From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

For the second straight year, Haddon Heights and Cinnaminson locked up in a terrific Woodbury Relays distance medley, and for the second straight year Heights came out on top in a very close finish.

Last year, Colin Patterson, Chris Hunter, Matthew Iuvara and Jack Bolling ran 10:27.31 for Heights, and Tyler Schill, Ryan Malinowski, Derek Coceano and Alex Boyko ran 10.28.95 for Cinnaminson.

On Saturday at the 49th annual Woodbury Relays, Heights ran 10:28.03 and Cinnaminson 10:29.54.

For Heights, Patterson, Iuvara and Bolling – all seniors – were joined by sophomore Mateo Bovell. We’re not sure who ran what, but presumably Patterson the 1,200, Bovell the 400, Iuvara the 800 and Bolling anchored.

For Cinnaminson, Boyko and Malinowski were joined by Josiah Saint Elien and Matt McCarron, presumably with Boyko on the 1,200 (but possibly McCarron), Saint Elien the 400, Malinowski the 800 and McCarron (but possible Boyko) anchoring. Boyko and McCarron are seniors, Saint Elien a junior and Malinowski a soph.

Heights’ leadoff ran 3:13.52 to 3:13.74 for Cinnaminson’s 1,200 leg. The 400s were also similar – 52.96 for Heights, 53.10 for Cinnaminson. Heights’ half-miler split 1:59.42 and Cinnaminson’s 2:02.23. Both anchors were fast – 4:21.85 for Heights and 4:20.50 for Cinnaminson.

There have been only two DMRs at Woodbury since 2016 where two teams broke 10:30 – Group 2 last year with Heights and Cinnaminson and Group 2 this year with Heights and Cinnaminson. Those are the four-fastest Group 2 times at Woodbury since 2014.

They’re also the four-fastest times at Woodbury in any group since 2018, when Kingsway ran 10:26.74 to win Group 4.

And they’re the two-fastest outdoor times in Heights history and Cinnaminson history.

Heights and Cinnaminson will both be racing in invitational relays next weekend at the 127th annual Penn Relays at Franklin Field.

Cinnaminson got into the DMR by virtue of its 10:21.80 for 7th place at Armory Nationals indoors with McCarron on the 12, Saint Eileen the 4, Coceano the 8 and Boyko the 16. That’s slated for 5:05 p.m. next Friday.

Heights will race in the 3,200-meter relay with Bolling, senior Jonathan Hastings, Iuvara and Patterson. Heights qualified with an 8:07.47 at a SJTCA meet at Ocean Breeze in February.

Here’s the updated all-time South Jersey 10:30 list:

10:00.9h … Willingboro, 1983
10:10.62 … Haddonfield, 2016
10:10.74 … Washington Twp., 2000
10:10.8y … Haddon Township, 1973
10:12.65 … Mainland Reg., 2004
10:15.4y … Paul VI, 1976
10:15.5y … Highland, 1980
10:15.9y … Williamstown, 1973
10:16.11 … Cherokee, 2001
10:16.14 … Haddonfield, 2010
10:16.29 … Highland, 1991
10:17.2y … Williamstown, 1974
10:17.3y … Haddonfield, 1979
10:18.74 … Shawnee, 1991
10:19.11 … Washington Twp., 2009
10:19.47 … Cherokee, 2012
10:19.4y … Haddon Twp., 1972
10:19.4y … Paul VI., 1974
10:19.5y … Holy Cross, 1971
10:19.67 … Haddon Twp., 2015
10:19.90 … Cherry Hill East, 2016
10:20.11 … Haddonfield, 2002
10:20.92 … Rancocas Valley, 2015
10:20.98 … Northern Burlington, 2014
10:21.78 … Cherokee, 2000
10:22.3y … Highland, 1979
10:22.81 … Ocean City, 2003
10:22.9h … Paul VI, 1988
10:23.1y … Holy Cross, 1972
10:23.98 … Cherry Hill East, 2015
10:24.40 … Pleasantville, 2013
10:24.4h … Eastern, 1985
10:25.44 … Kingsway, 2019
10:25.6y … Gateway, 1979
10:25.6y … Woodbury, 1979
10:26.3y … Highland, 1979
10:26.3h … Cherokee, 1998
10.26.74 … Kingsway, 2018
10:26.90 … Camden Catholic, 2019
10:27.23 … Haddonfield, 2015
10:27.31 … Haddon Heights, 2022
10:27.81 … Washington Twp., 2002
10:27.9y … Haddon Twp., 1969
10:28.03 … Haddon Heights, 2023
10:28.46 … Haddonfield, 2011
10:28.65 … Delsea, 2012
10:28.95 … Cinnaminson, 2022
10:29.0h … Paul VI, 1990
10:29.1y … Gateway, 1978
10:29.41 … Cherokee, 2002
10:29.54 … Cinnaminson, 2023
10:29.56 … Eastern, 2015
10:30.1h … Paul VI, 1989
10:30.4h … Shawnee, 1989
10:30.64 … Northern Burlington, 2013