From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Rider senior Matt McCarron from Cinnaminson placed 15th in a field of over 150 runners Saturday at the the Metro Conference Championships in Middletown, N.Y.

McCarron ran 25:43 at the Blue Sports Sports Complex and was Rider’s 1st runner across the line.

Rider placed 4th with 129 points, behind only Iona [15], Marist [70] and Siena [93].

In the women’s race, Rider senior Maddie Dischert from Atlantic City placed 17th in 22:16. The Rider women placed 4th with 118 points after losing a tiebreaker with Marist.

Next for Rider is the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals at Lehigh’s South Campus in Bethlehem and Lower Saucon Township.

A historic race Saturday for Bordentown senior Nathan Krinsley, who ran the fastest 5,000 by a Bordentown runner at sectionals in 41 years

Krinsley ran 16:30 and placed 3rd at Central Jersey Group 1 Sectionals at Thompson Park in Jamestown, earning a trip to states as a wild-card finisher.

Krinsley placed 29th at sectionals last year in 17:51 so that’s a heck of a jump in one year. He’ll race in the state Group 1 meet at Holmdel County Park next Saturday.

Krinsley has had a very good season, placing 3rd at the Ray Hoagland Invite, then 12th at the Burlington County Open and 5th at the BCSL Liberty Division meet, where he broke up a Cinnaminson sweep.

On Saturday, he finished behind only Manville senior Jayran Rodriguez, who won the race in 15:59, and Shore Regional senior Brady McHugh, who ran 16:17 for 2nd place. Rodriguez was the state Group 1 XC champ last fall and Group 1 3,200 champ last spring at 9:17.53. McHugh ran 1:55.40 last spring at the Meet of Champions.

It’s the best finish by a Bordentown runner at sectionals in 15 years, since Saudiq Musari placed 2nd in the 2011 Central Jersey race at Thompson Park in 17:10. Bordentown placed 2nd as a team that year, behind only Metuchen, the last time the Scotties have advanced to states.

The fastest previous 5K by a Bordentown runner at sectionals was Matt Haas’s 16:46 when he was 4th at the 1985 South Jersey Group 1 meet at Clearview.

The last Bordentown runner to reach states was Renzo Almeida, who placed 14th at 2019 Central Jersey Group 2 sectionals in 17:06 and was 60th at the state Group 2 meet in 17:46 as a sophomore before transferring to Robbinsville, where he ran 9:34.46 for 3,200 meters.

Delaware freshman Julia Flanagan from Holy Cross placed 13^th at the Conference USA Championships Saturday in Huntsville, Ala., and senior teammate Leah Clear of Camden Catholic also finished in the top 20.

Flanagan and Clear were Delaware’s top two finishers and the Blue Hens finished 4^th in team scoring.

Flanagan ran 20:55 over 6,000 meters at the John Hunt Cross Country Park and Clear ran 21:00 for 18th place. For Flanagan, that’s a 46-second all-course 6K PR, dropping her best time on any course from 21:47 at Lehigh last month. Flanagan was the 3^rd freshman finisher and the 1^st not from Kenya.

Clear also ran a 6K all-course best, lowering her best time from 21:08 last year on the same course.

Cherokee’s Kerry O’Day, a Bucknell junior, placed 9^th out of over 100 runners Saturday at the Patriot League Championships in East Buffalo Township, and Lafayette junior Anya Kazemi from Bishop Eustace and Boston University senior Abby Waddington from Clearview also finished in the top 15.

O’Day ran 20:57 at Bucknell Golf Course just outside Lewisburg, a lifetime best for all 6,000-meter courses. Her previous 6,000 best was 21:27 just two weeks ago in her last race in Bethpage, N.Y.

O’Day was Bucknell’s 2^nd runner. The Bison placed 3^rd with 84 points, behind only Army [50] and Boston University [55].

Kazemi was Lafayette’s 2^nd finisher in 11^th in 21:01, also an all-course 6K best. Her previous fastest time over 6,000 meters on any course was 21:16 in her last race, two weeks ago in Gettysburg, Pa.

