Cherokee’s Megan Niglio, Madison Van Haren, Kelsey Niglio and Kerry O’Day ran the 12th-fastest distance medley in South Jersey history Friday night in Boston.
Cherokee won its section in 12:10.07, a time that held up for 10th-best overall Friday at Boston Nationals in Brighton, Mass. The Lady Chiefs ran unpressed and won their race by about 80 meters.
Sophomore Megan Niglio led off for Cherokee with a 3:45.02 split for 1,200 meters, and junior Madison Van Haren ran 58.94 for her 400 leg. Senior Kelsey Niglio ran 2:16.20 on the 800, and junior Kerry O’Day anchored in 5:09.56.
Cherokee now has the two-fastest times by South Jersey schools over the last six indoor seasons – 11:57.21 last year at Ocean Breeze Nationals (which is the same meet as this year’s Armory Nationals) and this 12:10.07.
The time is No. 6 in Burlington County history, behind Lenape in 2013, 2012, 2010 and 2015 and last year’s Cherokee team. Lenape and Cherokee are responsible for the nine-fastest indoor DMRs in Burlington County history.
Despite being ranked No. 7 nationally coming into the meet, Cherokee was not placed in the 11-team fast heat, where the Chiefs would have had the opportunity to race against other schools and not just the clock.
Next big DMR for this group will be on Day 2 of the 127th annual Penn Relays, late Friday afternoon on April 28 at Franklin Field.
All-Time South Jersey Indoor DMR List
11:43.94 … Haddonfield, 2014
11:54.63 … Lenape, 2013
11:55.90 … Lenape, 2012
11:57.21 … Cherokee, 2022
11:57.64 … Haddonfield, 2017
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
12:10.07 … Cherokee, 2023
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
12:19.53 … Clearview, 2023
12:19.81 … Lenape, 2009
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 