When you lose your top runner and STILL get all your scorers in the top 10, average sub-16:10 and score just 23 points … you know you’ve got a strong program.
That’s exactly what happened to Haddonfield Saturday in the South Jersey Group 2 sectionals.
Junior Derek Gess, Haddonfield’s No. 1 runner and the third-place finisher at sectionals last year, was forced to drop out of the sectional race at Delsea at about the two-mile point. Gess has been sick and tried to race but was not himself. With his teammates running lights out, and the team title comfortably in the bag, there was no reason for him to continue.
His teammates sure picked him up in a big way!
Even without Gess, Haddonfield won by 55 points, 23-78, over Sterling. The team title is Haddonfield’s 14th in a row and 18th in the last 19 years. The Jon Anderson-led 2003 Cinnaminson team is the only one to beat Haddonfield at sectionals since 1999.
In all, Haddonfield has won 37 sectional titles. Since 1977, the Bulldogs have won 33 sectional championships in 41 years.
Sophomore Martin Riddell, who wasn’t even on Haddonfield’s varsity last year, won the race in 15:49, finishing about 40 meters ahead of junior teammate Greg Eisenhower in second.
The win was the first in any major XC race for Riddell, whose best previous finish was a second-place to Gess in the Colonial Conference All-Star race two weeks ago.
Junior Sean Campeggia, sophomore Stephen Kasko and junior Ethan Spellmeyer finished fourth, ninth and 10th, Campiglia in 16:04, Kasko in 16:27 and Spellmeyer in 16:31. Senior Richie Glennon ran 16:53 for 14th, rounding out Haddonfield’s lineup.
Scoring against every other school combined, Haddonfield — ranked No. 2 behind Kingsway in South Jersey and No. 9 in the state — wins 23-32. Scoring through six runners against the field, Haddonfield wins 36-43! That’s not easy to do!
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 