Waddington was B.U.’s 4^th finisher in 13^th place in 21:03, giving South Jersey three finishers in a six-second span. Not far behind was Lafayette senior Ava Severino, who placed 38^th in 21:55.

The top five teams and top 15 individuals at sectionals advance to the state championships Saturday at Holmdel.

The top 15 includes runners from qualifying teams, so the wild-card individuals are all top-15 finishers who aren’t on teams that finished in the top five.

Parochial schools do not have a qualifying process. The Bob Kiessling Invitational is not a qualifier for states.

Here’s the schedule for Saturday at Holmdel County Park:

9:30 a.m. Parochial B boys
10 a.m. Parochial A boys
10:30 a.m. Parochial B boys
11 a.m. Parochial A boys
11:30 a.m. Group 2 Boys
Noon Group 4 Boys
12:30 p.m. Group 2 girl
1 p.m. Group 4 girls
1:30 p.m. Group 1 boys
2 p.m. Group 3 boys
2:30 p.m. Group 1 girls
3 p.m. Group 3 girls

South Jersey State qualifiers
BOYS
Teams
Group 1
Glassboro [1^st, S.J.]
Haddon Twp. [2^nd, S.J.]
Woodstown [3^rd, S.J.]
Pitman [4^th, S.J.]
Collingswood [5^th, S.J.]

Group 2
Cinnaminson [1^st, C.J.]
Haddonfield [1^st, S.J.]
Sterling [2^nd, S.J.]
Middle Twp. [3^rd, S.J.]
West Deptford [4^th, S.J.]
Salem County Tech [5^th, S.J.]

Group 3
Ocean City [1^st, S.J.]
Highland [2^nd, S.J,]
Moorestown [3^rd, S.J.]
Shawnee [4^th, S.J.]

Group 4
Cherokee [1^st, S.J.]
Cherry Hill East [2^nd, S.J.]
Egg Harbor Twp., [4^th, S.J.]
Kingsway [5^th, S.J.]

Individuals
Group 1
Nathan Krinsley [Bordentown] (3^rd, C.J.)
John Robinson [Audubon] (5^th, S.J.)
Eddy Farez Yunga [Maple Shade] (9^th, S.J.)
Carter Marts [Pennsville] (11^th, S.J.)

Group 2
Brody Bailey [Pleasantville] (11^th, S.J.)
Joseph Davenport [Pleasantville] (15^th, S.J.)

Group 3
Jack Preissman [Mainland Reg.], (8^th, S.J.)
Chris Davis [Medford Tech], (14^th, S.J.)

Group 4
Trevor Szilier [Washington Twp.] (1^st, S.J.)
Dylan Benitez Gonzalez [Bridgeton] (13^th, S.J.)
Maximelio Giardino [Vineland] (15^th, S.J.)

GIRLS
Teams
Group 1
Haddon Township [1^st, S.J.]
Audubon [2^nd, S.J.]
Maple Shade [3^rd, S.J.]
Woodstown [4^th, S.J.]
Schalick [5^th, S.J.]

Group 2
Cinnaminson [5^th, C.J.]
Haddonfield [1^st, S.J.]
Sterling [2^nd, S.J.]
Middle Township [3^rd, S.J.]
Cedar Creek [5^th, S.J.]

Group 3
Northern Burlington [5^th, C.J.]
Ocean City [1^st, S.J.]
Moorestown [2^nd, S.J.]
Mainland Regional [3^rd, S.J.]
Highland Regional [4^th, S.J.]
Winslow Township [5^th, S.J.]

Group 4
Cherry Hill East [1^st, S.J.]
Kingsway [2^nd, S.J.]
Egg Harbor Township [3^rd, S.J.]
Cherokee [4^th, S.J.]

Individuals
Group 1
Keira Epstein [Glassboro] (1^st, S.J.)
Hazel Straight [Collingswood], (2^nd, S.J.)
Peyton Michel [Pennsville], (9^th, S.J.)
Gillian Romig [Collingswood], (10^th, S.J.)
Peyton Cole {Pitman], (11^th, S.J.)
Sawyer Slad [Pennsville], (12^th, S.J.)

Group 2
Corinne Kelly [Gloucester], (11^th, S.J.)

