Ocean City’s Cape-Atlantic Conference title was particularly impressive because of the depth the Red Raiders showed.
Ocean City not only placed its five scorers in the top 15, its sixth and seventh runners both ran in the top 20 in a field of 117 runners Thursday at Stockton University’s 5,000-meter course in Galloway Township.
Those two runners may not have “scored” in terms of Ocean City’s five-runner total, but when you have two runners that are this far up in the field, they are bumping down the scores of every other team. That’s why XC is the ultimate team sport.
First of all, Mainland senior Linden Wineland, coming off the Atlantic County title, was the overall winner, crossing the line in 15:39 on the fast, flat Stockton layout. That’s an all-course PR for Wineland.
Ocean City had two runners under 16 minutes – senior Owen Ritti was second in 15:44 and junior Nick Scarangelli ran 15:57 for fourth. It was the first time under 16 minutes on any course for Ritti and Scarangelli.
The Raiders’ other scorers were junior Chris Sardy [10th in 16:32], senior Nigel Collins [12th in 16:50] and sophomore Matt Hoffman [15th in 17;00].
Junior Colin Abbott and senior Reece Wagner ran 17:13 and 17:18 to place 18th and 19th and give Ocean City seven runners in the top 19.
The bigger the meet, the more this sort of depth will help. Ocean City outscored Mainland 43-57 to win its third straight Cape-Atlantic team title and 7th in the last 10 years. There was no meet last year. Ocean City’s top five averaged 16:24.
Also in the top 10 were Lower Cape May senior Zeb Hinker [3rd in 15:54], Mainland junior Elliot Post [5th16:10], Egg Harbor junior Ryan Taylor [6th in 16:13], Cedar Creek senior Dalton Culleny [7th 16:14], Lower Cape May junior Jack Cura [8th 16:18] and Buena senior Kayden Platania [9th 16:29].
That’s runners from six different high schools in the top 10!
Full results are here.
2019
2018
2nd in 2017
2016
2015
2nd in 2014
2013
2nd in 2012
2011
2010
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 