The Livingston High School boys’ cross country team opened its season in the Super Essex Conference on Tuesday, September 14, at Branch Brook Park in Newark.“For four consecutive Tuesdays, the Lancer squad goes against American Division foes in dual meet action,” explains coach Jim Memory. “On the fifth week, the championship meet will be held. The course is flat, with a one-mile inner loop and a 2.1 mile outer loop with a slight upgrade to the finish line.”During last week’s season opener, the Lancers were pitted against American Division rivals Millburn, Montclair and Bloomfield – “all tough opponents,” according to coach Memory.Each year, the meet opened with a mixed-gender freshman/novice twomile race. That race is followed by numerous varsity races within divisions, and the meet ends with a mixed junior varsity five kilometer race.The Lancer boys had three competitors in the two-mile race. There were 146 athletes as the gun went off. The LHS trio gave it their best and saw Noah Marcus finish in 27th place at 14:54. He was followed in by Brett Levine (15:34; 36th) and Noah Kates (16:08; 40th) .“As the varsity race went out, it was a fast and furious start,” recounted coach Memory. “Montclair and Millburn made a strong statement, powering to the front of the race of 84 harriers and creating separation quickly from most of the field. The Livingston top five were out in a pack, off the lead but running strong. At the mile mark, the two lead teams were battling hard, with about seven or eight from each team leading the way. Bloomfield also was looking to try and take the Lancers, as they had two runners in front of Livingston’s first. Kyle Viteri, Chris Bonnar, Franklin Dashman, Andrew Laveman and Max Israel went by in a close knit pack, all within a two second span working together to keep tight, finish strong and gain or hold their positions to try to get a victory.”The race proceeded to the larger second loop of the course and, noted the coach, “the boys worked to stay together and keep contact with each other as they jockeyed for position in the race. Coming up the final rise and crossing the line first for LHS was Viteri (19:50; 21st) with Dashman on his tail (19:51; 22nd).” They were followed close behind by Laveman (20:08; 24th), Israel (20:13; 25th), and Bonnar (20:31; 30th).“Their top five ...
