Kari Vigerstol has never run well early in the cross-country season.
To Vigerstol - and her Holy Cross teammates - it's not how you start, it's how you finish.
"Everybody at the beginning of the season looks at the results and says Holy Cross must be down this season," said coach Mike Gould.
"During the dual-meet season, we don't place much emphasis on who wins. By the state meet, we look for considerable improvement from our runners. So far, it's been relatively successful."
That must mean that Vigerstol is about to turn in a good performance Saturday. The junior captured the NJSIAA Parochial A title last Saturday on the 3.1-mile course at Holmdel Park in 19 minutes, 43 seconds. This Saturday, the Meet of Champions - a race involving the top finishers in each of the six groups - will be held at the same location.
"We think Kari's best race is in front of her," Gould said. "We're looking forward to Saturday. She wasn't really pushed. We're looking for her to run considerably better this week.
"She's been excellent in practice."
Vigerstol, who placed second in the same meet last season, agrees.
"I don't think I've run my best race yet," she said.
Teammate Michelle Dippolito also should improve on her time of 20:35 last weekend. Gould, who is completing his eighth season as cross-country coach, sometimes gets raised eyebrows for his coaching methods.
"We don't want the kids peaking in September or early October and have nothing left for the end of the season," Gould said. "The nature of the season is to win the state championship. That's the goal. We don't push the kids early."
"I like starting out slower and peaking," Vigerstol said. "I feel really confident."
Vigerstol, who also swims for the Lancers, went to Holy Cross after spending her freshman year in Rhode Island. Vigerstol's swimming schedule
keeps her from training
like most distance runners. She doesn't even begin to train for cross-country until late summer.
"She's right on schedule again," Gould said. "We consider the last three weeks of the season as our focus."
Vigerstol's main competition is expected to come from Ridgewood High's Jenna Rogers.
"All we're working on now is speed, speed, speed," Gouldsaid. "If she's on Jenna, she will outkick her. She's a real strong closer. She has incredible speed."
