Nick Kuenkel ran the fastest time of the day, and Cherokee edged St.Peter’s Prep by one point in the team merge at Friday’s Battle at Ocean County Park in Lakewood.
Kuenkel won the Senior Race in 15:22 over 5,000 meters, finishing seven seconds ahead of 2nd-place Elijah Forrest of Collingswood, whose 15:29 was the 2nd-fastest time of the day.
Senior Robert Poplau ran 15:50 and was 4th in the Senior Race and 5th-fastest overall, Liam Tindall ran 16:11 for 6th in the junior race and 15th-fastest overall, Logan Bromley won the sophomore race in 16:13 and was 16th-fastest overall and Benjamin Weiner was 10th in the junior race and 29th overall in 16:26.
Additionally, Benjamin Realley placed 2nd in the freshman race in 10:53 over two miles. The freshman race didn’t figure into team scoring.
Cherokee edged St. Peter’s Prep of Jersey City 65-66 to win the team merge. Cherry Hill East placed 5th with 169 points and Washington Township was 8th with 351. Some 45 schools ran full teams.
Other South Jersey boys under 17 minutes: Washington Township’s Daniel Torres [12th in Senior Race in 16:13], Washington Township’s Aaron Kolosowsky [14th in Senior Race in 16:16], Cherry Hill East’s Raine Guidarelli [15th in Senior Race in 16:18], Cherry Hill East’s Brody Bogos [8th in Junior Race in 16:18], Timber Creek’s Robert Wakefield [19th in Senior Race in 16:30], Cherry Hill East’s Nikhil Raman [11th in Junior Race in 16:38], Cherokee’s Enzo Corona [12th in Junior Race in 16:40], Rancocas Valley’s Christopher Gray [14th in Junior Race in 16:41], Cherry Hill East’s Brandon Lyons [16th in Junior Race in 16:45], Cherry Hill East’s Colin Moore [6th in Sophomore Race in 16:48], Cherry Hill East’s Alvin Lin [7th in Sophomore Race in 16:50] and Cherry Hill East’s Cole Pizzo [20th in Junior Race in 16:51].
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 