Best runners from NJ

I dont think anyone mentioned Steve Slattery. Karl Savage is pretty good nationally nowadays. Jason DiJoseph was a beast from back in the day and still has the homdel record i believe. Mike Mykytok, Bob keino, Brendan heffernan, and thats all I can think of. But i guess as far as distance Liquori is number 1.

The Century's Best -- Boys XC

Top 10 Runners of each decade

10/17/99

1900-1929

Teddy Atkinson, East Rutherford (1924)

Binns, Passaic (1927)

Bill Boscher, Rutherford (1928)

Ed Deady, St. Benedict’s (1926)

Jack Gallagher, St. Benedict’s (1921)

Clarence Jensen, East Orange (1926)

Ray King, Passaic (1929)

Ed Kirby, Barringer (1919)

O’Brien, St. Benedict’s (1923)

Harvey Stewart, Rutherford (1922)

Honorable mention: Deering, St. Benedict’s (1922); Downey, Peddie (1928); Geoghan, St. Benedict’s; (1923); Holmes, Newark Central (1922); Kennedy, St. Benedict’s (1927); Meade, St. Benedict’s (1928); Mulligan, Newark Central (1921); Munroe, Lawrenceville (1923); Neck, Irvington (1927); White, Barringer (1927).

Coach: Amassa Marks, Passaic

1930s

William Downs, Bound Brook (1933)

Henry Fredrickson, Emerson (1934)

Al Handley, Newark Central (1933)

Norman Holtaway, Union (1937)

Bob Hendershot, Union, (1932)

Lee Jackson, Newark Central (1932)

John McKenna, St. Benedict’s (1931)

John Militello, Lodi (1935)

Tony Passarelli, Millburn (1939)

Henry Rzemieniewski, Newark Central (1931)

Honorable mention: Robert Chisholm, Kearny (1937); Bob Clancy, Lincoln (1934); Herman Goffberg, Newark South Side (1937); Bill Ellsworth, Jefferson (Elizabeth) (1938); Jack Milne, Toms River (1937); Sid Schwartz, Passaic (1934); Hugh Short, Hillside (1938); Jack Skidmore, Newark Central (1939); Lou Smith, Passaic (1933); Russell Westdyke, East Rutherford (1933).

Coach: Jim Cavanaugh, St. Benedict’s

1940s

Fred Dwyer, Seton Hall Prep (1948)

Gene Fekete, Lower

Camden (Overbrook) (1950)

Peter Gilleece, Irvington (1949)

Gerard McGee, Seton Hall (1949)

Alex Perritt, Kearny (1945)

Browning Ross, Woodbury (1941)

Phil Stillwell, Camden (1943)

Thomas Voorhees, Paterson Eastside (1948)

Harold Wetzel, Union (1944)

Barrie Worsnop, Kearny (1940)

Honorable mention: Wallace Baber, Kearny (1948); Ted Bauer, Union (1942); Bob Frevort, Cranford (1948); Walter Hockoday, West Side (1949); Edgar Hoos, Westfield (1945); Walter Molineux, Moorestown (1947); Don Parks, Rahway (1947); Bill Persichetty, Dickinson (1949); Phil Thigpen, Rahway (1943); Robert Zeleny, Nutley (1947).

Coach: Harold Jardine, Kearny

1950s

Fred Abingdon, Chatham (1951)

Tom Fekete, Lower

Camden (Overbrook) (1953)

Eric Groon, Leonia (1957)

Pete Hoey, Mountain Lakes (1958)

John Kopil, Bayonne (1952)

Bob Lowe, Englewood (1956)

Bob Mack, Weequahic (1958)

Dan Maltese, West Side (1957)

Donald Philpott, Montclair (1952)

Mike Sabino, Plainfield (1957)

Honorable mention: Bill Augustine, Roselle Park (1958); Charles Benfield, Belleville (1951); Rob Bonnetti, Westfield (1951); Ed Quinn, Bloomfield (1956); Bob Schubert, Dickinson (1956); Don Townsend, Thomas Jefferson (Elizabeth) (1951); Jay Van Brunt, Wayne (1958); John Williams, Montclair (1959); Jim Wolf, Tenafly (1956); Tom Zimmerman, Holy Trinity (Westfield) (1959).

