History at Greystone. The Montville girls won the Large School team championship at the NJAC cross country championships on Tuesday — the first conference team title in program history.
Team championships in cross country are the purest team prize in sports, because no single star can win one alone: five runners score, and every place matters. Led by Gabriella Pelov at the front, Montville's pack did what championship packs do — they ran together, stacked their finishes, and rose above a deep large-school field to take a title no Montville girls team had ever taken before.
The individual race went to Mount Olive's Kendall Pizzirusso, but the day's biggest prize — the team trophy — went home with the Mustangs. It was that kind of afternoon at Greystone, with Morris County programs shining across the meet: Mountain Lakes won the girls small-school title, Mendham took the boys large-school crown, and Kinnelon defended its boys small-school title.
For Montville, though, this one stands alone. First-time champions do not happen by accident — they happen when a whole roster decides a season will be different. This one will be remembered for a long time.
Stars of the Game: Gabriella Pelov, the Frontrunner, who led the charge into the history books. And the full Montville pack — the History Makers — champions together, for the very first time.
Game details compiled from published box scores.