Millburn's Blake Udland placed seventh in the state in the annual Meet of Champions, held on Saturday morning at Holmdel Park. While for most of the runners in the state, a seventh place overall finish would be cause to rejoice, for Udland, it was a win or bust situation, especially when you consider he came in with the second fastest time in the field.

Piscataway's Tim Ball was the overall winner, coming in at 15:30.52. Udland finished at 15:50.32.

"It was a big disappointment. I was second last week. I thought I had one strong race left to go after Ball," Udland said after the race. "Coming up the big hill after Ball, he and a couple of other guys made a move, I just didn't have it."

Udland said that his legs and body didn't quite have the burst left in them he was hoping for. Coming off of his second sectional championship and his first Group 3 title, the long season had taken its toll.

"I think it's just a long season and it got the best of me," Udland said. "I thought I'd at least put myself in position with a mile left to give myself a shot. ...It would've been nice to cap off the season with a state title."

Udland's season is not over yet. He still has the Footlocker Regional next weekend in Long Island, which could lead to the nationals for the Millburn senior.

Five other Millers competed in the MOC, an impressive number which was by far the most by any other Essex County boys team. Robert Stone took 90th with a 17:05.58, Christopher Shim placed 103rd with a 17:17.21. Matt DeShaw was 117th, coming in at 17:29.53. Steven Cohen was 151st overall, clocking in at 18:10.89. Justin Meselsohn finished 172nd with a mark of 19:03.03.