From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Thirteen years ago, Highland senior Megan Venables ran 17:27.83 to win the 2010 state Group 3 title at Holmdel. That broke a course record that had stood for 27 years. In 1983, Janet Smith of J.P. Stevens ran 17:35 to win the Meet of Champions. That broke the previous course record of 17:40 set in 1982 by Washington Township’s Michelle Rowen (who broke the course record of 18:01 set in 1981 by Smith).

Venables lost her course record in 2018 to Katelyn Tuohy of North Rockland High of Thiells, N.Y., who ran a ridiculous 16:21 at the Shore Coaches Invitational in her only race ever at Holmdel. Tuohy is currently running for North Carolina State, where she’s a four-time NCAA champion. Charlotte Bednar of Lawrenceville School [17:21] and Kate Wiser of Pomeraug High in Southbury, Conn. [17:26] ran faster in 2000 and then in 2021 Angelina Perez of Lakeland of Wanaque ran 17:07.

The closest anybody has gotten to Venables since her 17:27 in 2010 is Briana Gess’s 17:45 at the 2013 Meet of Champions.

Fastest this year state-wide at Holmdel is Northern Burlington junior Liliah Gordon, who ran 18:18 to win the C race at Shore Coaches in September. The last South Jersey girl to go faster was Mainland’s Alyssa Aldridge, who ran 17:55 when she won the 2016 Meet of Champions.

Here’s our latest attempt at an all-time South Jersey Holmdel County Park list. As always, please send corrections and additions to me in the comment section!

For the boys list, click here.

17:27.83 … Megan Venables [Highland Reg.], 2010
17:40 … Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1982
17:44 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2008
17:45 … Megan Venables [Highland Reg.], 2010
17:45 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2013
17:50 … Megan Venables [Highland Reg.], 2010
17:52 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2010
17:52 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2009
17:55 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2009
17:55 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2010
17:55 … Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland], 2016
17:58 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2008
18:01 … Megan Venables [Highland Reg.], 2009
18:01 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2008
18:02 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2009
18:07 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2007
18:07 … Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland], 2016
18:08 … Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace], 2010
18:09 … Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace], 2010
18:11 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2010
18:12 … Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City], 2004
18:12 … Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace], 2011
18:12 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2011
18:13 … Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland], 2015
18:14 … Megan Venables [Highland], 2009
18:15 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2013
18:16 … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2009
18:17 … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2009
18:18 … Theresa Cattuna [Cherry Hill East], 2006
18:18 … Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland], 2017
18:18 … Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland], 2016
18:18 … Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 2023
18:19 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2007
18:19 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2011
18:20 … Devin Grisbaum [Ocean City], 2014
18:20 … Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland], 2015
18:21 … Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace], 2010
18:21 … Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland], 2014
