GILMORE GIRL: Princeton High girls cross country runner Charlotte Gilmore displays her form on the way to finishing third individually at the Mercer County Championships last Friday at Washington Crossing Park. Gilmore’s strong performance helped PHS take fourth in the team standings at the meet. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Having emerged as the leader of the pack for the Princeton High girls’ cross country team, Charlotte Gilmore is gaining strength from numbers.

“Working as a pack has been our main focus this season and it has helped everyone,” said junior standout Gilmore.

“It has helped me individually because I know that when I pass someone, that makes it easier for the people behind me to pass them. It helps knowing that I am not just running for myself but for everyone and having that duality.”

Last Friday at the Mercer County Championships, Gilmore passed just about everybody, placing third individually in the girls’ varsity race, helping PHS take fourth in the team standings behind champion Allentown and runner-up WW/P-North and WW/P-South.

“Last year I came in 14th here, so that is exciting,” said Gilmore, who clocked a time of 19:27 over the 5,000-meter course.

“It was really cool to know from the opening to see everyone go to the front of the race and to know I am running with them.”

Running with a full squad helped PHS stay near the front of the race.

“This is the first time all season we have had all
seven on the line just because of injuries and stuff,” said Gilmore.

“So we have really been working on running as a pack; hopefully that helped us a little in the first half of the race, two and three were near me most of the time which was super helpful. I heard people cheering for them as well.”

PHS head coach Jim Smirk liked the way Gilmore ran in the county meet.

“We have been working on a race plan for her, being real consistent in the second half  and aggressive when it counted and forcing other competitors into some duress and trusting herself in doing that,” said Smirk.

“She executed that very well today; I am really happy with how she approached it. The race did go out pretty quick and she didn’t bite. She was very patient and when the opportunity showed itself, she took advantage of it. I am really happy with her effort today.”

PHS got a superb effort from freshmen Lucy Kreipke and Robin Roth as Kreipke took ninth in 20:12 while Roth placed 17th in 20:39.

“Both Lucy and Robin are definitely contributing as freshmen on varsity,” said Smirk.

“They still have a lot to learn about racing. Our veterans need to be veterans and they need to take care of that part of the team and let our rookies take some risks and take some
challenges. Our freshmen did that today; they took some big risks and they paid off for them.”

For Smirk, guiding a mix of veterans and newcomers this fall has been rewarding.

“I think it has been a really nice season working with them,” said Smirk.

“It has been a pleasure, seeing the upperclassmen lead our younger runners and just develop. The whole squad has been a pleasure this season.”

With the Central Jersey sectional meet slated for November 9 at Thompson Park in Jamesburg, Smirk will be looking for his runners to show more development.

“We have two weeks of work to do, we need to be better; we are a better team than we performed today, a lot better,” maintained Smirk.

“We will have work to do. If you want to get out of the sectional, you have got to be better. We have the talent to do it and the experience to do it. Now we have to execute.”

On the boys’ side, two of the team’s veterans executed well at the county meet as senior Nick Trenholm took 22nd in 17:03 and junior Jacob Bornstein ended up as the 25th place finisher in 17:07. PHS placed fifth in the team standings of the event won
by WW/P-North.

“Jacob continues to be an incredibly consistent performer, he just keeps cranking them out,” said Smirk. “Coming here, you have North and South in this race and you have got Liam Murphy in this race. You have some really incredible high end talent and it would be really easy to get dumped in this race. He doesn’t, he stays there and he sticks his nose in it. Nick is finally healthy for us. He is doing a great job for us, he really came on strong.”

Looking ahead to the
sectional meet, Smirk is hoping for a strong effort from his boys’ team.

“Across the board, we are happy with what they did, again we can be better,” said Smirk.

“We have two weeks to do that. We got a little loose one through five. We have to try to be a little tighter there. The pack needs to be a little better. In terms of performance, if we do that, we will be a better team and that is what we are trying to do. That is the next step for us, making sure that we are within arm’s reach of each other and honoring each other as teammates.”

Gilmore, for her part, is ready to take the next step at the sectional meet.

“It was super exciting to see all the work that we have put together,” said Gilmore.

“That is what I want to focus in going forwards; knowing that I am capable of doing stuff, like in this race having the confidence to pass people who have beaten me before.”