FAST COMPANY: Members of the Princeton high boys’ cross country team, from left, Alex Roth, Cy Watsky, and Will Hare take off in the boys’ varsity race in the Mercer County Cross Country Championships last Friday at Thompson Park in Jamesburg. Senior Roth ended up first individually with junior Hare taking second and senior Watsky placing 17th. The Little Tigers placed first overall, their first team title since 1992. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

It was a number that Will Hare couldn’t get out of his head since the 2015 Mercer County Cross Country Championships.

“Last year we lost by three points,” said Princeton High boys’ cross country junior star Hare, recalling the team’s narrow second place finish to Robbinsville. “I still know the score, 77-74.”

Last Friday in the boys’ varsity race at this year’s county meet, Hare and his teammates settled that score in resounding fashion as PHS cruised to its first team crown since 1992, taking first with 31 points, well ahead of WW/P-S, the runner-up at 60.

PHS senior star Alex Roth took the individual title, covering the 5,000-meter course at Thompson Park in Jamesburg in 15:48.87. Hare took second in 15:57.96 with sophomore Acasio Pinheiro coming in third at 16:18.74. Junior Nick Delaney took 12th in 16:43.70 with classmate Alex Ackerman right behind in 13th at 16:45.24 to round up the top five for the Little Tigers.

For Hare, being a part of that breakthrough for the program was a cause for joy.

“To be so close last year and to know that it has been 20 some odd years since we have come here and taken the title, that says something,” said a smiling Hare. “That means we are special; it means something special has happened here.”

Getting the chance for Roth to be at the front of the pack is special for Hare.

“It was all Alex, I kind of let him do all the work today; it was windy and he went out fast and then settled down nicely and strung out,” said Hare. “He set a great pace for the race; he really picks up the team. He feels he can run with anybody in the state and he is right. I am so happy for him, I am so happy for everybody on our team today.”

Noting that he ran a time of 18:55 at Thompson Park in 2014 as a freshman, Hare credited working with Roth on a daily basis as a key factor in his progress.

“Training with Roth every day, you can’t slide,” said Hare. “You always have to make sure that you are running your best and bringing the mentality that you have to do your best every day. That helps in the long run, if you are not here to crank it out, why even show up.”

PHS head coach Jim Smirk believes that the connection between Hare and Roth sets the tone for the Little Tigers.

“Will and Alex are great training partners, they trust each other on an incredibly deep level and they work really well together,” said Smirk.

“Will knows that when Alex makes a move, he can go with him. It is really nice.”

It was nice for the Little Tigers to add sophomore transfer Pinheiro. “Acasio coming over and is starting to integrate with our program and work hard, those are things that help our program get better,” said Smirk, noting that Delaney and Ackerman stepped up with outstanding performances.

In Smirk’s view, the PHS program made a statement with its win. “We fell a little short last year and we came with a new attitude,” said Smirk.

“I think what we wanted to do here was say here we are, this is our program, this is who we are.”

With PHS returning to Thompson Park to compete in the state sectional meet on November 5, Smirk wants his runners to keep showing that attitude.

“We have the same goals, we want to bring the same kind of performance,” said Smirk.

“We want to run better at sectional and set ourselves up for a good opportunity at groups. We are looking ahead to the Meet of Champions. We are going to see great teams there so we want to race well against them, that doesn’t change.”

Hare, for his part, is confident that PHS will make a great final run this fall.

“With everybody running well, that will really carry us through the sectionals and give us a lot of confidence that this process is working,” said Hare.

“I think we are pretty good. If we run our best, I don’t think anybody in the state can beat us, that is how confident I am in my team. We go out and do our best, we are definitely up there with anyone in the state.”