From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Sterling’s Brady Kay, Giovanni Fuchs go 1-2 for Sterling in 6-team Colonial Conference batch meet!!!!!!!!!

September 23, 2026sjtcawebLeave a comment

Seniors Brady Kay and Giovanni Fuchs ran 1-2 and Sterling had six of the top 11 finishers in a six-team Colonial Conference batch meet Tuesday at West Deptford Park.

Kay ran 17:07 and Fuchs 17:08, finishing more than half a minute ahead of the rest of the field. West Deptford senior Lane McClintock placed 3rd in 17:43.

Others in the top 10 were Woodbury junior Elijah Smith [4th in 18:00], Paulsboro senior Jeffery Taylor [5th in 18:13], Woodbury senior Oliver Crumrine [6th in 18:34], Sterling senior Brody Simon [7th in 18:37], Haddon Heights senior Henry Platt [8th in 18:40], Sterling junior Connor Zane [9th in 18:44] and Sterling senior Thomas Krainski [10th in 18:44].

Dual meet scores: Woodbury/Gateway 23, Haddon Heights 33; Sterling 21, Woodbury/Gateway 39; Woodbury/Gateway 27, West Deptford 29; Haddon Heights 20, Paulsboro 39; Sterling 15, Lindenwold 50; Sterling 18, Paulsboro 45; West Deptford 19, Paulsboro 40; Sterling 18, West Deptford 45.

Eastern’s Timothy Shack, Nathaniel Froebel run 1-2 in six-team Olympic Conference batch meet!!!!!!!!

September 23, 2026sjtcawebLeave a comment

Eastern seniors Timothy Shack and Nathaniel Friebel ran 1-2 in a six-team Olympic Conference batch meet Tuesday over 5,000 meters at DREAM Park in Logan Township.

Shack won the race with 114 finishers in 17:55, followed closely by Friebel in 17:57.

Seneca junior Jonah Schmitz placed 3rd in 18:17, followed by Bishop Eustace sophomore Rutger Sochacki 4th in 18:25, Winslow sophomore Devon Kozak 5th in 18:25, Eastern junior Eshan Vajifdar 6th in 18:39, Winslow senior Fredis Mejia 7th in 18:42, Eastern sophomore William Gates 8th in 18:50, Seneca senior William Emmons 9th in 18:56 and Moorestown junior Karam Vidal 10th in 19:02.

Collingswood’s Hazel Straight goes sub-20 for first time, wins five-team Colonial Conference batch meet!!!!!!!!

September 23, 2026sjtcawebLeave a comment

Collingswood senior Hazel Straight broke 20 minutes for the first time on any course to finish first out of nearly 50 runners in a five-team Colonial Conference batch meet Tuesday at Pennypacker Park in Haddonfield and Cherry Hill.

Straight ran 19:59 and finished nearly half a minute clear of 2^nd-place Lydia Gravante, an Audubon senior, who ran 20:25.

Also in the top 10: Audubon sophomore Emma Camm [3^rd in 20:28], Haddon Township senior Tanner Lajoie [4^th in 20:29], Haddon Township junior Isabella Dodd [5^th in 20:30], Haddonfield sophomore Bella DeFinis [6^th in 20:36], Haddon Township senior Biz Maher [7^th in 20:58], Haddonfield senior Penelope Mathews [8^th in 21:03], Haddonfield sophomore Clair Grimenstein [9^th in 21:04] and Gloucester junior Corinne Kelly [10^th in 21:29].

Others under 22 minutes: Haddonfield senior Saya Sood [11^th in 21:46], Haddonfield senior Grace McCool [12^th in 21:48], Haddon Township senior Reagan Maher [13^th in 21:48].

Kingsway’s Aubrey Bishop, Kaitlyn Orazi, Katelyn Gallinaro sweep top three spots in seven-team Tri-County Conference batch meet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

September 23, 2026sjtcawebLeave a comment

Kingsway senior Aubrey Bishop, junior Kaitlyn Orazi and senior Katelyn Gallinaro swept the top three spots in a 10-team batch meet Tuesday at Salem Tech in Pilesgrove Township.

Bishop was first across the line out of over 100 runners in 18:54, Orazi ran 19:03 for 2^nd and Gallinaro was 3^rd in 19:06.

Senior Ava Buchanan [7^th in 20:27] and freshman Aubrey Scheeper [9^th in 20:36] also finished in the top 10 for the Dragons.

Others in the top 10: Triton senior Emily Lutner [4^th in 19:07], Delsea sophomore Brooke Mashburn [6^th in 20:20], Gloucester Tech junior Jordan Moczydlowski [8^th in 20:38] and Williamstown senior Julia Burgio [10^th in 20:42]. There is no 5^th-place finisher listed in the results.

Others under 21 minutes: Highland sophomore Isabella Prendergast [11^th in 20:42] and Clearview senior Leah Hagerman [12^th in 20:46].