Group 3
Emily Lutner [Triton], (3^rd, S.J.)
Brooke Mashburn [Delsea], (14^th, S.J.)

Group 4
Audrey McCorkle [Lenape], (8^th, S.J.)
Julia Burgio [Williamstown], (15^th, S.J.)

Ocean City junior Riley Tolson didn’t just break the DREAM Park course record Saturday, she ran what is believed to be the fastest 5,000 on any course by any South Jersey girl ever. Maybe Michelle Rowen or Dawn Cody or someone from the 1980s or 1990s ran faster in a dual meet or meet whose results have been lost over the years, but I highly doubt it.

But she wasn’t the only girl to run fast Saturday. Two others broke 18 minutes and 15 more ran sub-19, which is remarkable.

In all, 51 girls ran 20:00 or faster in the various sectional races and Bob Kiessling Invitational. South Jersey will send a huge contingent up to Holmdel County Park Saturday for the state meet.

Here’s a look at every girl from a South Jersey school that broke 20 minutes at DREAM Park. Anybody missing? Let me know and I’ll get that fixed immediately!

17:05.69 … *Riley Tolson [Ocean City] (1^st, Group 3)
17:50.96 … *Addison Weiss [Cherry Hill East] (1^st, Group 4)
17:53.50 … **Dylan Hosty [Haddonfield] (1^st, Group 2)
18:09.50 … Aubrey Bishop [Kingsway] (2^nd, Group 4)
18:14.62 … Ryleigh Budsock [Cherry Hill East] (3^rd, Group 4)
18:15.33 … **Keira Epstein [Glassboro] (1^st, Group 1)
18:21.27 … Emily Lutner [Triton] (3^rd, Group 3)
18:28.96 … Carly Godfrey [Ocean City] (4^th, Group 3)
18:31.56 … *Kaitlyn Orazi [Kingsway] (5^th, Group 4)
18:39.02 … ***Peyton Barger [Paul VI] (1^st, Bob Kiessling)
18:41.47 … *Erin Healy [Cherokee] (6^th, Group 4)
18:51.64 … Lillian Flora [Ocean City] (6^th, Group 3)
18:52.15 … **Isabella Suarez [Paul VI] (2^nd, Bob Kiessling)
18:52.61 … Audrey McCorkle [Lenape] (8^th, Group 4)
18:53.34 … *Molly Rooney [Egg Harbor Twp.] (9^th, Group 4)
18:57.78 … **Ava Guarini [Cherokee] (10^th, Group 4)
18:59.21 … Katelyn Gallinaro [Kingsway] (11^th, Group 4)
18:59.74 … Molly Mills [Haddonfield] (3^rd, Group 2)
19:08.45 … ***Mackenzie Jenkins [Ocean City] (7^th, Group 3)
19:13.64 … Meghan Johnson [Egg Harbor Twp.] (12^th, Group 4)
19:13.75 … *Annabella Cassidy [Winslow Twp.] (8^th, Group 3)
19:16.87 … *Lenna Driscoll [Ocean City] (9^th, Group 3)
19:18.52 … *Makayla Zell [Moorestown] (10^th, Group 3)
19:18.93 … Catherine Hipple [Moorestown] (11^th, Group 3)
19:19.57 … *Morgan Kuzma [Paul VI] (3^rd, Bob Kiessling)
19:20.85 … Grace Gutowski [Paul VI] (4^th, Bob Kiessling)
19:22.72 … Katherine Grottini [Cherry Hill East] (13^th, Group 4)
19:29.41 … Madison Kelsey [Haddonfield] (4^th, Group 2)
19:31.19 … Julia Burgio [Williamstown] (15^th, Group 4)
19:34.05 … Devon Gervasi [Haddonfield] (5^th, Group 2)
19:34.16 … Peighton Clemens [Ocean City] (12^th, Group 3)
19:35.44 … **Tatum Russo [Haddonfield] (6^th, Group 2)
19:37.21 … *Hazel Straight [Collingswood] (2^nd, Group 1)
19:40.17 … ***Cara Jefferson [Ocean City] (13^th, Group 3)
19:41.24 … **Emma Camm [Audubon] (3^rd, Group 1)
19:43.86 … *Abby Marino [Woodstown] (Group 1)
19:45.44 … **Brooke Mashburn [Delsea] (14^th, Group 3)
19:47.69 … Olivia Masucci [Vineland] (16^th, Group 4)
19:48.49 … **Juliet Stack Maya [Moorestown] (16^th, Group 3)
19:48.61 … **Kennedy Hartwyck [Williamstown] (17^th, Group 3)
19:50.53 … ***Quinlan Smith [Mainland Reg.] (17^th, Group 3)
19:51.21 … Rebecca Tibbetts [Cherry Hill East] (18^th, Group 4)
19:52.12 … Gabrielle Urban [Cherokee] (19^th, Group 4)
19:53.04 … Theresa Albertson [Cherry Hill East] (20^th, Group 4)
19:53.08 … ***Austyn Semar [Cherry Hill East] (21^st, Group 4)
19:54.34 … **Isabella Prendergast [Highland] (18^th, Group 3)
19:54.38 … Brianna Gilligan [Sterling] (7^th, Group 2)
19:55.49 … *Yazmire Bonhomme [Williamstown] (22^nd, Group 4)
19:55.51 … *Kelsey Beer [Shawnee] (19^th, Group 3)
19:56.80 … **Bella DeFinis [Haddonfield] (8^th, Group 2)
19:58.39 … Lauren LaMonaca [Mainland Reg.] (20^th, Group 3]

