From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Senior Juliana Catalani, 2^nd to Julia Flanagan last year, won the Freedom Division race and led Maple Shade to its 3^rd straight team title at the Burlington County Scholastic League Championships Wednesday in Palmyra.

Catalani ran 19:27 and led a 1-3-4-6-11 Wildcat finish, although for team scoring purposes Shade swept the top five spots for 15 points since no other schools had five finishers.

Sophomores Johana Perez and Magaly Benito placed 3^rd and 4^th for Maple Shade in 20:11 and 20:51 and senior Alyssa Arencibia was 6^th in 22:08. Senior Yaide Robles ran 24:40 for 11^th and 6^th runner Valeria Bueno-Sosa was just behind in 13^th place in 25:39.

Also in the top 10 were Holy Cross junior Alexis Buonanno [2^nd in 20:08], Moorestown Friends junior Yuri Wallace [5^th in 21:58], Moorestown Friends junior E’Lon Rodwel-Simon [7^th in 23:37], Palmyra junior Maya Richmond-Dupont [8^th in 23:48], Riverside senior Kylee Ryan [9^thin 24:12] and Moorestown Friends senior Madelyn Lovequist [10^th in 24:17].

Eddy Farez Yunga, a Maple Shade junior, was the overall winner Wednesday and led the Wildcats to their 14^thBurlington County Scholastic League Freedom Division title since the meet was revived in 1999.

Maple Shade had won eight straight Freedom Division titles before finishing 2^nd to Moorestown Friends last year, but on Wednesday they outscored Riverside by six points to reclaim the title. The meet wasn’t held in 2020, but Maple Shade won it from 2016 through 2019 and 2021 through 2024.

The Wildcats outscored 2^nd-place Riverside 66-58, with Moorestown Friends 3^rd with 81 points.

Including two meets before the BCSL Championships were eliminated in 1991 – 1983 and 1986 – Maple Shade has now won 16 Freedom Division titles.

For Shade, junior Steve Guinansaca was 5^th in 18:02, senior Sunjid Sium 11^th in 19:25, senior Lucas Diehl 18^thin 19:59 and freshman Jonran Sanchez 30^th in 21:59.

The rest of the top 10 looked like this: Doane Academy senior Marlon Addison [2^nd in 17:38], Riverside senior Ronald McMahon [3^rd in 17:42], Palmyra senior Justin Clemons [4^th in 17:46], Riverside junior Jason Russo [6^th in 18:16], Palmyra freshman Cooper Caione [7^th in 18:32], Pemberton senior Aaron Arocho [8^th in 18:47], Westampton Tech sophomore Brayden Bodine [9^th in 18:50] and Riverside junior Zachary Plum [10^th in 19:06].

Addison’s 2^nd-place finish is the best ever by a Doane Academy runner at the BCSL meet. In 2019, Connor McHugh was 4^th.

Even without their top runner, the Northern Burlington girls easily won their 6^th straight Liberty Division title Wednesday at the Burlington County Scholastic League meet in Palmyra.

Northern went 1-3-4-5-9 with a junior, three sophomores and a freshman, topping 2^nd-place Cinnaminson 22-48.

Overall winner junior Junior Kamiyah Vergo ran 19:28 at Palmyra Cove, leading 4 NBC girls in the top 5. Sophomores Abigail Leonhardt and Adelina Floyd ran 19:48 and 19:49 and placed 3^rd and 4^th, freshman Mary-Kate Boyle was 5^th in 19:50 and sophomore Kelly Coughlin placed 9^th in 21:30.

Freshman Molly Cataline, the Burlington County Open winner, rested Wednesday as she prepares for Central Jersey Group 3 sectionals a week from Saturday.

Also in the top 10: Pennsauken junior Rai’ana Rucker [2^nd in 19:48], Cinnaminson junior Madeline Farrell [6^th in 19:59], Pennsauken senior Natalia Sanchez [7^th in 21:00], Cinnaminson senior Mia Hartley [8^th in 21:24], Cinnaminson freshman Ruthann Wai [10^th in 22:07].

Also under 23 minutes: Cinnaminson senior Jayla Jenkins [11^th in 22:09], Bordentown sophomore Cassandra Louis [12^th in 22:21], Cinnaminson freshman Gabriela Moyer [13^th in 22:22], Northern junior Kiera Dyson [14^th in 22:28], Medford Tech senior Hailey Fedezko [15^th in 22:36], Pennsauken junior Sophia Vega [16^th in 22:37], Pennsauken junior Dana Zamorano [17^th in 22:46] and Cinnaminson senior Emme Keeports [18^th in 22:53].

Junior Addison Weiss and senior Ryleigh Budsock finished 1-2 and Cherry Hill East girls edged Paul VI by two points in a battle of two of the state’s top teams Wednesday at the Olympic Conference meet in Logan Township.

Cherry Hill East finished with a 43-45 edge, the closest Olympic Conference finish in the histoy of a meet that dates back to 1978 on the girls side [although team scoring wasn’t incorporated until 1988].

