On Saturday, Oct. 13, alumni who donned the blue and white singlets years ago as members of the Jesuit cross country (CC) team, came together to celebrate their bond with today’s program. The Jays met at the City Park course, first to cheer on the current runners in the city-wide Allstate Sugar Bowl Cross Country Classic and then to enjoy a reception at which they caught up with each other and met the team of 2018. The team finished ninth of 28 teams.

View the Photo Gallery from the 2018 Cross Country Alumni Homecoming

Mike Monahan ’92 was the driving force behind the morning event that drew 30-plus alums and their families back home. As with all niche reunions, the event was co-sponsored by Jesuit’s advancement office, which provided chicken tenders and refreshments, and the current program, which gave each registrant a “Jesuit Cross Country Alumnus” t-shirt. Organized by team mom Amber DiMaggio, the parents of the today’s team completed the food offerings with jambalaya by Mike Lavie ’80 and numerous side dishes and desserts. Notable in the group were Jeff Hartlage ’79, senior CC alum at the event, Felix Rabito ’80, sporting his cross country letterman sweater (in 80-degree weather), and former coach and Jesuit teacher Warren Bernard.

After a group photo, alumni director Mat Grau ’68, himself a former CC coach, called all attendees together to hear about the past, the present, and the future of the program. Hartlage surprised Coach Grau with an inspirational story of the “most disappointing experience” of his life (finishing 11th in the district meet his senior year) and the comfort afforded him by his team. After talks by athletic director Dave Moreau and head coach Rudy Horvath ’86, former runner Andre Harrell ’86 led all assembled in a heartfelt singing of the Alma Mater.

Indeed, Blue Jay Spirit was running high at the very first Cross Country Alumni Homecoming. 

Through the Lens…

Freshman Morgan Hebert, who placed 34th out of 200 runners, finished first for the Jays with a time of 17:03.67.

View the Photo Gallery of the 2018 Allstate Sugar Bowl Cross Country Classic

By the Numbers…

Team Results (Top 10 + Local 5A Schools)

1 Vestavia Hills HS 55 2+4+8+14+27 (39+60) 1:33 1-5 Split | 16:00 Avg
2 Brother Martin 79 1+6+18+23+31 (43+48) 2:08 1-5 Split | 16:09 Avg
3 St. Paul’s School 94 7+12+22+24+29 (30+33) 1:00 1-5 Split | 16:27 Avg
4 Ocean Springs High School 135 11+20+21+36+47 (54+59) 1:15 1-5 Split | 16:46 Avg
5 Fontainebleau 181 5+28+40+52+56 (97+104) 1:53 1-5 Split | 16:58 Avg
6 Holy Cross 192 9+17+46+53+67 (86+100) 1:46 1-5 Split | 17:02 Avg
7 St. George’s Independent School 210 19+32+38+41+80 (92+130) 1:39 1-5 Split | 17:13 Avg
8 E.D. White 237 10+13+55+75+84 (98+154) 2:07 1-5 Split | 17:12 Avg
9 Jesuit 259 34+42+57+61+65 (71+76) 0:43 1-5 Split | 17:28 Avg
10 Belle Chasse 260 3+35+44+87+91 (119) 3:00 1-5 Split | 17:21 Avg
11 Mandeville 314 37+51+68+77+81 (82+96) 0:59 1-5 Split | 17:45 Avg
12 John Curtis 316 15+58+64+70+109 (126) 2:30 1-5 Split | 17:42 Avg
16 Archbishop Rummel 442 49+66+79+117+131 (148+163) 2:14 1-5 Split | 18:26 Avg
17 Archbishop Shaw 522 74+85+111+113+139 (157) 2:11 1-5 Split | 18:51 Avg
19 Hahnville 539 63+89+121+128+138 (147+158) 2:31 1-5 Split | 19:03 Avg
20 Vandebilt Catholic 545 25+110+132+135+143 (151+169) 3:36 1-5 Split | 19:10 Avg
25 Chalmette 673 118+120+129+145+161 (167+168) 2:29 1-5 Split | 19:59 Avg

In His Words…

“I’m proud of our boys for putting in the work to improve as runners,” said head cross country coach Rudy Horvath. “We have a lot of young runners who get better each week as we prepare for the big races coming this season.”

On the Horizon…

Jesuit will participate in the Jack Schommer Invitational, hosted by Brother Martin, on Saturday, Oct. 20, although the team’s top runners will sit that one out in advance of the district championship, to be held on Thursday, Oct. 25. Both races are at the City Park course.

Read More…

LA.MileSplit.com | Full Results – Allstate Sugar Bowl CC Classic