The Cherokee girls took over the No. 1 spot in the U.S. in the sprint medley Wednesday with a 4:18.22 at the Bubble in Toms River.
Junior Kelsey Niglio and senior Nicole Clifford from Cherokee’s Meet of Champions-winning XC team ran the two long legs for the Chiefs, whose time is their fastest in eight years, since the 2013 team ran 4;13.00 at New Balance Nationals at the Armory.
Fayetteville-Manlius of Manlius in Onondaga County, N.Y., outside Syracuse, previously held the top spot on the MileSplit U.S. ranking at 4:19.29 at the Section 3 Mohawk Valley Team Relays at Utica (N.Y.) College last month.
Seniors Jill Strauss and Alli Cook ran the 200s for Cherokee, Niglio split 60.4 and Clifford anchored in 2:21.4.
Niglio and Clifford ran on Cherokee’s U.S.. #1 12:30.94 DMR on the same track on Dec. 29 along with freshman Megan Niglio and sophomore Kerry O’Day.
Kingsway placed second in the sprint medley Wednesday in 4:23.37, which is No. 2 in the state this year and No. 5 nationally very early in the indoor season.
Junior Nicole Lipieta, senior Sumayyah Turner, senior Jordyn Scott and junior Aubrey Pierontoni ran for Kingsway.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 