On Sunday, Dec. 8, senior Malissa Morabito announced her commitment to The College of New Jersey cross country and track and field. From first being introduced to running as a sport in third grade through the Girls on the Run program, Morabito had the idea of continuing at the collegiate level in her mind for a while.
“Running in college has been a long-term goal of mine,” Morabito told The Fanscotian. “When I was offered the opportunity to speak to Coach Michael Walker from the Cross Country and Track program, it allowed me to understand that TCNJ was a great fit for me.”
Located in Ewing, The College of New Jersey was established in 1855 as the first normal school (formerly, a school or college for the training of teachers) in the state. The TCNJ Lions are a member of the NJ Athletic Conference (NJAC) and compete at the Division III level in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
The women’s cross country and track and field teams have 89 NJAC titles under their name and have produced All-American runners in recent years. Morabito hopes to develop as a runner and build connections within the program.
“I’m looking forward to competing at the collegiate level and pushing myself to improve both physically and mentally,” Morabito said. “I’m excited to be a part of a college team as well as have the chance to learn from experienced coaches and teammates.”
In a career met with inevitable injuries and unpredictable temperatures in given seasons of the year, Morabito surpassed internal doubts, striding her way as the top distance runner at SPFHS.
In her second cross country season she reached the individual group championship meet by placing eighth out of 98 athletes at sectionals. On Nov. 2, Morabito earned a spot again in the final group race, posting a personal record 5K time of 19:16.38 and finishing fifth out of 90 runners at Greystone Park.
As for Union County competitions this past fall, Morabito placed first at the conference championship meet with a PR time of 19:27.00 at Oak Ridge Park and tenth at the county final meet recording a 19:52.00 at Warinanco Park.
In winter and spring track, Morabito is an anchor relay teammate for distance events. Recent medal winning quads she was a part of include the Distance Medley Relay (DMR) and the 4×800 meters at the Huskie Relay competition, the 4×800 at Coach Glynn Holiday meet and the DMR at the 2023 Blue Devil Classic.
Head coach Jeffrey Koegel and assistant coach Richard McGriff have devoted many years to the sport, assisting athletes at all levels through the hardships of running to help them progress athletically and as a person. Morabito credits the support she has received and the impact Koegel has had on her as an individual.
“[Coach Koegel’s] dedication to the team has influenced how I view the sport as a whole,” Morabito said. “Thanks to him and his guidance, I’ve not only become a better athlete but a more confident person as well.”
Morabito has two track seasons left to break records and form memories. She plans to build off an outstanding cross country campaign to find success in the current season and later in the year.
“I want to improve my overall performance in my events and break personal records,” Morabito said. “I hope to contribute to success in relays, help motivate my teammates, and leave a lasting impact on the team.”
