A winter run with Egg Harbor Township HS cross country coach Joe Lucchio
EGG HARBOR, N.J. — The Egg Harbor Township High School boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams logged a lot of miles in the fall. Spring season will bring the talent out on the track again, but these dedicated athletes are working hard through the winter months as well on the high school’s winter track team.
Head Coach Joe Lucchio said the boys’ team has about 95 members, and the girls’ numbers are similar.
“It gets cold, but we are out there running on the track and across the school campus. When it gets really cold out, we don’t stop practicing; we just find another way. Our kids will run the hallways at the high school. The kids who are really dedicated will always find a way to keep getting better,” said Lucchio. The winter track teams practice five days a week. The girls’ are coached by Erika Vazquez.
Unlike cross-country, where the runners will do distance running on a course rather than a track, the winter season brings the kids to the track. They will run sprints, distances, hurdles, and relays. There are also strength events like shot put, high jump, and pole vault.
The coach explained, the athletes earn points for their team by the order they finish, amassing team points. “In the close meets, it always comes down to the relay race. It is the 4 x 400-meter relay, and each runner completes one leg of the race. It is really an exciting end to the meet,” said Lucchio.
The all-important aspect of that race is the passing of the baton from one runner as he or she completes the leg of the race and hands the baton to the runner who will complete the next leg. “The passing of the baton takes a lot of practice and muscle memory. We try to help the runners gain a repertoire so that it is as automatic as possible, said Lucchio. “The runners can be like clockwork and crushing it, but if the baton drops, and it happens, their race is over.”
While almost every school has a track to run on and a course for the cross-country runners, in winter track, one of the toughest things is securing a place for the athletes to compete. The closest facility is the John Bennett Center, coined “the Bubble” in Tom’s River. They also compete on a banked track on Staten Island. Lucchio said the banked track stands out because it is faster than a standard flat track. The eastern state meets are held at a facility in the Bronx.
“It is a real commitment on the part of our athletes. Some of these meets are really far, and it’s a long day by the time we get home. Winter track is a varsity-only sport. We can only take 30 kids to a meet. There might be a few JV meets that will allow us to have some of our younger kids compete. But for the most part, we are able to take only two or three kids per event, so everybody will get at least one opportunity to compete in a big meet,” said the coach.
The high school program benefits from great feeder programs, according to the coach. Both the Alder and Fernwood middle schools have great track and cross-country programs. There is also a running club in the township’s recreation department since Lucchio began it in 2013. “We are really fortunate to have nurtured so many kids in the program. When they get to high school, they are really looking forward and ready to be a part of the team,” said the coach.
Some of the standout athletes returning to the winter track program include Michael Simeon. Lucchio said he is one of the top shot putters in the state with a throw of more than 55’. Christopher Manzo is one of New Jersey’s top 800-meter runners. In the relay, look for Chase Mazur, Christopher Manzo, and Amir Halim to be right up there. They will add a new runner to take the place of recent graduate Ryan Taylor and are looking forward to being a very strong foursome this season. In the pole vault, Senior Matt Robinson qualified for the state meet as a junior and has a goal of returning to championship form in his final year with the Eagles.
Look for the EHTHS Eagles to fly high this season. They will be aiming to be among the sports’ most elite athletes competing for medals at the Meet of Champions on Sunday, March 3, on Staten Island.
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