Sophomore Riley Austin and senior Ava Thomas finished 1-2, and Haddonfield placed all five scorers in the top 10 to hold off Sterling in a terrific battle of state-ranked teams at the South Jersey Group 2 meet Saturday.
Haddonfield finished with a 25-38 margin of victory over Sterling, which placed three in the top seven and all five scorers in the top 17. Haddonfield is ranked No. 2 in New Jersey, Sterling No. 14.
Sterling’s 38-point total matched the lowest non-winning score in South Jersey Group 2 in 47 years, since Haddon Township defeated Gateway 26-29 in 1976, when they were the only two schools to field full programs.
The 13-point margin of victory is Haddonfield’s smallest since a 56-52 win over Pleasantville in 2012.
The team title is Haddonfield’s 31st and 14th in a row.
Austin ran 18:47.80 over 5,000 meters at DREAM Park in Logan Township to record the first major individual title of her racing career, and Thomas was 2nd in 19:10.
Junior Dylan Melcher was Haddonfield’s 3rd finisher in 5th place in 19:51, and freshman Harper Benjamin and senior Anna Stolarick ran 8th and 9th in 20:01 and 20:05. Junior Katherine Asher, Haddonfield’s 6th runner, was 13th in 21:09. Haddonfield was at less than full strength.
For Sterling, senior Cara Coppolino placed 3rd in 19:43, junior Kaysie Luna 4th in 19:48 and junior Jonalee Adames 7th in 20:00. Junior Isabella Mackey took 11th in 20:50 and senior Jennifer Tisera ran 22:36 for 17th.
Cedar Creek placed 3rd with 95 points, with Cinnaminson [103] and Seneca [142] also qualifying for next week’s state Group 2 meet at Holmdel County Park.
In addition to the current 14 sectional titles in a row, the Bulldogs won SJ-2 in 1979, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 and SJ-1 in 1982, 1985, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997 and 1998.
Haddonfield has won a sectional title 18 of the last 19 years and going back to 1990, 26 of the last 34 years.
Cinnaminson senior Anna Marino was the first runner across the line not from Haddonfield or Sterling, placing 6th in 19:57. West Deptford freshman Taylor Sierzega placed 10th in 20:07.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 