Resting its top runners for Saturday’s Manhattan Invitational, Haddonfield on Friday still won the Camden County title Friday with a different group.
Highland went 1-2, with senior Aziz Muhammad-Kane winning his 2nd consecutive Camden County title in 16:37 at Timber Creek Park in Gloucester Township and junior Mason Wassell placing 2nd in 16:57.
But Haddonfield went 5-9-11-13-21 and edged Highland 55-67 with sophomore Brandon Stoner leading the way in 5th place in 17:42. Haddon Heights placed 3rd with 78 points.
The only regular who ran for Haddonfield – ranked No. 4 in the state – was sophomore John Leibrandt, who was Haddonfield’s 6th runner when the Bulldogs won Shore Coaches and their 2nd finisher Friday in 9th place in 17:55.
Junior Linus Kucer [11th in 18:01], junior Case Hurly [13th in 18:03] and sophomore Michael Sinnes [21st in 18:34] also scored for Haddonfield, and senior Grey Sullivan finished just behind Sinnes [23rd in 18:43].
Muhammad-Kane and Wassell are the first teammates to go 1-2 in the Camden County meet since Camden Catholic’s Richard Castaneda ran 16:52 and Matt Coffey 17:10 at the 2018 meet.
Muhammad-Kane is the first repeat winner since Sean Macpherson of Sterling won the 2014 race at Pennypacker Park in Haddonfield in 15:22 and the 2015 race at Timber Creek Park in 17:25.
Muhammad-Kane is Highland’s first repeat winner in the 64-year history of the meet, and Muhammad-Kane and Wassell are the first Highland runners to finish 1-2.
Also in the top 10 were Haddon Heights junior Reggie Hernandez [3rd in 17:15], Haddon Township senior Jackson Sennhenn [4th in 17:32], Triton senior Ethan Wence [6th in 17:46], Timber Creek senior Robert Wakefield [7th in 17:50], Cherry Hill sophomore West Rex Takakjy [8th in 17:52] and Haddon Heights senior Jayden Gonzalez [10th in 17:58].
Cherry Hill East, which is also competing at the Manhattan Invite, did not compete.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 