Coach: Charles Hartzell, West Side (Newark)

1960s

Jack Endrikat,

Rancocas Valley (1963)

Dave Hyland,

St. Peter’s (N.B.) (1960)

Mike Keogh, Essex Catholic (1969)

Marty Liquori, Essex Catholic (1966)

Ken Medlin, Haddon Township (1969)

Eamon O’Reilly, St. Benedict’s (1962)

Greg Ryan, Essex Catholic (1964)

Ed Shattuck, Central Regional (1964)

Russ Taintor, Brick (1967)

Tim Turner, St. Joseph’s (Met.) (1968)

Honorable mention: Carl Budden, Rancocas Valley (1961); Steve Harris, Scotch Plains (1963); Rick Jacques, Burlington Township (1967); Bill Lyons, St. Peter’s (N.B.) (1967); Barry Middleton, Moorestown (1962); Don Morgan, Clearview (1965); Fred Rollefson, Bernards (1969); Larry Schemelia, Gloucester (1969); Tim Steele, Morris Knolls (1967); Charles Zipprich, J.P. Stevens (1968).

Coach: Fred Dwyer, Essex Catholic

1970s

Bob Amitrani, Cranford (1975)

Mike Butynes, Sterling (1971)

Kevin Byrne, Paramus Catholic (1975)

Vince Cartier, Scotch Plains (1971)

Estoquio Gonzalez, Memorial (1977)

Chris Hallinan, Bernards (1975)

Harry Kronick, Franklin (1972)

Marty Ludwikowski, Cherry Hill West (1974)

Bob Siehl, Morris Hills (1976)

Jim Smith, Haddonfield (1979)

Honorable mention: Tim Conheeney, Paramus Catholic (1972); Bill Leonard, Bergen Catholic (1977); Kevin Lundy, Long Branch (1979); Steve McDuffie, Neptune (1973); Greg Miller, Northern Highlands (1972); Kevin Molteni, Morris Catholic (1976); Greg Noll, Morris Catholic (1980); Greg Stremmel, Gateway (1973); Sal Vega, Memorial (1974); Joe Weber, Kearny (1978.)

Coach: Tom Donohue, Morris Catholic

1980s

Bill Babcock, North Hunterdon (1984)

John Carlotti, Bernards (1982)

John Coyle, Christian Brothers (1988)

Jason DiJoseph, Paul VI (1988)

Tom Fischer, Manalapan (1981)

Brad Hudson, North Hunterdon (1983)

Andy Martin, North Hunterdon (1984)

Carlos Martins, Newark East Side (1986)

Mike Mykytok, Bound Brook (1988)

Cliff Sheehan, Westfield (1980)

Honorable mention: Bill Barrett, Christian Brothers (1984); Ron Faith, Paul VI (1985); Ken Flynn, Ramsey (1989); Carlos Hanze, Newark Central (1981); John Hayes, Randolph (1984); Jim Herdman, Hunterdon Central (1982); Matt Mitchell, Christian Brothers (1987); Jim Nielsen, Bernards (1984); Kevin Pumphrey, Highland (1985); Urie Ridgeway, Bridgeton (1988).

Coach: Ed Mather, Bernards

1990s

Murad Campbell, Overbrook (1998)

Adam Daniels, Seton Hall Prep (1996)

Matt Elmuccio, Westfield (1996)

Jon Fasulo, Hunterdon Central (1998)

Brendan Heffernan, North Hunterdon (1992)

Bob Keino, Ridgewood (1993)

Rich Morris, Jackson (1992)

Chris Robinson, North Hunterdon (1995)

Steve Slattery, Mount Olive (1997)

Bryan Spoonire, Asbury Park (1990)

Honorable Mention: Eamon Blanchard, Lacey (1994); Tony Barroco, Kearny (1993); Tom DelSordo, Morristown (1997); Ian Hahn, Manchester Township (1997); Nate Miller, Highland (1998); Roger Munoz, Kearny (1996); Terence Fagan, Point Pleasant Boro (1992); Rob Reeder, Northern Highlands (1991); Tim Styler, Cranford (1998); Brian Walsh, Chatham (1991).

Coach: Tom Heath,

Andrew Valmon, Shelley Mitchell, Jasmin Jones, Dawn Bowles, Kelly McDonnell, Autumn Fogg, Jodie Bilotta, Janet Smith to name a few...

