huge improvements throughout the season. This program is back."

Other medal winners on the day were:

• Anthony Russo finished 17th in the 13-14 Race.
• Robert George finished 9th in the 9-10 Race.
• Dennis Lucey finished 16th in the 9-10 Race.
• Catrina Eagan finished 12th in the 7-8 Race.
• Matt Colatrella finished 14th in the 7-8 Race.

"Anna is the most special youth runner this program has ever seen. Most girls her age are overtrained and on their way down. Anna only trains 8 miles per week. There is no ceiling for her. She runs effortlessly and her technique is a mirror image of Bernard Lagat. I can't wait to see what she does in the Junior Olympics,” said SanFilippo.

The next race is the USA Track Junior Olympic State Championships this Sunday at Deer Path Park in Flemmington. Anna George and Katie Onello, from the 13-14 year old division, and Robert George, 9, were selected for the Lakeland League All-Star team. Others competing at the USA meet are twins Samantha and Brooke Savercool, 12, Luke  DeFilippo, 12, and Jack Steckelman, 8.

Former Montville first grade teacher Jason Fennes was removed from the MTC Rebels Track Club program last year following charges of sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.