From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

At the very first girls Meet of Champions – in late October 1972 over two miles at Holmdel County Park – three South Jersey runners placed 8th or better: Rancocas Valley junior Cathy Young was 5th in 13:21, Holy Cross senior Sharon Fitzpatrick was 6th in 13:24 and Rancocas Valley sophomore Kathy Christman ran 13:37 for 7th.

It would be another 18 years before three South Jersey girls finished in the top eight at a Meet of Champions. In 1990, at the now-familiar 5,000-meter course at Holmdel, Mirjam Pietersma of Ocean City ran 19:46 for 3rd, Pitman junior Janet Rue was 5th in 19:48 and Kingsway sophomore Erica Moore placed 6th in 19:56.

Since then, it’s happened again in 1992, 1993, 1994, 2003, 2009, 2010 and most recently 2016.

With the 51st annual Meet of Champions scheduled for Saturday morning back at Holmdel – where else? – here’s a look at every South Jersey who’s ever placed in the top 25 at one of the first 50 MoCs.

Errors and omissio0ns? You now the routine!

2022
7. **Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington] 19:05
11. **Sofia Day [Mainland Regional] 19:22
13. Abigail Waddington [Clearview] 19:24
15. *Michaela Schlemo [Egg Harbor Township] 19:26
16. Ava Thomas [Haddonfield] 19:27
17. Lillie Widmer [Delsea] 19:31
18. *Gillian Lovett [Mainland Regional] 19:31
21. *Riley Slootsky [Haddonfield] 19:40
25. ***Riley Austin [Haddonfield] 19:45

2021
8. ***Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington] 18:29
11. Nicole Clifford [Cherokee] 18:43
13. *Grace Wassell [Highland] 18:48
15. ***Sofia Day [Mainland Regional] 18:49
25. *Shaelan McNally [Paul VI] 19:06

2020
Not held

2019
6. Olivia Schaefer [Egg Harbor Twp.] 18:49
13. Kate Rathman [Cherokee] 19:02
15. Sarah Naticchia [Haddonfield] 19:03
25. *Payton Weiner [Haddonfield] 19:13

2018
13. Katy Storti [Bishop Eustace] 19:10
16. *Isabella Turner [Shawnee] 19:13
25. Sarah Pierce [Cherry Hill East] 19:27

2017
2. Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.] 18:18
13. Madison Coppolino [Sterling] 18:54
19. Alexis Mullarkey [Kingsway] 19:09
24. **Isabella Turner [Shawnee] 19:20

2016
1. *Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.] 17:55
2. Briana Gess [Haddonfield] 18:35
3. Rachel Vick [Kingsway] 18:41
8. Alyssa Condell [Timber Creek] 18:59
21. ***Grace Yoon [Cherry Hill East] 19:27
22. **Sarah Pierce [Cherry Hill East] 19:33

2015
1. **Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.] 18:07
3. *Briana Gess [Haddonfield] 18:25
15. **Alexis Mullarkey [Kingsway] 19:02
23. **Alexis Weber [Ocean City] 19:21

2014
1. Devin Grisbaum [Ocean City] 18:19
2. ***Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.] 18:21

2013
1. ***Briana Gess [Haddonfield] 17:44
12. Mara Schiffhauer [Seneca] 18:48
22. Julia DeSpirito [Shawnee] 19:02

2012
23. Meghan Malloy [Haddonfield] 19:04

2011
1. Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace] 18:12
7. Megan Lacy [Cherokee] 18:29
15. *Meghan Malloy [Haddonfield] 18:49
18. Shelby Cain [Haddonfield] 19:07
25. Paige Senatore [Delsea] 19:20

2010
1. Megan Venables [Highland] 17:45
2. *Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace] 18:08
4. *Megan Lacy [Cherokee] 18:12

2009
1. Chelsea Ley [Kingsway] 17:55
2. *Megan Venables [Highland] 18:00
3. Marielle Hall [Haddonfield] 18:16
7. **Megan Lacy [Cherokee] 18:47
12. Caitlin Orr [Lenape] 19:00
13. **Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace] 19:00
20. ***Natalia Ocasio [Lenape] 19:16