The Century's Best -- Girls XC

The Top 10 Runners

10/24/99

The Century's Best -- Girls XC

The Top 10 Runners

10/24/99

Jodie Bilotta

North Hunterdon

Final season: 1987

Monal Chokshi

Bridgewater-West

Final season: 1992

Christi Constantin

Kittatinny

Final season: 1988

Ann Gladue

Bayley-Ellard

Final season: 1979

Theresa Gschwind

Summit

Final season: 1981

Cate Guiney

Middletown South

Final season: 1998

Key statistics: Last fall, Guiney became just the fourth girl to run under 18 minutes at Holmdel Park, a feat she accomplished twice; won the Meet of Champions, took third in the Northeast Regional and placed seventh at the Foot Locker Nationals.

Summary: Last March, Guiney set the state indoor two-mile record (10:27.20) and anchored Middletown South to the distance medley title at the National Scholastic Championships in Boston. She’s now a freshman at Boston College and the No. 1 runner on the team.

Hilary Noden

Hopewell Valley

Final season: 1975

Michelle Rowen

Washington

Final season: 1982

Janet Smith

J.P. Stevens

Final season: 1983

Key statistics: In 1983, Smith set the still-existing Holmdel Park course record (17:36.0), won her third Meet of Champions title and captured the Kinney National Championship. She’s the only New Jersey girl to win the national title.

Summary: A 10-time All-America in cross-country and indoor and outdoor track at North Carolina State, Smith finished in the top 10 three times in the NCAA cross-country championships. She lives in Mount Prospect, Ill., with her husband, son and daughter and runs a running camp.

Meg Waldron

Bernards

Final season: 1982

John Coyle, Jason DiJoseph and Mike Mykytok, those guys made for some good races back when I was in high school. Then there was Bryan Spoonire breathing down there necks. That brings back some good memories.

The Century's Best -- Girls XC

Runner of the Century

10/24/99

On the surface, it seemed like an ordinary race among kids in a schoolyard. But for Janet Smith, it signified far more than that.

It was 1973, and Smith was a 7-year-old second grader at St. Francis in Metuchen, a grammar school from grades 1-8. She remembers it as if it were yesterday.

"It was the first race I ever ran. It was maybe a half-mile against other kids in my class," Smith said. "There was a big girl standing next to me and she told me that if I started next to her she would knock me down. As soon as the race started, she tripped me and stepped on my back."

Smith could have just stayed on the ground, licking her wounds. But she would have none of that.

"I got right up," she said. "I was determined to beat her. "There was no way I was going to let her finish ahead of me."

Smith beat that schoolyard bully on that day - and a lot of other runners since.

"I knew at that point that I wanted to keep running," she said. "I didn't know where it would take me, but I wanted to find out."

Ten years later, it took her to the top of the high school running world.

As a senior at J.P. Stevens in Edison in 1983, Smith completed the greatest high school cross-country career ever for a New Jersey girl. That fall, she won her third NJSIAA Meet of Champions title, set a Holmdel Park course record (17:35.0) that still exists, ran the third-fastest time (17:08.1) at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, N.Y., when she won the Kinney Northeast Regional race and won the Kinney national cross-country title. She's the only New Jersey female to win the national title.

"All my accomplishments mean so much more to me now," she said. "When you're in the moment, you don't think about your place in history or anything like that. But now, 16 years later, I look back and am so grateful for what running did for me."

Smith did hit a couple of speed bumps along the way.

After winning the Meet of Champions as a freshman and sophomore, everyone assumed Smith would win as a junior. But she was upset by Michelle Rowen of Washington Township in Gloucester County, who broke Smith's year-old course mark by winning in 17:40. Smith was second. Rowen was the only New Jersey girl ever to beat Smith in high school.

"I felt so much pressure in that race," Smith said. "I had won the last two titles and was fifth in the nation as a sophomore. But running just wasn't fun that year."

Smith ended that season by finishing fifth in the national meet for the second straight year.

"That was a huge disappointment," she said. "Between that and losing the state meet and losing my course record at Holmdel, it was a very pivotal time for me. I never wanted to feel that way again. I vowed to come back and win nationals the next year and break the Holmdel record."

Smith motivated herself for her senior season by putting a picture of 1982 national champion Christine Curtin of Bellmore, N.Y., on her ceiling. Smith blew away Curtin at the Eastern meet in October, 1983, and the stage was set for the rest of the season.