18:22 … Vanessa Wright [Haddonfield], 2004
18:23 … Vanessa Wright [Haddonfield], 2005
18:24 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2007
18:25 … Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City], 2004
18:25 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2015
18:26 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2011
18:27 … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2000
18:28 … Grace Yoon [Cherry Hill East], 2016
18:29 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2011
18:29 … Rachel Vick [Kingsway], 2016
18:29 … Vanessa Wright [Haddonfield], 2005
18:29 … Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 2021
18:30 … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 1999
18:33 … Devon Grisbaum [Ocean City], 2014
18:35 … Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.], 2014
18:35 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2016
18:36 … Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1981
18:36 … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 1997
18:36 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2013
18:38 … Casey Doyle [Shawnee], 2007
18:38 … Megan Venables [Highland], 2008
18:40 … Mindy Rowand [Sterling], 1984
18:40 … Dina Iacone [Washington Twp.], 2011
18:41 … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2000
18:41 … Shelby Cain [Haddonfield], 2011
18:41… Theresa Catuna [Cherry Hill East], 2006
18:41 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2015
18:41 … Rachel Vick [Kingsway], 2016
18;42 … Maeve Smith [Ocean City], 2023
18:43 … Amanda Goetschius [Delsea], 2005
18:43 … Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City], 2003
18:43 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2014
18:43 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2016
18:43 … Nicole Clifford [Cherokee], 2021
18:44 … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 1999
18:44 … Arianna McKinney [Highland], 2003
18:45 … Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace], 2010
18:46… Theresa Catuna [Cherry Hill East], 2005
18:46 … Holly Bischof [Bischof Eustace], 2011
18:47 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2009
18:48 … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 1999
18:48 … Grace Wassell [Highland], 2021
18:49 … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 1998
18:49 … Casey Doyle [Shawnee], 2007
18:49 … Meghan Malloy [Haddonfield], 2011
18:49 … Mara Schiffhauer [Seneca], 2013
18:49 … Olivia Shafer [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2019
18:49 … Sofia Day [Mainland Reg.], 2021
18:50 … Dawn Cody [Paul VI], 1982
18:50 … Jamie Weisgerber [Woodstown], 1994
18:50 … Meghan Malloy [Haddonfield], 2011
18:50 … Megan Venables [Highland], 2008
18:50 … Sarah Naticchia [Haddonfield], 2020
18:51 … Jamie Weisgerber [Woodstown], 1994
18:51 … Amanda Goetschius [Delsea], 2006
18:52 … Lisa Burkholder [Cherokee], 2004
18:52 … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2000
18:53 … Renee Tomlin [Ocean City], 2005
18:53 … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2008
18:54 … Mindy Rowand [Sterling], 1984
18:54 … Madison Coppolino [Sterling], 2017
18:55 … Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City], 2003
18:55 … Olivia Shafer [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2019
18:56 … Arianna McKinney [Highland], 2004
18:56 … Shaelan McNally [Paul VI], 2023
18:57 … Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1981
18:57 … Lori Watson [Cherry Hill East], 1983
18:57 … Sarah Naticchia [Haddonfield], 2020
18:57 … Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 2022
18:58 … Abbey Hartman [Ocean City], 1996
18:58 … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 1998
18:58 … Arianna McKinney [Highland], 2003
18:59 … Monique Purcell [Holy Spirit], 1978
18:59 … Wendy Westphal [Highland], 1982
