CBA and Union Catholic Excel at NJSIAA Meet of Champions
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Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) and Union Catholic delivered historic performances at the 52nd NJSIAA Meet of Champions at Holmdel Park, showcasing dominance, depth, and resilience to capture team titles.
CBA produced one of the most commanding performances in New Jersey cross-country history, scoring an incredible 16 points and placing six runners in the top 10. Senior Joe Barrett led the charge by winning his second straight individual title with a time of 15:24 to stay undefeated on the season. Barrett's performance, backed by Luke Hnatt (15:41), Ryan Schmitt (15:45), Alex Mastroly (15:47), and Gavin Schmitt (15:53), gave the Colts an astonishing 15:42 team average. This performance marked CBA's third consecutive Meet of Champions title and reinforced their position as a national powerhouse heading into the Nike Northeast Regional.
| PLACE | VIDEO | ATHLETE | TEAM | MARK | POINTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Joe Barrett | 12 | Christian Brothers Academy | 15:24.00 | 1 | |
| 2 |  Clay Stevens | 11 | Manalapan HS | 15:37.00 | ||
| 3 | Luke Hnatt | 11 | Christian Brothers Academy | 15:41.00 | 2 | |
| 4 | Ryan Schmitt | 12 | Christian Brothers Academy | 15:45.00 | 3 | |
| 5 | Alex Mastroly | 12 | Christian Brothers Academy | 15:47.00 | 4 | |
| 6 |  Jay Adimala | 11 | Colts Neck HS | 15:52.00 | 5 | |
| 7 | Gavin Schmitt | 10 | Christian Brothers Academy | 15:53.00 | 6 | |
| 8 |  Lukas Disko | 12 | Bridgewater-Raritan HS | 15:55.00 |
The Union Catholic's girls team showcased incredible resilience in the face of late-season injuries and lineup adjustments to capture their third straight title, scoring an 80-101 win over runner-up Princeton. Sophomore Paige Sheppard, who remains undefeated this season, delivered a remarkable performance, overcoming a late fall to win the individual title in 18:02, while fellow Union Catholic sophomore Cayleigh Kaiser placed fourth in 18:33. Juniors Emmy O'Hearn (32nd, 19:35 PR) and Ella Solorzano (54th, 20:01) stepped up in critical roles, and the return of sophomore Kayla Devine (57th, 20:04) provided the depth needed to secure the win.
| PLACE | VIDEO | ATHLETE | TEAM | MARK | POINTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Paige Sheppard | 10 | Union Catholic Reg. HS | 18:02.00 | 1 | |
| 2 |  Liliah Gordon | 12 | Northern Burlington Reg. HS | 18:13.00 | ||
| 3 |  Allison Lee | 11 | West Windsor-Plainsboro North HS | 18:27.00 | ||
| 4 | Cayleigh Kaiser | 10 | Union Catholic Reg. HS | 18:33.00 | 2 | |
| 5 |  Dominique Cameron | 10 | Leonia HS | 18:37.00 |
Union Catholic averaged 19:15 as a team and became just the third program in state history to win at least three straight titles, joining Red Bank Catholic and North Hunterdon. Ranked No. 1 in New Jersey and No. 7 nationally, the Vikings' depth and determination were on full display as they held off a strong challenge from Princeton.
Both teams cemented their legacies as New Jersey cross-country powerhouses, with CBA and Union Catholic setting a high bar for excellence as they look to continue their success at regional and national competitions.