It was a fast day at DREAM Park Saturday, with 25 boys under 16 minutes and another 32 under 16:30!

You had to run pretty fast to advance to states. The cutoffs for individual wild-cards. The 15th-place times were 16:00.28 in Group 4, 16:26.46 in Group 3, 17:30.40 in Group 2 and 17:07.92 in an unusually fast Group 1 race.

Here’s our list of everybody under 16:30, with a girls list coming later today! As always, holla with additions and corrections!

15:10.33 … Keenan Neumann [Ocean City] (1^st, Group 3)
15:12.58 … *Trevor Szilier [Washington Twp.] (1^st, Group 4)
15:23.74 … Nathan Aschmann [Ocean City] (2^nd, Group 3)
15:24.18 … *Nevin Millstein [Ocean City] (3^rd, Group 3)
15:31.03 … Cian Sherlock [Cherry Hill East] (2^nd, Group 4)
15:34.80 … Joseph Saicic [Glassboro] (1^st, Group 1)
15:37.88 … Maximo Harada [Cherokee] (4^th, Group 4)
15:39.19 … *Zander Kane [Moorestown] (4^th, Group 3)
15:39.89 … Benjamin Realley [Cherokee] (5^th, Group 4)
15:43.85 … Connor Brand [Haddonfield] (1^st, Group 2)
15:44.74 … Ryan Duffy [Kingsway] (6^h, Group 4)
15:45.08 … Gavin Danielewicz [Cherokee] (7^th, Group 4)
15:47.53 … *Zacchaeus Harrigan [Glassboro] (2^nd, Group 1)
15:47.94 … **Hamza Salahuddin [Cherokee] (8^th, Group 4)
15:49.55 … Sean Sooy [Cherokee] (9^th, Group 4)
15:51.09 … **Jim Rotaeche [Camden Catholic] (1^st, Bob Kiessling)
15:55.11 … Lane McClintock [West Deptford] (2^nd, Group 2)
15:55.58 … *Benjamin McCarthy [Ocean City] (5^th, Group 3)
15:56.54 … Aneesh Rajagopal [Cherry Hill East] (10^th, Group 4)
15:56.97 … *Aaron Johnson [Glassboro] (3^rd, Group 1)
15:58.28 … Daniel Svec [Egg Harbor Twp.] (11^th, Group 4)
15:58.81 … Dylan Benitez Gonzalez [Bridgeton] (T13th, Group 4)
15:58.81 … Leo Vyvyan [Cherokee] (T13^th, Group 4)
15:58.89 … Andrew Blum [Haddonfield] (3^rd, Group 2)
15:58.99 … Giovanna Fuchs [Sterling] (4^th, Group 2)
16:00.28 … Maximelio Giardino [Vineland] (15^th, Group 4)
16:00.77 … **Deven Lloyd [Shawnee] (6^th, Group 3)
16:02.23 … Jamar Mack [Middle Twp.] (5^th, Group 2)
16:02.32 … Benjamin Dodulik [Cherry Hill East] (16^th, Group 4)
16:03.53 … *Oluwanifemi Fadulu [Highland] (7^th, Group 3)
16:04.12 … *Jack Priessman [Mainland Reg.] (8^th, Group 3)
16:04.22 … *Gavin Rakitis [Glassboro] (4^th, Group 1)
16:05.24 … Michael Romano [Ocean City] (9^th, Group 3)
16:05.76 … *John Robinson [Audubon] (5^th, Group 1)
16:06.47 … **Brandon Basilio [Williamstown] (17^th, Group 4)