18:59 … Amanda Goetschius [Delsea], 2005
18:59 … Megan Venables [Highland], 2007
18:59 … Kara Bonner [Shawnee,], 2015
18:59 … Alyssa Condell [Timber Creek], 2016
19:00 … Katie Van Horn [Triton], 2004
19:00 … Caitlin Orr [Lenape], 2009
19:00 … Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace], 2009
19:00 … Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 2021
19:01 … Abbey Hartman [Ocean City], 1996
19:01 … Vanessa Wright [Haddonfield], 2004
19:01 … Alyssa Condell [Timber Creek], 2016
19:02 … Amanda Goetschius [Delsea], 2006
19:02 … Amanda Goetschius [Delsea], 2006
19:02 … Megan McGlinchey [West Deptford], 2008
19:02 … Alexis Mullarkey [Kinsway], 2015
19:02 … Caitlin Orr [Lenape], 2008
19:02 … Julia Despirito [Shawnee], 2013
19:02 … Kate Rathman [Cherokee], 2019
19:03 … Maria Ruiz [Williamstown], 2007
19:03 … Sarah Naticchia [Haddonfield], 2019
19:03 … Sophie Steidle [Collingswood], 2020
19:04 … Abigail Kotran [Clearview], 2022
19:05 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2009
19:05 … Alexis Mullarkey [Kinsway], 2017
19:05 … Kate Rathman [Cherokee], 2019
19:05 … Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 2022
19:06 … Arianna McKinney [Highland], 2003
19:06 … Theresa Cattuna [Cherry Hill East], 2005
19:06 … Kate Ruona [Shawnee], 2019
19:06 … Abigail Waddington [Clearview], 2022
19:07 … Abbey Hartman [Ocean City], 1995
19:07 … Shelby Cain [Haddonfield], 2011
19:07 … Dina Iacone [Washington Twp.], 2011
19:07 … Vicki Ajimoko [Williamstown], 2013
19:07 … Allison Colflesh [Haddonfield], 2020
19:08 … Dawn Cody [Paul Vi], 1982
19:08 … Vanessa Wright [Haddonfield], 2003
19:08 … Theresa Cattuna [Cherry Hill East], 2006
19:08 … Payton Weiner [Haddonfield], 2020
19:09 … Caitlin Orr [Lenape], 2008
19:09 … Paige Senatore [Delsea], 2011
19:09 … Mara Schiffhauer [Seneca], 2012
19:09 … Alexis Mullarkey [Kinsway], 2017
19:10 … Jena Peacock [Our Lady of Mercy], 2007
19:10 … Katy Storti [Bishop Eustace], 2018
19:10 … Abigail Waddington [Clearview], 2022
19:11 … Dawn Cody [Paul Vi], 1981
19:11 … Meghan Malloy [Cinnaminson], 2011
19:11 … Payton Weiner [Haddonfield], 2020
19:12 … Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro], 1984
19:12 … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 1997
19:12 … Theresa Cattuna [Cherry Hill East], 2005
19:12 … Megan Venables [Highland], 2007
19:12 … Meghan Malloy [Haddonfield], 2012
19:12 … Natalia Ocasio [Lenape], 2012
19:13 … Eva Marie Berardi [Williamstown], 1978
19:13 … Lisa Burkholder [Cherokee], 2004
19:13 … Jenn Rawls [Highland], 2008
19:13 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2009
19:13 … Mara Schiffhauer [Seneca], 2013
19:13 … Isabella Turner [Shawnee], 2018
19:13 … Payton Weiner [Haddonfield], 2019
19:14 … Renee Tomlin [Ocean City], 2005
19:14 … Sarah Naticchia [Haddonfield], 2019
19:15 … Wendy Westphal [Highland], 1982
19:15 … Shari Hewel [Deptford], 1995
19:15 … Natalia Ocasio [Lenape], 2012
19:15 … Sarah Naticchia [Haddonfield], 2019
19:16 … Jena Peancock [Our Lady of Mercy], 2007
19:16 … Maria Ruiz [Williamstown], 2008
19:16 … Natalia Ocasio [Lenape], 2009
19:16 … Shelby Cain [Haddonfield], 2013
19:16 … Devon Grisbaum [Ocean City], 2013
19:16 … Sarah Pierce [Cherry Hill East], 2016
19:17 … Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro], 1984
19:17 … Kari Vigerstol [Holy Cross], 1994
19:17 … Missy Showers [Cherry Hill East], 2007
19:17 … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2009
19:17 … Alyssa Condell [Timber Creek], 2016
19:17 … Isabella Turner [Shawnee], 2017
19:18 … Lori Watson [Cherry Hill East], 1983
19:19 … Eva Marie Berardi [Williamstown], 1978
19:19 … Nikki Theimann [Shawnee], 1996
19:19 … Jenn Rawls [Highland], 2008
19:19 … Paige McCauley [Seneca], 2012
19:19 … Alexa Weber [Ocean City], 2016
19:20 … Colleen Sunderland [Northern Burlington], 1994
19:20 … Anne Klocke [Bishop Eustace], 1995
19:20 … Amanda Eltringham [Bishop Eustace], 1996
