"This is the pre-state meet," Southern girls coach Brian Zatorski said. "If you're going to do anything this season, you're going to do it here."

The matchup between Johnson and Udland was one of the day's most anticipated. Both had stellar junior seasons. Johnson won the state Group III cross country championship and the 1,600-meter run at the outdoor Meet of Champions. Udland won the 3,200 run at the outdoor MOC.

"He's a great competitor," Johnson said. "He's the real deal."

Johnson took control as he emerged from "the bowl." It is a valley during the second mile that is so named because it resembles a soup bowl.

That hilly part of the course was not Johnson's strength last year.

"I'm a weak hill runner," he said.

Johnson spent the summer trying to change that. He drove to Holmdel and worked the hills. He ran up and down bridges closer to home.

Johnson's time was a personal best at Holmdel and the second fastest of the day. Joe Rosa of West Windsor-Plainsboro won the Varsity B race in 15:38.

Saturday also showed that Johnson is healthy. He had missed some meets earlier this year with a tight hamstring.

"It felt like it knotted up when I ran," he said. "This was its first real test. I say it passed."

Smith overcame obstacles to win her race. The senior crossed the finish line in 18:34, 18 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Angela Rugino of Toms River North.

Smith ran with a slight upset stomach. She took the Scholastic Achievement Test on Saturday morning, and Friday night was Southern's homecoming.

"It was a rough 24 hours for the whole team," Smith said with a laugh.

Smith didn't push herself because she didn't feel well.

"The plan was to go at an even pace, stay comfortable," she said.

Still, she surprised herself when she emerged from the woods onto the final straightaway and got a look at the clock.

"I thought it was going to be around 20 minutes," she said. "Instead, it said 18."

There were some sensational girls races Saturday. Melanie Thompson of Voorhees, last year's cross country MOC winner, won the Division D race in 18:14.

Chelsea Lay of Kingsway Regional won Division C in 17:44 - the third-fastest time ever by a high school girl at Holmdel.

A standout on the track since she was a freshman, this is Smith's second cross country season. She won the state Group IV title and finished second at the MOC as a junior after playing soccer in the fall as a freshman and sophomore.

Better days could be ahead this fall.

"She's much more fit this year than last," Zatorski said. "Today was not a good indication of that."

The hills of Holmdel are tough enough alone, never mind combined with the SATs and homecoming.

E-mail Michael McGarry:

MMcGarry@pressofac.com

Top 10 times run by local boys

1. Brett Johnson, Ocean City, 15:44

2. Matt Hernberg, Mainland Regional, 16:31

3. Matt Valeriani, Southern Regional, 16: 37

4. Phil Fanz, St. Augustine Prep, 16:38

5. Phil Wood, Lacey Township, 16:41

6. Max Mittelman, Mainland Regional, 16:46

7. Miles Schoedler, Ocean City, 16:51

8. Ryan Matthews, St. Augustine Prep, 17:00

9. Joe Tomczuk, Southern Regional, 17:05

10. Andrew Everett, Mainland Regional, 17:16

Top 10 times run by local girls

1. Jill Smith, Southern Regional, 18:34

2. Chelsea Cox, Southern Regional, 19:28

3. Brooke Kott, Millville, 19:44

4. Tara Wuko, Wildwood Catholic, 20:07

5. Chrissy Casiello, Wildwood Catholic, 20:17

6. Catherine Nolan, Holy Spirit, 20:17

7. Emily Casey, Holy Spirit, 20:18

8. Kate Armstrong, Southern, 20:36

9. Melanie Wiechecki, OLMA, 20:38

10. Sarah Bariglio, St. Joseph, 20:46.