Alison Cooke, Kelsey Niglio and Nicole Clifford turned in their second All-America performance in two days Saturday – on two different tracks.
Cooke, Niglio and Clifford, joined by Megan Niglio, placed 2nd in the distance medley at Ocean Breeze Nationals in 11:57.91, the 5th-fastest time in South Jersey history.
On Friday, Cooke, Kelsey Niglio and Clifford, joined by Maddie Van Haren, placed 2nd in the sprint medley at the Armory Nationals 25 miles north of Ocean Breeze. That’s No. 3 in South Jersey history.
On Saturday, Megan Niglio led off with a 3:43.62 leg for 1,200 meters, Cooke split 58.01 on the 400 and Kelsey Niglio ran her 800 leg in 2:14.72. Clifford anchored in 5:01.56, and Cherokee placed second to Saratoga Springs, N.Y., which won the race in 11:44.34.
Cherokee is back at the Armory Sunday for the 3,200-meter relay. Cherokee is ranked No. 4 nationally with its 9:07.81 at a SJTCA meet at the Bubble in February. Kelsey Niglio, Kerry O’Day, Megan Niglio and Nicole Clifford are expected to line up in the 4-by-8 for Cherokee.
All-time South Jersey 3,200-Meter Relay List
11:43.94 … Haddonfield, 2014
11:54.63 … Lenape, 2013
11:55.90 … Lenape, 2012
11:57.64 … Haddonfield, 2017
11:57.91 … Cherokee, 2022
11:58.92 … Lenape, 2010
12:02.51 … Ocean City, 2014
12:03.40 … Haddonfield, 2015
12:04.45 … Haddonfield, 2009
12:04.62 … Sterling, 2017
12:04.9h ….. Lenape, 2015
12:11.47 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2020
12:12.22 … Ocean City, 2005
12:13.46 … Washington Twp., 2011
12:14.48 … Haddonfield, 2013
12:15.60 … Lenape, 2014
12:16.71 … Highland, 2004
12:17.11 … Kingsway, 2017
12:17.40 … Lenape, 2017
12:19.81 … Lenape, 2009
12:20.11 … Shawnee, 2017
12:20.4h … Woodrow Wilson, 2002
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 