East went 1-2-11-13-16 and PVI 4-5-9-12-15, with Moorestown 3^rd with 72 points. PVI is ranked 8^th in New Jersey by MileSplit and Cherry Hill East is 13^th.

Weiss ran 19:11 at DREAM Park to win her 2^nd straight conference title, and Budsock 19:29 to lead the race. Other Cherry Hill East scorers were Katherine Grottini [11^th in 20:54], Noelle Terry [13^th in 20:57] and Austyn Semar [16^th in 21:17], with 6^th runner Rebecca Tibbetts just behind Semar [17^th in 21:20].

For PVI, Isabella Suarez and Morgan Kuzma placed 3^rd and 4^th in 19:55 and 19:57, Peyton Barger ran 20:34 for 9^th, Emilia Grelli was 12^th in 20:56 and Grace Gutowski placed 15^th in 21:02.

Cherokee Ava Guarini ran 19:46 for 3^rd, Lenape Audrey McCorkle was 6^th in 20:03, Moorestown’s Makayla Zell and Catherine Hipple took 7^th and 8^th in 20:11 and 20:17 and Seneca Jaden Eberman placed 10^th in 20:49.

Others under 21:30: Winslow Zion Ebisike [14^th in 20:58], Moorestown Sophia DiFiore [18^th in 21:22] and Moorestown Juliet Stack Maya [19^th in 21:26].

Freshman James McKeon led 6 Cinnaminson runners in the top 7 and the Pirates won their 3rd straight Burlington County Scholastic League Liberty Division title Wednesday in Palmyra.

McKeon became the first freshman BCSL Liberty Division winner ever, running 15:48 at Palmyra Cove.

His time is 3rd-fastest on record at any course by a South Jersey freshman, behind only Cherokee’s Jack Tindall [15:26 in 2024 at DREAM Park] and Kingsway’s Ryan Duffy [15:46 at DREAM Park in 2023].

Cinnaminson went 1-2-3-4-6-7 for 16 points, the lowest winning score ever in the Liberty Division meet, which dates back to 1963 but didn’t have team scoring until 1977. The previous low score was 18 points by Cinnaminson last year.

Bordentown placed 2nd with 76 points, edging Northern Burlington, who scored 82.

After McKeon for Cinnaminson, senior Edward Abu-Adas was 2nd in 15:52, senior Ryan Scaricaciottoli placed 3rd in 15:56 and senior Owen Castanheira was 4th in 16:04.

After Bordentown senior Nathan Krinsley broke up th Cinnaminson sweep in 5th place in 16:12, junior Keith Fried and sophomore Luke Feeley placed 6th and 7th in 16:24 and 16:29.

Cinnaminson packed its five scorers in 36 seconds, averaged 16:24.8 over 5,000 meters at Palmyra Cove and placed all seven runners in the top 10.

Also under 17:30: Medford Tech senior Chris Davis [8th in 16:40], Northern Burlington junior Trevor Johnston [9th in 16:41], Cinnaminson senior Alexander Lonardo [10th in 16:48], Pennsauken senior Santiago Morales [11th in 17:22] and Bordentown senior Mathew Haje [12th in 17:26].

Cherry Hill East senior Cian Sherlock became Cherry Hill East’s first individual winner in 11 years, and Cherokee won its sixth straight team title Wednesday at the Olympic Conference Championships in Logan Township.

https://milesplit.live/meets/769499/events/2/results/F/M

[Note to Cape Atlantic League athletic directors: This race just ended and Tomahawk Timing already has full results posted. Try hiring a real timing company next time!]

Sherlock ran 16:00 over 5,000 meters at DREAM Park and became Cherry Hill East’s first individual winner since Aidan Groff in 2015 in Deptford Township.

Cherokee went 2-5-7-8-12-(13-15) to win the team title 34-50 over Cherry Hill East, with Paul VI 3rd with 108 points.

For Cherokee, senior Gavin Danielewicz placed 2nd in 16:22, senior Sean Sooy was 5th in 16:39, senior Maximo Harada 7th in 16:46, senior Benjamin Realley 8th in 16:47 and sophomore Hamza Salahuddin 12th in 17:11. They were backed up by senior Leo Vyvyan [13th in 17:15] and junior Trayce Slumsky [15th in 17:19].

Cherokee packed its five scorers in 49 seconds.

Cherry Hill East had three in the top 10, with senior Aneesh Rajagopal 3rd in 16:31 and junior Benjamin Dodulik 9th in 16:47 joining Sherlock. Sophomore Conan Poerner and junior Nicholas Park finished 19th and 20th for East, both in 17:27.

Also in the top 10: Moorestown junior Zander Kane [4th in 16:32], Paul VI senior Max Long [6th in 16:44] and Camden Catholic sophomore Jim Rotaeche [10th in 16:50].

Also under 17:30: Shawnee sophomore Deven Lloyd [11th in 17:05], Lenape junior Carmelo Carino [14th in 17:15], Lenape senior Bruce Viseltear [16th in 17:22], Cherokee sophomore Colton Harbold [17th in 17:23] and Paul VI junior Nick Ablaza [18th in 17:15].