Smith went on to a great career at North Carolina State, earning All-America honors in cross-country and indoor and outdoor track an overall total of 10 times. Her biggest moment came when she placed 23rd at the 1987 World Cross-Country Championships to give the U.S. a narrow victory over Russia for the team title, the last time the U.S. women won a world championship in cross-country.

Now 33 and Janet Leet, she lives in Mt. Prospect, Ill., with her husband, a son and a daughter. She runs a running camp -- and the memories of her career fresh in her mind.

"My finish at the worlds in 1987 and winning the Kinney Foot Locker championship in cross-country are the two best moments of my career," she said. "Sometimes I wish I had accomplished more, but at least I have those two things and nobody can ever take them away from me."

Ed Moran - 13:25

Mike Butynes....weird dude, I heard a story that he wanted to race Carlotti in the mile- but Carlotti lined up for the double, obviously dodging Carlotti because he's from South Jersey.- Butynes ran down from the bleachers, no warmup, and made Carlotti look like a fat girl on fire. A true SJ legend, as was Al Tanner, the Coach Mathers of Southern NJ, his Haddon Twp teams were among the best in America, 3 practices a day, close to breakin 17 in the 4 by. Mike Elder ran 4:07 there. Of course, in modern times, the only true distance running tradition in NJ is Mainland. An area known for manish children and childish men. You have to be over 6'4" to even TRY OUT for the cross country team. I myself graduated from Mainland...and had two divorces by the time I graduated high school. We shave our heads to conceal male pattern baldness.

[quote]Waytonk wrote:

Mike Butynes....weird dude, I heard a story that he wanted to race Carlotti in the mile- but Carlotti lined up for the double, obviously dodging Carlotti because he's from South Jersey.- Butynes ran down from the bleachers, no warmup, and made Carlotti look like a fat girl on fire.

...I made an oooops that was Vince Cartier....not Carlotti- sorry Grote. ISU 72, IU 67.

Grote,

any idea how was it that Sullivan ran such a monster 1200 leg when his mile PR must have been over 4:20 and he did nothing that noteworthy in the 880. What happened to him that day at Franklin Field?

Waytonk wrote:

...I made an oooops that was Vince Cartier....not Carlotti- sorry Grote. ISU 72, IU 67.

I'd speculate your story isn't true. Both Cartier and Butynes were NJ legends, that's true; however, both graduated a decade before Carlotti.

Matt Downin is currently one of the 5-10 best Americans at 10k-marathon.

Joe LeMay is from NJ (now lives in CT), and ran for Princeton. He ran a 28 flat at Crescent City, which at the time was one of the ten fastest 10k's an American had ever run. He just missed the '96 (10000m) and 2000 (marathon) Olympic teams, both times on somewhat controversial qualification technicalities, as I recall. He's retired from serious competition, but still wins some local road races in his area.

Whe the 'boro (Willinbro) ran the identical time Bernards did with a great anchor by Vance Watson their 1200 guy was out- replaced by a 400 guy who'd never run the 800 before. Guy ran 3:07 and went stride to stride with the Bernards guy...someone ask me the Fred Sharpe story....go 'head.

rob leder wrote:

Matt Downin is currently one of the 5-10 best Americans at 10k-marathon.

Joe LeMay is from NJ (now lives in CT), and ran for Princeton. He ran a 28 flat at Crescent City, which at the time was one of the ten fastest 10k's an American had ever run. He just missed the '96 (10000m) and 2000 (marathon) Olympic teams, both times on somewhat controversial qualification technicalities, as I recall. He's retired from serious competition, but still wins some local road races in his area.

....they're not FROM Jersey.

Joe LeMay is from Ridgewood

MALMO- you must've been summering your mind with hard 200's and more, more, and more running, Carlotti was a mistake- I meant Cartier.

waytonk wrote:

MALMO- you must've been summering your mind with hard 200's and more, more, and more running, Carlotti was a mistake- I meant Cartier.

Good to hear that 'da Wayton boyz iz alives and well!

PS Don't do hard 200s in the Summer.

waytonk wrote:

MALMO- you must've been summering your mind with hard 200's and more, more, and more running, Carlotti was a mistake- I meant Cartier.

BTW, I can verify the veracity of your account if you wish? Vince has lurked here in the past.

I can verify the veracity of your account if you wish? Vince has lurked here in the past.[/quote]

...so does Butynes...ahahahahah