The 2020 cross-country regular season started a month later than normal due to the COVID pandemic.  Despite being disappointed with their condensed race schedule, the team was on a hot streak through the month of October. They went 9-0 in their regular season conference races for the second straight year and won the Brett Taylor Invitational. As the harriers were gearing up for their conference championship on November 3, the team was sidelined because Seton Hall Prep closed due to a COVID outbreak.  Even though they could not practice as a team, everyone continued to train from their individual homes for the final race of the season, which was the Non-Public A North Sectional Race.

On Sunday November 15, it was race time at Garret Mountain.  Co-captain, Luke Incardona ’21, said that the varsity runners were nervous as they toed the line for the last time as a team.   As the gun went off, the muddy terrain proved no match for the SHP runners who went out of the gate strong. At the front of the race, co-captain Kevin Harvey ’21 battled against three runners from St. Peter’s Prep.  However, St. Peter’s could not hang on to Havery as he powered through the course. Harvey would end up creating a large gap and winning the race in a time of 16:16, which was the fastest time on Garret Mountain in any race that entire weekend.

The next SHP runner to cross the finish line was co-captain, Chris Gizzo ’21, who finished in seventh place with a time of 17:18.   Incardona finished in fifteenth place with a time of 17:39. Rounding out the scoring for the varsity team was  Anthony Bottino ’22, who finished with  a time of 17:48 and Ben Ferrara ’22, who finished in a time of 17:54.  Two other notable performances were achieved by T.J. Sparno ’23 who ran the course in 18:07 and Danny Collum ’22 who had a time of 18:18. The strong performances earned the team a second-place finish in the Non-Public A North Sectional Race.

The Pirates finished with a strong record this season and made a great comeback at sectionals after being forced to quarantine for two weeks.  The group is now looking forward to successful winter and spring track seasons.  We would like to congratulate them on their 2020 season and wish the team continued success next fall.