Ocean’s Gindi number one runner statewide triumphant at NJSIAA Meet of Champions By Skip Pierce

Elliot Gindi has been on a streak. In recent weeks the Spartan senior cross country star has won every major post season championship, garnering gold at the Monmouth County championship, Shore Conference championship, Central Jersey State Sectionals and Group 3 championship.

This Saturday past he achieved the ultimate goal capturing the title at the 45th annual NJSIAA

Elliot Gindi winning the Meet of Champions

(MOC) over an elite field of sectional, group and conference champions to earn the distinction of being the number one runner statewide.

In the early going Gindi was satisfied to hold the fourth spot just behind Jordan Brannan of Colts Neck as the pair of Monmouth County constituents stalked the leaders, Matt Grossman of Millburn and Princetonís Alex Roth. Two-thirds into the race Brannan made a bold move and overtook the front runners but failed to shake off Gindi who went right with him. The duo ran in lockstep until they emerged from the wood line of the Holmdel course. At this point Gindi broke into a sprint and drew away uncontested raising his arms in victory in an early celebration with 100 meters remaining.

Gindi won the race clocked at 15:45 with local rival Jordan Brannan of Colts Neck finishing second timed at 15:51. Immediately following across the line were the pacesetters Roth (15:54) and Grossman (15:55). Completing the top ten finishers were David Rosas (Don Bosco Prep – 15:58), Jack Shea (Cherokee – 15:58), Billy Byrne (Ridgewood – 16:04), Devin Hart (Point Pleasant Boro – 16:09), Genaro Anzalone (Christian Brothers Academy – 16:11) and William Hare (Princeton – 16:12).

Gindi took the starting line as the reining overall Group 3 champion and the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 3 Sectional champion. The Ocean runner claimed the Group 3 championship exactly one week earlier. Here he edged Millburnís Matt Grossman by mere inches as the two shared the same clocking of 15:27. Jordan Brannan of Colts Neck, who has been chasing Gindi over the fall season, took the third spot stopping the timer at 15:36.

Preceding that Gindi led the Spartans to claim the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 3 State Sectional team title on November 5 at Thompson Park in Jamesburg. Elliot won the individual crown with a 15:37 time to easily defeat Brickís Damien Dilcher (16:17.00) by 40 seconds. Ocean placed four runners in the first ten positions and topped the board with a winning low score of 34 points to turn away closest competitors Moorestown (64) and Allentown (95). Scoring for the Spartans were Dan Dombrowiecki (sixth), Matt D’Auria (seventh), James Hoffman (ninth) and senior co-captain Ben Miller (eleventh). Tom D’Auria and freshman Matt Frabizio completed the victorious Ocean contingent.

Last spring Jordan Brannan laid claim to the title of best distance runner in NJ when he won the 3200 event at the state track and field finals. During the fall cross country campaign Gindi has relegated Brannan to the status of bridesmaid as the Colts Neck harrier has turned in several runner up performances. Before finishing second to Gindi here at the MOC he finished second at the Shore Conference and Monmouth County championships and third to Gindi at the Group 3 championships. The rivalry has been extremely close with Gindi winning by one second at the Shore Conference and both runners sharing the same clocking at the Monmouth County race.

Ocean cross country coach Mark Desomma said of Gindi, “Elliot has amazing enthusiasm for the sport. He has fun when he runs. He loves to race and the larger the event and the better the runners, the more he enjoys the competition and challenge.

He openly shares his joy and excitement by expressing his emotions as can be seen in some of the photos and videos of his finishes. Elliot has no limits! He finished the MOC race with more in the tank.”