16:08.10 … *Wyatt Evans [Gloucester Tech] (18^th, Group 4)
16:08.49 … *Tim Rooney [Egg Harbor Twp.] (19^th, Group 4)
16:09.29 … *Logan Tripician [Haddonfield] (6^th, Group 2)
16:11.19 … *Liam Aspenberg [Egg Harbor Twp.] (20^th, Group 4)
16:13.03 … ***Christian Hughes [Glassboro] (6^th, Group 1)
16:15.04 … **Richard Lorenz [Highland] (11^th, Group 3)
16:18.11 … Payton Veilleux [Kingsway] (23^rd, Group 4)
16:18.73 … *Jayden Carn [Lenape] (24^th, Group 4)
16:18.93 … Bruce Novoa [Cherokee] (25^th, Group 4)
16:19.23 … *Carmelo Carino [Lenape] (26^th, Group 4)
16:19.33 … *Isaiah Strickland [27^th, Vineland] (Group 4)
16:19.37 … *Graham Dodson [Haddonfield] (7^th, Group 2)
16:20.56 … Liam Murphy [Highland] (12^th, Group 3)
16:24.90 … Chris Davis [Medford Tech] (14^th, Group 3)
16:25.25 … **Conan Poerner [Cherry Hill East] (28^th, Group 4)
16:25.27 … David Farrell [Woodstown] (7^th, Group 1)
16:25.98 … *Michael Beaver [Kingsway] (29^th, Group 4)
16:26.42 … *Ryan DeVecchis [Washington Twp.] (30^th, Group 4)
16:26.46 … *Hayden Tarves [Ocean City] (15^th, Group 3)
16:27.24 … Ryan Jefferson [Ocean City] (16^th, Group 3)
16:28.54 … ***Jacskon Grottini [Cherry Hill East] (32^nd, Group 4)
16:28.87 … Michael Zechman [Timber Creek] (17^th, Group 3)

Sophomore Simon Bernhardt from Shawnee placed 6^th and ran a 30-second all-course PR to help The College of New Jersey win the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship Saturday in Ewing.

Bernhardt lowered his 8,000-meter best from 26:07 from just two weeks ago in Waterford, Conn., to 25:37. He was TCNJ’s 4^th finisher as the Lions beat Rowan 22-49 on the Green Lane Fields.

TCNJ has won three straight NJAC titles and 29 of the 36 meets contested since 1991, including 23 straight from 1994 through 2016, the first two as Trenton State before the name change in 1995.

TCNJ went 1-3-5-6-7-(8-17). Also racing for TCNJ was Cherokee graduate Silas Matteson, who placed 29^th in 26:50.

Rowan was led by senior Aidan Brad of Williamstown, who placed 4^th in 25:27, an all-course 8K best for him as well. Brad’s previous fastest 8K was 25:53 at Stockton in September.

Also for the Profs, senior Colin Patterson from Haddon Heights was 9^th in25:53, freshman Dominic Burgio of Williamstown ran 26:07 for 15^th, junior Reid Gervasi from Haddonfield was 16^th in 26:11 and sophomore Dylan Saber from Williamstown placed 19^th in 26:17.

