Sophomore Olivia Parkinson, senior Nicole Clifford and junior Kelsey Niglio all placed in the top 10 to lead Cherokee to the Group A team title at the 45th annual Shore Coaches Invitational Saturday.
It’s the first Shore Coaches team title in the Cherokee girls XC program’s history.
Parkinson ran 19:27 over the historic 5,000-meter Holmdel County Park course and placed 4th, Clifford ran 19:57 for 6th and Niglio ran 20:24 for 9th.
Soph Kerry O’Day was 17th in 20:52 and freshman Megan Niglio was 38th in 21:28 in her first lifetime race over the challenging Holmdel course.
Cherokee’s five scorers averaged 20:25, and the Chiefs outscored second-place North Hunterdon 73-140.
Cherokee’s average time was 3rd-fastest of all the schools in all six varsity races Saturday.
19:59 … Lakeland [1st Group E]
20:08 … Haddonfield [1st Group D]
20:25 … Cherokee [1st Group A]
20:27 … Kent Place [2nd Group F]
20:31 … Lawrenceville School [1st Group F]
20:40 … Rumson Fair-Haven [2nd Group D]
20:41 … Mendham [1st Group B]
20:51 … Union Catholic [2nd Group E]
20:56 … Freehold Township [3rd Group A]
20:53 … Montgomery [4th Group A]
Eastern senior Sophia Staiger and Cherry Hill East senior Madison McNiff also finished in the top 20. Staiger ran 20:34 for 13th and McNiff ran 20:50 for 16th.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 