Wildwood sophomore Macie McCracken was the overall winner and then Ocean City packed its five scorers from 2nd through 6th in a 59-second pack to win its 12th consecutive Cape May County title.
McCracken ran 18:45 over the 5,000-meter course at the Cape May County Zoo in Middle Township. That’s the fastest time on the course since Alexa Weber of Ocean City ran 18:44 to win the 2017 race.
The county title was the 2nd in a row for McCracken, who ran 19:29 last year. She’s Wildwood’s only individual winner since the girls meet was added in 1985.
Ocean City, ranked No. 9 in the state, has won every county title since 2009, when Wildwood Catholic went 1-2-3 behind Tara Wuko, Kayla Noll and Chrissy Casiello and edged Ocean City 30-32. There was no meet held in 2020.
The Red Raiders were led by Maeve Smith and Chloe Care, who both broke 19 minutes and finished 2nd and 3rd, making it a 1-2-3 finish for the Class of 2025.
They were followed closely by senior Olivia Palmieri, junior Frankie Ritzel and senior Grace McAfee, who placed 4th, 5th and 6th in 20:14, 20:17 and 20:25. Freshman Gabrielle Henry and senior Abby Inserra ran 20:59 and 21:17 and placed 7th and 9th for the Raiders, giving Ocean City seven runners in the top nine.
Sophomore Leiah Pawlus gave Wildwood two finishers in the top 10. Pawlus ran 21:14 and placed 8th. Middle Township senior Sofia Jurusz ran 21:17 for 10th.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 