HOWELL – Michael Card of Howell High School has captured the first place title at this year’s Monmouth County Cross-Country Championships at Holmdel Park.
First place isn’t the only title Michael took home that day, as he’s the first boy in Howell High School history to achieve first place at this race.
Michael, a junior, has been running cross-country since middle school.
“Getting into high school, I started taking it to the next level,” Michael said.
However, in his freshman year, tragedy stuck when he suffered a stress fracture in his leg during a race.
“My freshman year, I had a stress fracture mid-season. That took so long to heal. It took a good five months before I really got back into any running,” Michael said.
Just when he was ready to redeem himself as a sophomore, the following year he suffered a second injury.
“Going into my sophomore year, I had a hip fracture, and that took me right out of my cross-country season. I really wasn’t back out on the track again until about winter last year. That’s when I really got back into the miles and hard work-outs,” Michael said.
Despite these obstacles, Michael competed against nearly 200 students at the Monmouth County Championships and came out on top with a winning time of 16:19.
“It was a long process but it really paid off this year. It was really cool to see all my hard work from the last year now pay off into the season,” Michael said.
“Definitely a very special moment in my cross-country career. There were a lot of talented kids in that race. So, I just made my move at the right opportunity and ended up on top. It was such a full circle, successful moment,” Michael added.
In high school, the cross-country season takes place in the fall. Each student runs a 5K, 3.1 miles.
After the Monmouth County Championship, Michael went on to place third at the NJSIAA Sectionals – Central.
“Two years ago, he broke a bone in his leg during one of the races. Last year when the season got going, he had a stress fracture in his hip. Coming back this year as a junior, he did an unbelievable job,” Howell High School Boy’s Cross-Country Coach John Gagliano said. “Since 1964, we’ve never had a County Champ and he’s our first. There’s a good number of schools in Monmouth County, to win that and to be the fastest runner in the County, it’s a great accomplishment.”
“As a coach, super proud of him. Just his work ethic and his dedication. He competes to be the best. I’m just so proud of him,” Gagliano added.
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