Columbia High School Cross-Country Teams Shine at Sectional Championships

The Columbia High School boys' cross-country team delivered a commendable performance, securing fifth place among 16 schools at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 championships held at Greystone–Central Park in Morris Plains on Saturday, November 1.

 

Leading the charge, junior Levi Taber-Kewene clinched 14th place, completing the 5,000-meter course in 16 minutes and 44.97 seconds. His teammates followed suit: junior Julius Marshall finished 25th at 17:07.57, sophomore Nathan Simonich took 27th with 17:14.41, sophomore Thomas Walmsley placed 37th at 17:35.11, senior Leo Klint secured 40th with 17:43.36, junior Evan Waller came in 46th at 17:59.08, and sophomore Ethan Hart rounded out the team at 66th with 18:56.29.

 

This strong team effort earned the Cougars a spot in the upcoming NJSIAA Group 4 state championships at Holmdel Park on Saturday, November 8. The top five teams from the sectionals advanced to this next level of competition.

 

On the girls' side, the Columbia team narrowly missed qualification, finishing sixth overall. However, senior standout Keira Monagle shone brightly, securing fifth place with a time of 19:09.52 among 97 competitors. This impressive finish ensures her individual advancement to the Group 4 championships, as the top 15 finishers in the sectionals move forward.

 

1. Other notable performances from the girls' team include senior Kendall Waite at 21st place with 20:57.01, junior Ameli Witherspoon at 27th with 21:20.37, senior Gwendolyn Butkus at 34th with 21:32.19, sophomore Amalia Mullen at 62nd with 22:51.39, senior Ella Kohol at 67th with 23:31.47, and junior Elizabeth Leahy at 74th with 24:25.20.

 

This marks the second consecutive season that both the Columbia boys' team and Keira Monagle have qualified for the Group 4 championships, underscoring the program's consistent excellence and dedication.