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Sports

Cross Country: LHS Celebrates Another Big Year

Elkaim, Fogarty lead team to undefeated season and conference crown.

The Livingston boys cross country team was in the headlines this past fall season, but not just for winning the program's first-ever conference championship.

The Lancers went undefeated 17-0 in the dual meet season and took home the Super Essex Conference American division title, the toughest division in the league. It gave the program a 31-0 record in dual meets over the last two seasons.

Livingston head coach Dave Czeizinger said the best meet his team ran was winning the SEC American title. "We had just run against some of the same teams and then we had to go back against them to cap off our season," said Czeizinger. "We had the target on our back and still pulled it off."

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The week before the Lancers had defeated the best competition in Seton Hall Prep and Millburn in dual meets.

"At the SEC Championships, once again the resolve of every boy was shown as the Lancers knew everyone would be gunning to take them down," said Czeizinger. "They responded to the challenge and brought home their first-ever conference championship."

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In addition to the team victories, several Lancers received postseason honors —  including first team SEC All-Conference honors, which were earned by senior Jeramy Elkaim, junior Nick Fogarty and senior David Coleman. Junior Kieran Tonero earned second team honors.  Junior Zach Brower received an honorable mention.

On the county level, Elkaim and Fogarty earned first team All County. Coleman and Tonero earned second team.  Elkaim took home the Group 4 North 1 State Sectional Individual and Group 4 Individual State Champion while coming in second in the Essex County meet and third in the state Meet of Champions with a time of 15:29.

For Elkaim, whose main events in the past were in outdoor track, he improved significantly in cross country this season. "I think he was always the fastest," said Czeizinger. "He has just improved in his racing in the sport."

Czeizinger added Elkaim, who made the Nike National Cross Country meet in Portland, Oregon, said the key for his success was being "patient." Elkaim will be running next fall at the University of Oregon.

In addition Elkaim was named to the All New Jersey team.

After Elkaim the next top runner was Fogarty. "He was predominately a track guy," said Czeizinger about Fogarty, who battled injuries during the 2009 season. "I think a lot of the hard work really paid off. His endurance definitely pleased me."

Fogarty came in third in the SEC American meet with a time of 16:49.7

For the other first team All SEC runner, Coleman, Czeizinger liked how he battled injuries and came on at the end of the season to help the Lancers score points including the SEC American meet where he finished ninth with a time of 17:33.6.

In the Lancer Invitational, the squad gave an impressive showing and finished second only giving ground to Mountain Lakes, one of the top-ranked teams in the state.

Also in October the boys team bested all the NJSIAA compliant teams losing only to independent St. Benedicts at the Essex County Championship meet.

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