From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Junior Jordan Hadfield became Schalick’s first winner at the Tri-County Showcase in 27 years Tuesday with a big win Tuesday at Cumberland Regional in Upper Deerfield Township.

Hadfield ran 18:50, with Williamstown senior Alyssa Boucher and sophomore Sophia Aldridge finishing 2nd and 3rd to lead the Braves to their first team title in 14 years.

Hadfield ran 5:14.80 and 11:17.17 and was a state Group 1 medalist in both races last spring, but this is her first season of cross country and she’s been consistently up front in every major race.

She placed 3rd in the South Jersey Shootout, 1st in her race at the Six Flags Wild Safari, 6th at Shore Coaches, 1st in the South Jersey Open, 1st in the Salem County Championships and now 1st in the Tri-County meet.

Hadfield has now run sub-19 in her last three races – 18:49.24 at the South Jersey Open at DREAM Park in Logan Township, 18:26 at the Salem County meet on her home course in Pittsgrove Township and her 18:50.24 Tuesday at Cumberland Regional.

She’s Schalick’s first Tri-County Showcase winner since Sandy Ogbin won the 1996 race at Kingsway in 19:17. Williamstown won the team title that year as well.

For this year’s Williamstown team, Boucher and Aldridge both ran 19:20 and change, Boucher edging her teammate for 2nd place by 41-100ths of a second (19:20.44 to 19:20.85).

Junior Delaney Harbison placed 11th in 21:0, freshman Julia Burgio was 15th in 21:25 and senior Paige Franklin 18th in 21:40.

The Braves outscored Clearview 44-54 to win their first title since the 2009 team – led by Kristen Mathis in 4th place – topped Clearview 38-50.

Others in the top 10 were Wildwood junior Macie McCracken [4th in 19:47], Clearview senior Allison Roes [5th in 20:12], Washington Township junior Rachael Wilson [6th in 20:14], Clearview senior Margaret Wisniewski [7th in 20:25], Washington Township junior Kaylee Russell [8th in 20:30], Delsea junior Juliana Sieminski [9th in 20:40] and Highland sophomore Lyana Gutierrez 10th in 20:51].