19:20 … Barbara Dutra [Oakcrest], 2006
19:20 … Alexandra Davis [Eastern], 2006
19:20 … Paige Senatore [Delsea], 2011
19:20 … Vicki Ajimoko [Williamstown], 2013
19:20 … Isabella Turner [Shawnee], 2017
19:20 … Katy Storti [Bishop Eustace], 2018
19:20 … Kate Rathman [Cherokee], 2019
19:21 … Alison Weeks [Cherokee], 2006
19:21 … Alison Weeks [Cherokee], 2006
19:21 … Vicki Ajimoko [Williamstown], 2012
19:21 … Alexa Weber [Ocean City], 2015
19:22… Mindy Rowand [Sterling], 1983
19:22 … Melody Sye [Ocean City], 1983
19:22 … Kari Vigerstol [Holy Cross], 1992
19:22 … Shelby Cain [Haddonfield], 2011
19:22 … Paige McCauley [Seneca], 2012
19:22 … Genevieve Cickavage [Moorestown], 2014
19:22 … Kelsey Niglio [Cherokee], 2021
19:22 … Anne Earp [Haddonfield], 2021
19:22 … Sofia Day [Mainland Reg.], 2022
19:23 … Lisa Burkholder [Cherokee], 2003
19:23 … Katie Van Horn [Triton], 2004
19:23 … Katy Storti [Bishop Eustace], 2017
19:24 … Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1980
19:24 … Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City], 2002
19:24 … Kim Bonner [Shawnee], 2003
19:24 … Alainda Chodoff [Cherry Hill East], 2006
19:24 … Barbara Dutra [Oakcrest], 2006
19:24 … Caitlin Orr [Lenape], 2009
19:24 … Caitlin Orr [Lenape], 2009
19:24 … Paige Senatore [Delsea], 2011
19:24 … Joey Webb [Seneca], 2013
19:24 … Sarah Pierce [Cherry Hill East], 2016
19:24 … Madison Coppolino [Sterling], 2016
19:24 … Allison Colflesh [Haddonfield], 2020
19:24 … Kerry O’Day [Cherokee], 2021
19:24 … Aubrey Pierontoni [Kingsway], 2021
19:24 … Gillian Lovett [Mainland Reg.], 2022
19:24 … Abigail Waddington [Clearview], 2022
19:25 … Anne Klocke [Bishop Eustace], 1995
19:25 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2006
19:25 … Missy Showers [Cherry Hill East], 2007
19:25 … Vicki Ajimoko [Williamstown], 2011
19:25 … Julia Despirito [Shawnee], 2013
19:25 … Celine Mazzi [Delsea], 2013
19:25 … Alyssa Condwell [Timber Creek], 2015
19:26 … Colleen Sunderland [Northern Burlington], 1994
19:26 … Devon Grisbaum [Ocean City], 2013
19:26 … Rachel Vick [Kingsway], 2014
19:26 … Isabella Turner [Shawnee], 2018
19:26 … Michaela Schlemo [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2022
19:26 … Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 2022
19:26 … Lillie Widmer [Delsea], 2022
19:27 … Meghan Hughes [Moorestown], 2001
19:27 … Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City], 2002
19:27 … Meghan McGlinchey [West Deptford], 2008
19:27 … Grace Yoon [Cherry Hill East], 2016
19:27 … Kate Rathman [Cherokee], 2017
19:27 … Ashlynne Burke [Kingsway], 2018
19:27 … Sarah Pierce [Cherry Hill East], 2018
19:27 … Kate Ruona [Shawnee], 2019
19:27 … Olivia Parkinson [Cherokee], 2021
19:27 … Gillian Lovett [Mainland Reg.], 2022
19:27 … Ava Thomas [Haddonfield], 2022
19:28 … Mindy Rowand [Sterling], 1983
19:28 … Liz Moore [Shawnee], 1992
19:28 … Liz Moore [Shawnee], 1993
19:28 … Karen O’Neill [Shawnee], 1993
19:28 … Liz Moore [Shawnee], 1994
19:28 … Kathleen Linck [Bishop Eustace], 1994
19:28 … Abbey Hartman [Ocean City], 1995
19:28 … Nikki Theimann [Shawnee], 1996
19:28 … Jenna Darcy [Shawnee], 1999
19:28 … Meghan Hughes [Moorestown], 2002
19:28 … Megan McGlinchey [West Deptford], 2008
19:28 … Natalia Ocasio [Lenape], 2009
19:28 … Madison Coppolino [Sterling], 2016
19:28 … Alexa Weber [Ocean City], 2016
19:28 … Katy Storti [Bishop Eustace], 2017
19:28 … Allie Pierontoni [Kingsway], 2019
19:29 … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2007
19:29 … Sydny Warner [Seneca], 2017
19:29 … Helene Usher [Haddonfield], 2021
19:29 … Kerry O’Day [Cherokee], 2022
19:30 … Michelle DiMuro [Shawnee], 1984
19:30 … Lindsay Bertulis [Millville], 2007
19:30 … Mary Kate Brelsford [Ocean City], 2012
19:30 … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2007
19:30 … Shelby Cain [Haddonfield], 2012
19:30 … Audrey Naticchia [Haddonfield], 2022