Team scores: Kingsway 15, Clearview 42; Highland 15, Cumberland Regional 50; Triton 24, Delsea 31; Kingsway 16, Gloucester Tech 45; Triton 15, Timber Creek 50; Washington Township 24, Williamstown 32.

Kingsway
Clearview
Highland
Cumberland
Triton
Delsea
Glouc. Tech
Timber Creek
Williamstown
Wash. Twp.

Connor Brand, Andrew Blum, Nathan Bollard, Graham Dodson lead Haddonfield in Colonial Conference batch meet!!!!!!!!!

September 23, 2026sjtcawebLeave a comment

Junior Connor Brand, senior Andrew Blum and sophomore Nathan Bollard and junior Graham Dodson all ran sub-17 and Haddonfield put nine finishers in the top 10 in a seven-team batch meet over 5,000 meters at Pennypacker Park in Cherry Hill and Haddonfield.

Brand was first of 65 finishers in 16:23, Blum took 2^nd in 16:34, Bollard ran 16:51 for 3^rd and Dodson was 5^th in 16:59.

Also in the top 10 for the Bulldogs: Senior Owen Snyder [6^th in 17:17], junior Luke Lindner [7^th in 17:20], senior Luke Patterson [8^th in 17:21], junior William Krier [9^th in 17:23] and sophomore Lucas Larson [10^th in 17:25].

Audubon junior John Robinson broke up the Haddonfield pack in 4^th place in 16:53, his first time under 17 minutes on any course.

Others under 18 minutes: Haddon Township sophomore Kieran Adams [11^th in 17:26], Haddonfield junior Ian Rodriguez [12^th in 17:29], Haddonfield junior Oliver Setchel [13^th in 17:35], Haddon Township sophomore Simon Pierwola [14^th in 17:39], Haddon Township sophomore Bryce Davis [15^thin 17:49], Haddon Township freshman Ryan Luke [16^th in 17:51], Haddon Township sophomore Isaiah Williams [17^th in 17:54], Haddonfield sophomore Finnegan Hammond-Kershner [18^th in 17:54] and Collingswood senior Joshua King [19^th in 17:57].

Team scores: Collingswood 24, Audubon 36; Gloucester 25, Audubon 36; Haddon Township 20, Audubon 42; Haddonfield 15, Collingswood 50; Haddon Township 15, Gloucester 49; Haddonfield 15, Gloucester 50.

Moorestown’s Makayla Zell, Catherine Hipple run 1-2 in seven-team Olympic Conference batch meet!!!!!!!!

September 23, 2026sjtcawebLeave a comment

Moorestown junior Makayla Zell and senior Catherine Hipple finished 1-2 out of 100 runners and ran sub-20 over 5,000 meters in a seven-team Olympic Conference batch meet at DREAM Park Tuesday.

There was no team scoring kept, but Moorestown went 1-2-7-9-14 for a theoretical 33 points. Paul VI went 4-5-6-8-12 for a theoretical 35 points.

Zell ran 19:40 and Hipple 19:47 for the Quakers, and seniors Sophia DiFiore [7^th in 20:09] and Siyana Sheth [9^th in 20:35] also finished in the top 10. The Quakers’ 5^th runner was junior Katherine Simpson [14^th in 21:35].

Also under 20 minute was Seneca senior Jaden Eberman, who was 3^rd overall in 19:57.

Paul VI was led by sophomore Isabella Suarez [4^th in 20:00], freshman Payton Barger [5^th in 20:04], junior Morgan Kuzma [6^th in 20:07] and junior Peyton Blake [8^th in 20:12] in the top 10 along with 5^thrunner sophomore Molly Smith [12^th in 20:57].

Also in the top 10: Winslow junior Annabella Cassidy, who placed 10^th in 20:45.

Also under 21 minutes: Seneca freshman Sofia Sparacio [11^th in 20:56] and Winslow freshman Zion Ebisike [13^th in 20:59].

RIley Sharpe, Aaliyah Ward finish 1-2 for Sterling in Colonial Conference batch meet!!!!!!!!

September 23, 2026sjtcawebLeave a comment

Junior Riley Sharpe and senior Aaliyah Ward finished 1-2 for Sterling in a Colonial Conference batch meet Tuesday at West Deptford Park.

Sharpe ran 22:19 and Ward 23:29. Also for Sterling, sophomores Cora Fitzsimmons [6^th in 24:$5] and Armita Janamian [7^th in 25:51], senior Brianna Gilligan [8^th in 25:52] and senior Jailynne Tisby [9^th in 26:29] finished in the top 10.

Also in the top 10: Haddon Heights senior Dahlia Sharpe [3^rd in 23:30], Paulsboro sophomore Aaliyah Ward[ 4^th in 24:16], Haddon Heights senior Kendall Samuels [5^th in 24:45] and Paulsboro senior Aleisha Santiago [10^th in 26:30].

Sterling outscored Paulsboro, 15-50.

