Boys Cross Country | 11/15/2023 1:55:00 PM

Union Catholic held a college signing day ceremony for eight student athletes on Wednesday at the school.

Here are bios on each one-  
 
A big motor, a passion for the sport and a great work ethic have combined to make Jimmy the greatest distance runner in Vikings history and one of the best ever in Union County.

Jimmy owns two state sophomore class records, has run on two national titles on relays, has captured five county titles, one Meet of Champions title, and owns two school records.

As a sophomore, Jimmy anchored the state record tying 4 by mile team that finished first at the New Balance National Championships, and led off the distance medley relay that finished first at the 2022 Penn Relays.  

Also at the 2022 New Balance Nationals, Jimmy ran a state sophomore record 8:56.41 when he placed fourth in the 2 mile to earn All-American honors, and ran a Union County record 4:09.90 for the mile. 

In cross-country, Jimmy helped Union Catholic win its first Meet of Champions title in 2022 when he ran a sophomore course record 15:35 to finish fifth, and he ran 15:22 as a junior at Holmdel Park, which tied the Union County record.  

This fall, Jimmy has burned up the trails winning the Union County Conference title and smashing the course record when he ran 15:12 to win the Union County Championship to spark the Vikings to the team title.

Jimmy will be attending the University of Virginia.
  The greatest 800 runner and miler in school history and one of the best cross-country runners ever for the Vikings, Peyton has racked up numerous state and national titles in her illustrious career.

Last winter, Peyton won the 800 at the Meet of Champions.

In the spring, Peyton was named MVP at the Penn Relays after anchoring the Vikings to a state record victory and U.S. No. 2 all-time performance in the 4 by 800 relay. She also ran anchor when the Vikings won their second straight New Balance National title in the 4x800.

Peyton, who possesses a rare blend of speed and endurance, showcased her distance running talent this fall by winning her second straight Union County Cross-Country title, and this past Saturday she placed 8th at the Meet of Champions to help lead Union Catholic, ranked No. 1 in the state, to the greatest performance in New Jersey history when the Vikings won their second straight title.   
A blue collar work ethic and a high octane engine have mixed together to help Courtney blossom into one of the best distance runners in the state and one of the greatest to ever wear a Union Catholic singlet.

This past Saturday, Courtney dropped a course personal best of 18:17 to finish fourth at the Meet of Champions to ignite the Vikings, ranked No. 1 in the state, to its second straight title and a historic course record average performance.

Courtney also finished second at the State Non-Public A Championships, second at the Union County Conference Championships and third at the Union County Championships to spark the undefeated Vikings to victories.   

On the track, Courtney set the school junior class records in the 3,200 indoors and outdoors last year and finished second at the Union County indoor championships and fourth at the State Non-Public A outdoor Championships in the 3,200.   

Courtney will be attending the University of Pennsylvania  
Combining a fierce competitiveness, a powerful presence at the net, and great leadership, Haiden put together a sensational volleyball career at Union Catholic.

A four-year starter who served as a captain this year, Haiden led the team in kills this season with 261 and helped lead the Vikings to 21 victories, a runner-up finish in the Union County Championships and a berth in the semifinal round of the State Non-Public A Championships.
Haiden, who also finished with 48 service points, 15 aces, 35 digs and 23 blocks, registered double digit kills in 14 matches this season, including a career-high 17 in a victory over Elizabeth.

For all of her great accomplishments, Haiden was named First Team All Union County and All Union County Conference this past season.      

Haiden will be attending Binghamton University   
Blending a tenacious style along with powerful and quick strokes, Brooke has made a huge splash in her career as one of the best freestyle swimmers to ever represent Union Catholic in the pool.  

As a junior last year, Brooke was a huge key to leading the Vikings to one of its biggest victories in school history when she swam on the winning 4x400 in the final event of the meet to clinch a dramatic victory over Bishop Eustace in the semifinals of the State Non-Public B Championships. 

Brooke also swam on the runner-up 200 free relay, was third in the 200 freestyle, and fifth in the 50 free as the Vikings advanced to the state final for the first time ever as a co-ed team and extended its streak to 19 straight dual meet victories. 

During Brooke's magical career, she also swam on the Vikings 200 free relay that swam a school record 1:40.40 to place fourth at the 2023 Union County Championships where she also placed seventh in the 50 free, and was on the second-place 400 relay.

Brooke will be attending Sacred Heart University One of the greatest horizontal jumpers in school history, Vonya was one of the state's biggest breakout stars last spring when she exploded for a school junior class record 19 feet on her final attempt to win the long jump at the State Non-Public A Championships. That was the third best jump in the state during the season.  
A versatile star, Vonya also placed second in the triple jump and sixth in the 400 hurdles at the State Non-Public A Championships to help lead the Vikings to its state record tying 8th straight title.
Vonya's all-round skills were also on full display when she finished third in the triple jump, fourth in the long jump, and fifth in the 400 hurdles at the Union County Championships.

During Vonya's sensational career as a Viking, the track and field team hasn't lost a meet, indoors or outdoors. 

Vonya will be attending Monmouth University
 
A hard-nosed, highly skilled midfielder who combines great field vision and a powerful strike with either foot, Kate was a model of consistency on the soccer pitch for the Vikings during her memorable career.

As a junior last year, Kate led the team in scoring with eight goals, highlighted by a hat trick to spark the Vikings to a 3-2 win over St. Thomas Aquinas. Kate also assisted on the game winning goal when the Vikings defeated Dayton in the opening round of the 2022 Union County Tournament. 

For her great achievements, Kate was chosen to the Union County Conference's All Mountain Division All Star Team.

Although Kate was sidelined by injury this past season, her strong commitment to the soccer program remained as strong as ever as she made her presence felt with her great leadership qualities and enthusiastic spirit.

Kate will be attending Gettysburg College 
Great athleticism, a strong will and explosive speed enabled Leah to add herself to the Vikings legacy of great sprinters and hurdlers with several eye-popping performances.

Last winter, ran a leg on the shuttle hurdle relay when the Vikings captured the national title at the New Balance National Indoor Championships last March in Boston. 

During the outdoor season last spring, Leah ran a big leg for the Vikings when they blasted a Union County record 46.40 in the 4x100 relay to finish first at the State Non-Public A Championships. That time is No. 5 in NJ history and a new Union County record. 

Also at the State Non-Public A Championships, Leah finished second in the 200 to help fuel the Vikings to its state record-tying eighth straight team title.

During Leah's sparkling career, the Vikings never lost a single meet, indoors or outdoors.     

Leah will be attending The College of William & Mary