Paul VI freshman Shaelan McNally had a big race at the Non-Public A cross country sectionals Sunday, placing 4th with an all-course 5K PR of 19:35.
McNally’s previous PR was 19:54 earlier this month at the Bob Kiessling South Jersey parochial championships at Pennypacker Park in Haddonfield, which she won by half a minute.
At sectionals, McNally finished 28 seconds behind Red Bank Catholic sophomore Cate DeSousa, who won the race in 19:07 on the Oak Ridge Park course in Clark.
McNally’s time is 4th-fastest in course history by a freshman, only 11 seconds off the freshman course record of 19:24 set by Union Catholic’s Abby Granrath at the 2018 Union County Championships.
Eleni Alvarez of St. Thomas Aquinas was second in 19:22 and Granrath third in 19:30.
Red Bank Catholic won the team title with 42 points, with Union Catholic second at 51 and Paul VI third with 96.
Senior Katie Sparks was PVI’s No. 4 runner in 13th place in 20:54, and another freshman, Gisella Croge, took 23rd in 21:49. Junior Katlyn McDonald [27th in 22:12] and freshman Madison Pedicelli [29th in 22:26] also scored for Paul VI.
Sophomore Kamryn Cieslik [30th in 22:45] finished one spot behind Pedicelli, and junior Carlyann Carey [34th in 23:38} gave Paul VI seven across the line before any other school.
Camden Catholic also raced, with sophomores Casey Bednarek and Leah Clear placing 16th and 18th in 21:10 and 21:18.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 