Local youth team looking to expand its presence

BY COLLEEN LUTOLF
Staff Writer

The Crimson Knights are looking for a few new recruits. The youth cross-country team that acts as a feeder program mostly for parochial high schools is interested in piquing the interest of Woodbridge public school kids to join their championship team.

The Crimson Knights, sponsored by the St. James Knights of Columbus, Woodbridge, are comprised of first- through eighth-grade cross-country runners from St. James School in Woodbridge and St. John Vianney School in Colonia.

Members of the team also attend of Our Lady of Peace, Fords and some Woodbridge public schools.

But, head coaches Ben Campbell and Bob Peters say there aren’t enough runners. The team, which began with only 10 runners 12 years ago, now has 45 members, but Campbell sees the potential for a larger team.

"We should have a squad of at least 100 kids," Campbell said. "There are 200 plus kids on the Old Bridge feeder team."

Peters and Campbell hope the recent win at the state championships for the Knights’ 13- and 14-year-old boys division will attract more runners.

T.J. Puff, 13; Matthew Jensen, 14; Ryan Kappy, 14; Sean Naughton, 13; and Tim Miller, 13; were the five-man team who took home the title in the 4,000-meter race at the United States of America Track and Field (USATF) NJ Association Championship on Nov. 2 at Stockton State University, Pamona.

Although the Knights annually attend national meets, this is the first time the team has won a state championship.

A win is determined by averaging the times of each team member, Peters said. The win was especially savored by the boys because they are a five-member team and they had competed against teams with as many as seven members.

"The boys worked really hard and did an awesome job," Peters said. "To go against a team of seven as opposed to five, that’s really good."

The boys, who all run spring track at their schools, said they like cross-country because of the varied terrain and all the traveling they do.

For instance, this year’s national championships took place in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Seven members of the team, boys and girls ranging from fifth to eighth grade, were able to attend the national meet.

"I’ve been doing it so long, I just enjoy going all over and running in different places," Jensen, who’s been on the team since he was a kindergartner, said.

"It’s a challenge," Samantha Peters, 13, said of cross-country running. "You run up hills and it’s a different atmosphere."

"It’s better because you don’t just run in circles," said 13-year-old Elizabeth Campbell.

The team practices in parks throughout the area, like Merrill and William Warren Parks in Woodbridge and Roosevelt Park in Edison, Campbell said. The ultimate training ground though, Peters said, is in Holmdel Park, Holmdel.

"It’s a lot of fun to race in Holmdel," Peters said. "It’s really one of the prime places to train because of the hills and the terrain. It’s all off-road."

Holmdel Park also hosts most cross-country meets for high schools as well, Peters said. So, training the younger kids there helps them become acclimated to the course at an early age.

Peters said he wants more recruits to defend the team’s state title.

But Christopher Fernandes, a seven-year-old on the Knights, only has one reason to be on the team.

"It’s fun," he said.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Crimson Knights can call Ben Campbell at 732-500-7107.