Molly McNamara's joy at winning the Shore Conference championship was tempered by Red Bank Catholic High School's third-place finish.

While McNamara was duplicating her Monmouth County championship, injury and illness combined to bring the Caseys down Saturday at Bucks Mill Park in Colts Neck.

"I'm happy that I won, but it's an individual accomplishment," she said. "I can't be happy when all my friends are upset."

McNamara would have preferred a team victory to her individual win.

RBC was looking to back up its remarkable performance at the Monmouth County Championships with a second straight SC title.

"We were a little out of sorts this week," she said.

The Caseys received the expected 1-2 from McNamara and Michelle Capozzi, but it wasn't enough Saturday to beat Ocean County champion Toms River North (97) or Howell (136).

McNamara warned against people counting the Caseys out. She expects the Caseys to bounce back when the state group championships are held back at her favorite venue, Holmdel Park, on Nov. 14.

"Down and out is overrated," she said. "You're never out."

Like her run to the county championship at Holmdel Park on Oct. 20, it was teammate Capozzi who was pushing McNamara over the last half of the 5,000-meter race. McNamara pulled away in the final mile, winning her second big championship of the season in 18:42.4. Capozzi was second in 19:01.7.

Shore Regional had a fine sixth-place (249) led by Cameo Kirk (20:36.3) and Andrea Adams (20:37.9), who were 37th and 39th in team scoring.

Megan Tursi of Monmouth Regional finished 18th overall (20:03.6).

Red Bank Regional's boys finished fourth (189) led by their one-two of Matt Metlitz (16:22.5) and John Arnone (16:41.8), who were eighth and 13th.

RBC was fifth (225) with freshman Rob Napolitano (17:07.9) and Kevin Byrne (17:12.3) leading the way in 24th and 28th.

For the public schools, this is state sectional weekend. The Central Jersey Championship are Saturday in Jamesburg at Thompson Park.