Also racing for Rowan were freshmen Ryan McCann of Cedar Creek [36^th in 27:13], Zach Fayer of Audubon [37^th in 27:14], Kal Heyman of Ocean City [39^th in 27:16] and Andrew Dopkin of Highland [40^th in 27:28].

The No. 2 freshman in the race was Stockton’s James Clauson from Haddon Township, who placed 13^th in 26:05 and was Stockton’s No. 1 finisher. Senior Patrick Storti from Cinnaminson and sophoore Conner Suge from Williamstown and Gloucester County Tech were the Ospreys’ 3^rd and 4^th finishers in 22^nd ith 26:28 and 32^nd with 27:02.

Senior Ally Wernick from Washington Township, sophomore Juliana Sieminski from Elk Township and Delsea and freshman Kayla Romanoski from West Deptford all placed in the top 10 at the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championships Saturday in Ewing.

https://static.njacsports.com/custompages/wcross/2026/njacwomen2026.html

Despite placing all five scorers in the top 13, Rowan placed 2^nd to the host Lions, 32-37. TCNJ went 3-4-5-6-7-12.

Wernick placed 2^nd in 22:04 over 6,000 meters at the Green Lane Fields course designed by Rancocas Valley graduate Mike Walker, a TCNJ assistant coach. Her time is a 6K all-course PR. Her previous PR was a 23:10 at a meet at Stockton Univerisyt in Galloway Township last fall.

Sieminski placed 8^th in 22:52, also an all-course best over 6,000 meters. Her previous PR was 22:57 in a race in Salisbury, Md., in September of last year.

And Romanoski ran 22:55, her fastest time ever as well by more than a minute. She ran 24:03 at Stockton in her first college race in September. Romanoski was the first freshman finisher and selected Rookie of the Year in the NJAC.

For TCNJ, sophomore Lilla Porter from Mantua Township and Clearview was 6^th runner in 16^th placein 23:42. Also racing for TCNJ were junior Ella Feehan from Brigantine and Atlantic County Tech, who was 27^th overall in 24:03, and junior Taylor Rooney from Egg Harbor Township, who placed 39^th in 24:33.

Stockton placed 3^rd with 79 points, with senior Sarah Rutledge placing 14^th as Stockton’s No. 2 runner in 23:37. Sophomore Madison Pratt from Galloway Township and Absegami and sophomore Paige McCabe from Moorestown placed 15^th and 19^th for Stockton in 23:39 and 23:48. Also sophomore Grace Wojciechowski from Cherokee and freshman Shaelea Conway from Cherry Hill East placed 23^rd and 28^th in 23:57 and 24:19.

Rutgers-Camden’s top runner was sophomore Dejia Robert from Gloucester, who placed 39^th in 25:28.

The TCNJ women have won 36 NJAC titles, the first 12 from 1981 through 1995 when it was known as The College of New Jersey. Rowan won the last two.

Freshman Molly Cataline placed 4^th with a 53-second all-course PR and the Northern Burlington girls – with two freshmen, two sophomores and a junior in their top 5 – advanced to states with a 5^th-place finish in the loaded Central Jersey Group 3 sectional in Jamesburg.

Cataline ran 18:00, dropping her all-course best from 18:53, which she ran when she won the Burlington County Open at Crystal Lake Park in Mansfield Township earlier this month.

Northern placed 5^th, securing the final auto qualifying spot for the state Group 3 meet Saturday at Holmdel County Park. The top three schools in Central Jersey Group 3 are Middletown South, Princeton and Hopewell Valley, ranked 3^rd, 5^th and 14^th in the state.

But Northern hung in there against some of the state’s best teams. Backing up Cataline were junior Kamiyah Vergo, 14^th in 19:03, sophomore Abigail Leonard, 34^th in 20:26, sophomore Adelina Floyd, 35^th in 20:26, and freshman Mary-Kate Boyle, 40^th in 21:00.

Middletown South won the team title, 45-57, over Princeton, with Hopewell Valley 3rd with 90 points, Colts Neck 4th at 103 and Northern finishing 10 points ahead of West Windsor-Plainsboro North, 127-137, to snag the final qualifying spot.