Junior Riley Tolson ran 17:19 over 5,000 meters at Egg Harbor Township and Ocean City appears to have scored 20 points to win its 8th straight Cape-Atlantic Conference title Tuesday.

Thanks to a timing catastrophe there are no official results, but unofficially Ocean City went 1-2-3-6-8-(9-10) to top Egg Harbor, which went 4-5-7-15-17 for 48 points. Look like Mainland scored 74, perhaps for 3rd place? Who knows without complete results!

Tolson’s previous all-course best for a 5K course was 17:50 in a meet last month at Carlisle, Pa.

Ocean City appears to have placed all seven runners in the top 10. Senior Carly Godfrey ran 18:34 for 2nd, freshman Mackenzie Jenkins 19:06 for 3rd, senior Lillian Flora 19:09 for 6th, junior Lenna Driscoll 19:28 for 8th, freshman Cara Jefferson 19:31 for 9th and senior Peighton Clemens 19:49 for 10th.

Although Tomahawk was originally scheduled to work the meet, the Cape Atlantic athletic directors apparently elected not to have the meet automatically timed or apparently to even have it timed at all. There are still no boys results at all and no official girls results more than 15 hours after the races ended

If all the coaches who had runners in the top 25 send me their results I’ll try to put together as close to final results as possible.

We;re only missing a few girls from the top 25 but we’re missing almost the entire boys race! I appreciate everyone who’s sent in results but we need more! Thanks!!!

GIRLS
1. Riley Tolson [Ocean City] 17:19
2. Carly Godfrey [Ocean City] 18:34
3. Mackenzie Jenkins [Ocean City] 19:06
4. Molly Rooney [Egg Harbor Twp.] 19:08
5. Meghan Johnson [Egg Harbor Twp.] 19:10
6. Lillian Flora [Ocean City] 19:09
7. Corrine Conley [Egg Harbor Twp.] 19:29
8. Lenna Driscoll [Ocean City] 19:28
9. Cara Jefferson [Ocean City] 19:31
10. Peighton Clemens [Ocean City] 19:49
11. Lauren LaMonaca [Mainland] 19:49
12.
13. Quinlan Smith [Mainland] 20:16
14. Adrian Sykes [Mainland] 20:21
15. Addison Lambert [Egg Harbor Twp.]  20:28
16. Ceci Foreman [Mainland] 20:29
17. Marisa Mazur [Egg Harbor Twp.] 20:32
18. Carlee Steet [Egg Harbor Twp.] 20:55
19. Katie Johnson [Egg Harbor Twp.] 21:17
18.
19.
20.Janice Yan [Mainland] 21:22
21.
22. Riley Raffensburger [Hammonton] 21:28
23.
24. Sandra Aquino-Lopez [Hammonton] 22:01
25.

Someone out there must have additional results from the boys race!

BOYS
1. Keenan Neuman [Ocean City] 15:29
2. Nate Aschmann [Ocean City] 15:42
3. Nevin Millstein [Ocean City] 15:46
4. Ben McCarthy [Ocean City] 16:11
5. Mike Romano [Ocean City] 16:14
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13. Hayden Tarves [Oean City] 16:53
14.
15.
16.
17. Ryan Jefferson [Ocean City] 17:04
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.

Has anybody seen Cape-Atlantic results from Stockton? The races have been over for three hours. Has anybody ever heard of “Laws of Speed Timing?”

LET’S GO!!!!

It’s now 11:30 p.m. and still no results. I know Ocean City ran well, Riley Tolson ran fast and that’s about it.

Whoever is responsible for this travesty needs to be held accountable.

The Rowan women packed five scorers in 37 seconds and placed 5th at the Border Battle Saturday in Logan Township.

Senior Jezena Aponte from Snyder High in Jersey City was Rowan’s first finisher, 17th in 23:35, with senior Allyson Wernik from Washington Township 21st in 23:42, sophomore Juliana Sieminski from Delsea 32nd in 24:04, senior Maggie Michelet from Hunterdon Central 37th in 24:10 and freshman Kayla Romanoski from West Deptford 39th in 24:12 on a wet, soggy, muddy DREAM Park course.

Stockton’s 2nd finisher was senior Sarah Rutledge from Egg Harbor Township, who ran 24:55.

Clearview’s Abby Waddington, a Boston University sophomore, placed 14th out of nearly 300 runners Saturday at the ECAC Championships in Bethpage, N.Y.

Waddington ran 20:58 over 6,000 meters at the Bethpage State Park polo fields and was B.U.’s 3rd finisher as the Terriers won the team title, 80-99, over Columbia.

It was B.U.’s first-ever ECAC team championship.

Waddington ran just two seconds off her all-course 6K best of 20:56 from last October in a meet on the Princeton University course in Plainsboro, N.J.

Bucknell junior Kerry O’Day from Cherokee ran a 6K all-course best of 21:27 and was Bucknell’s 4th finisher as the Bison placed 5th overall. O’Day’s previous 6K best was a 21:39 at a meet at Penn State in November 2024.