Gavin Rakitis leads 1-2-3-4 Glassboro sweep in 20-team Tri-County batch meet!!!!!!!!

September 23, 2026September 23, 2026sjtcawebLeave a comment

The Glassboro boys swept the top four spots in a 20-team Tri-County Conference batch meet Tuesday at Salem County Tech in Pilesgrove Township.

Juniors Gavin Rakitis, Zaccheaus Harrigan, Joe Saicic and Aaron Johnson ran 16:16 through 16:22 and freshman Christian Hughes rounded out the Bulldogs’ top 5 in 8^th place overall in 16:35. There were over 170 total runners.

This was the first race of the year for Saicic, the state Group 1 runner-up in XC last year as well as the 1,600 and 3,200 outdoors.

Woodstown senior David Farrell broke up the Glassboro sweep in 7^th place overall in 16:32. Also in the overall top 10: Washington Township junior Trevor Szilier [5^th in 16:23], Kingsway junior Michael Beaver [6^th in 16:27], Gloucester Tech sophomore Shepard Byrne [9^th in 16:38] and Gloucester Tech senior Duke Snyder-Shellito [10^th in 16:46]. Also under 17 minutes: Kingsway senior Payton Veilleux [11^th in 16:56].

Dual meet scores listed in the results: Schalick 15, Overbrook 30; Salem Tech 17, Clayton 44; Kingsway 15, Clearview 46; Cumberland 15, Deptford 50; Highland 16, Cumberland Regional 47; Delsea 28, Triton 29; Timber Creek 15, Deptford 50; Glassboro 16, Woodstown 39; Kingsway 24, Gloucester Tech 32; Woodstown 15, Penns Grove 50; Pennsville 28, Salem 29; Timber Creek 28, Triton 29; and Washington Township 19, Williamstown 41.

Schalick
Overbrook
Salem Tech
Clayton
Kingsway
Clearview
Cumberland
Deptford
Highland
Delsea
Triton
Timber Creek
Glassboro
Woodstown
Gloucester Tech
Penns Grove
Pennsville
Salem
Wash. Twp.
Williamstown

Embry-Riddle’s Nick Scarangelli of Ocean City places 3rd out of more than 200 runners at Florida Pre-Regionals!!!!!!!!

September 19, 2026sjtcawebLeave a comment

Ocean City’s Nick Scarangelli, a senior at Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach, Fla., placed 3^rd of more than 220 runners Friday in the Florida State Pre-Regional at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee.

Scarangelli finished behind only two runners from host Florida State and covered the 8,000-meter course in 24:34, only three seconds off his 8K all-course lifetime best of 24:31 from a race last October in Huntsville, Ala.

Embry-Riddle, ranked 4th in the NCAA Division 2 South Region, placed 4^th out of 23 schools with 121 points, behind only FSU [26], Florida Southern [97] and Florida Gulf Coast [108].

Scarangelli finished only six seconds behind winner Hudson Betts, who ran 24:28 in his first race for Florida State after running 13:57 on the track last spring for Alabama.

Freshman Molly Cataline races into all-time South Jersey freshman top-10 at Holmdel County Park, leads Northern to team title at Holmdel Invite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

September 19, 2026sjtcawebLeave a comment

In her first high school 5,000-meter race, Northern Burlington freshman Molly Cataline tore up the Holmdel County Park course in 19:16 to place 2^nd in the inaugural Holmdel Invitational and lead Northern to the team title.

Northern went 1-4-7-8-11 in team scoring places and topped Moorestown and Kingsway 31-51, with Moorestown getting 2^nd on a 6^th-runner tiebreaker. Washington Township placed 5^th.

Cataline’s time is 10th-fastest all-time at Holmdel by a South Jersey freshman and 4^th-fastest all-time by a Burlington County freshman, behind Northern’s Liliah Gordon [18:29 in 2021], Shawnee’s Casey Doyle [18:39 in 2007] and Shawnee’s Kate Ruona [19:05 in 2019]. Gordon is the only Northern girl to run faster than Cataline did on Saturday. Cataline’s time is fastest the year by a New Jersey 9^th-grader on any course, and it happened to come on the fastest course in the state.

Junior Kamiyah Vergo placed 7^th for Northern in 20:45, sophomore Adelina Floyd was 12^th in 21:26, freshman Mary-Kate Boyle 13^th in 21:26 and sophomore Abigail Leonhardt 17^th in 21:57.

Northern averaged 20:58, fastest in school history on the historic Holmdel County Park course.

Also in the top 20: Kingsway junior Kaitlyn Orazi [4^th in 20:26], Moorestown junior Makayla Zell [5^th in 20:42], Moorestown senior Caroline Hipple [10^th in 21:02], senior Katelyn Gallinaro [11^th in 21:20], Kingsway senior Ava Buchanan [16^th in 21:41], Moorestown senior Siyana Sheth [18^th in 22:07] and Moorestown sophomore Juliet Stack-Maya [19^th in 22:08].