If there was ever doubt on whether or not DJ Principe could contend with the nation's best this season, it might have been put to rest on Saturday.
The La Salle Academy senior not only defended his title at the Bowdoin X-C Classic in Wappinger Falls, N.Y., he did it in record-breaking fashion. Running on the challenging five-kilometer terrain of Bowdoin Park, site of the Nike Cross Nationals Northeast Regionals in late November, Principe sizzled to a winning time of 15 minutes, 23.3 seconds in the Varsity Div. 2 race. The Ram standout broke the 2012 mark of 15:27.0, set by Nick Ryan of Fayetteville Manlius at the NXN New York Regionals. Just how dominant was Principe's effort? Look at this stat! The next fastest time of the day belonged to his runner-up, Rey Rivera of Old Bridge (NJ), who was timed in 16:06.6. Elliot Grind of Ocean Township (NJ) won the Div. 1 race at 16:08.1. Principe currently ranks No. 4 in the country with his winning time of 15:00.35 from the Injury Fund Carnival in early September.
As a team, the Rams finished fourth overall at Bowdoin with 109 points,. Colts Neck (NJ) captured the plaque with 68 points. La Salle's promising new freshman Max DiMuccio was ninth overall in 16:38.8.