Jack Jennings of Mendham, one of the top distance running recruits in the country, announced on Wednesday that he has committed to Villanova University.
Jennings, who also visited Georgetown, Wake Forest and UCLA, is the second stud runner from NJ to join Nova's loaded recruiting class. Earlier this month, NJ XC Meet of Champions winner Liam Murphy of Allentown signed with Nova.
Jennings and Murphy, who will now go from rivals to teammates, waged one of the greatest showdowns in NJ XC history at the State Group 3 meet on Nov. 16.
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Jennings, whose season will go down as one of the greatest in Morris County history, was sick the week leading up to the Meet of Champions, but still managed to place 14th in 16:12 to help Mendham finish second to CBA, its highest finish ever at the M of C.
Jennings also rewrote the history book at the Greystone layout this season when he ran the two fastest times in course history.
Jennings dropped a 15:07 at the NJAC Championships to break the course record of 15:09 set last year by his former teammate, Jack Stanley. After winning the Morris County title at Greystone in 15:18, Jennings matched his course record when he again ran 15:07 to win the North Jersey, Sec. 2 Group 3 championship to spark Mendham to its third straight title.
On the track, Jennings ran his 1,600 and 3,200 PR's at the State Group 3 Championships last spring when he ran 9:08.62 when he finished third in the 3,200 and 4:16.57 when he placed fourth in the 1,600 when he placed fourth.
Jennings will be back in action this Saturday when he toes the line at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. The top 10 finishers qualify for the FL National Championships on Dec. 11 in San Diego.