Cherokee’s Maddie Van Haren, Alison Cooke, Kelsey Niglio and Nicole Clifford earned All-America honors Friday with a 2nd-place finish in the sprint medley at Armory Nationals.
The Chiefs, racing as Tub Gator Track Club, ran 4:04.27, No. 3 in South Jersey history and fastest in 19 years. It’s also No. 14 in New Jersey history.
Van Haren led off with a 27.01 split out the hole, and Alison Cooke split 26.40 to set up Kelsey Niglio, who split 58.84 and anchor Nicole Clifford, who covered 800 meters in 2:11.95. Cherokee finished second to only Oak Park (Mich.), which ran 3:59.51.
Cherokee’s previous school record was a 4:10.45 at the Group 4 State Relays at the Bubble in January. Before this year, the school’s best was a 4:11.93 at 2012 Armory Nationals with Alicia Green, Courtney Foster, Elizabeth Montague and Megan Lacy.
The 2nd-place finish continues a dream season for the Cherokee girls, who won sectional, state and regional XC titles, won the state relays indoors and the 3,200-meter relay at the Meet of Champions and now have All-America honors at nationals.
Cherokee will be back in action 25 miles south of the Armory at Ocean Breeze Nationals for the distance medley Saturday evening and the 3,200-meter relay Sunday afternoon.
All-time South Jersey indoor SMR list
4:01.41 … Willingboro, 2003
4:03.93 … Haddonfield, 2001
4:04.27 … Cherokee, 2022
4:04.38 … Washington Twp., 2010
4:08.21 … Lenape, 2015
4:08.60 … Lenape, 2012
4:09.27 … Millville, 2008
4:10.01 … Willingboro, 2004
4:10.17 … Camden, 1995
4:10.18 … Willingboro, 2005
4:10.22 … Lenape, 2016
4:10.36 … Lenape, 2013
4:10.43 … Kingsway, 2013
4:10.51 … Lenape, 2007
4:11.02 … Lenape, 2006
4:11.19 … Woodrow Wilson, 2005
4:11.61 … Millville, 2009
4:11.66 … Willingboro, 2006
4:11.93 … Cherokee, 2012
4:11.94 … Kingsway, 2010
4:12.35 … Delsea, 2014
4:12.51 … Rancocas Valley, 2004
4:13.00 … Cherokee, 2013
4:13.0h … Lenape, 2008
4:13.11 … Winslow Twp., 2003
4:13.25 … Washington Twp., 2011
4:13.26 … Buena, 1999
4:13.33 … Camden, 2009
4:13.58 … Seneca, 2016
4:13.72 … Overberook, 2001
All-Time New Jersey Sprint Medley List
3:57.19 … Columbia, 2014
3:58.46 … Union Catholic, 2019
4:00.33 … Neptune, 2011
4:01.41 … Willingboro, 2003
4:03.13 … Sparta, 2010
4:03.18 … Columbia, 2010
4:03.22 … Columbia, 2013
4:03.14 … Westfield, 2014
4:03.57 … Piscataway, 2008
4:03.69 … Pope John XXIII, 2007
4:03.85 … Hopewell Valley, 2005
4:03.93 … Haddonfield, 2001
4:04.27 … Cherokee, 2022
4:04.36 … Columbia, 1983
4:04.38 … Washington Twp., 2010
4:04.47 … Neptune, 2009
4:04.49 … Hunterdon Central, 2015
4:04.81 … Union Catholic, 2017
4:05.83 … Union Catholic, 2016
4:06.22 … Ramapo, 2019
4:07.07 … Pope John XXIII, 2019
4:07.87 … Southern Regional, 2007
4:07.95 … South Brunswick, 2011
4:07.98 … Immacuate Heart Academy, 2010
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 