2008
2. *Chelsea Ley [Kingsway] 18:01
5. **Megan Venables [Highland] 18:38
13. Meghan McGlinchey [West Deptford] 19:02
14. *Caitlin Orr [Lenape] 19:02
17. Jenn Rawls [Highland] 19:13
21. Maria Ruiz [Williamstown] 19:16

2007
3. **Chelsea Ley [Kingsway] 18:07
6. ***Casey Doyle [Kingsway] 18:38
13. ***Megan Venables [Highland] 18:59
21. Jena Peacock [Our Lady of Mercy Academy] 19:10
23. *Missy Showers [Cherry Hill East] 19:17

2006
3. Theresa Cattuna [Cherry Hill East] 18:18
11. Amanda Goetschius [Delsea] 18:51

2005
4. Vanessa Wright [Haddonfield] 18:23
9. *Theresa Cattuna [Cherry Hill East] 18:46
12. Renee Tomlin [Ocean City] 18:52

2004
1. *Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City] 18:11
2. *Vanessa Wright [Haddonfield] 18:21
9. *Lisa Burkholder [Cherokee] 18:52
12. Katie Van Horn [Triton] 19:00

2003
1. **Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City] 18:42
2. *Arianna McKinney [Highland] 18:58
8. **Lisa Burkholder [Cherokee] 19:23
9. Kim Bonner [Shawnee] 19:24
15. Robin McDowell [Shawnee] 19:33

2002
5. ***Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City] 18:43
10. *Kim Bonner [Shawnee] 19:43
11. Jackie Dunn [Rancocas Valley] 19:43
13. Malia Lyles [Cherokee] 19:48
25. *Caroline Hipple [Moorestown] 20:10

2001
10. *Meghan Hughes [Moorestown] 19:31
16. Brittany McCann [Delsea] 19:47
22. Kelsey Rinehart [Moorestown] 19:55
25. **Kim Bonner [Shawnee] 19:58

2000
1. Erin Donohue [Haddonfield] 18:27
12. *Kelsey Rinehart [Moorestown] 19:44
22. **Taneshia Pittman [Woodrow Wilson] 20:00
25. *Brittany McCann [Delsea] 20:05

1999
1. *Erin Donohue [Haddonfield] 18:44
7. Claudine Evangelista [Triton] 19:31
12. Robin Van Auken [Highland] 19:45
15. ***Taneshia Pittman [Woodrow Wilson] 19:56
17. *Dana Palumbo [Shawnee] 20:01
20. *Jenna Darcy [Shawnee] 20:16

1998
2. **Erin Donohue [Haddonfield] 18:27
11. **Jenna Darcy [Shawnee] 19:49
15. Kathleen Porter [Holy Cross] 19:53
16. Julia Kuder [Moorestown] 19:55
21. Leyna Williams [Triton] 19:59
31. Claudine Evangelista [Triton] 20:17
34. Tara Loescher [Williamstown] 20:23
40. Dana Palumbo [Shawnee] 20:34
45. Allison Venuto [Cherry Hill East] 20:40

1997
10. ***Erin Donohue [Haddonfield] 19:44
17. *Taylor Van Acker [Shawnee] 19:59
20. ***Jenna Darcy [Shawnee] 20:03

1996
2. Abbey Hartman [Ocean City] 18:58
10. Nikki Theimann [Shawnee] 19:28
11. Lisa Setter [Shawnee] 19:32
14. Ann Klocke [Bishop Eustace] 19:47
18. Amanda Eltringham [Bishop Eustace] 19:52
19. Adrianne DelSol [Bishop Eustace] 19:53

1995
9. *Ann Klocke [Bishop Eustace] 19:25
14. *Adrianne DelSol [Bishop Eustace] 19:31
19. Andrea Dippolito [Holy Cross] 19:46
23. Kacy Corbett [Camden Catholic] 19:56

1994
1. Jaime Weisgerber [Woodstown] 18:51
6. Colleen Sunderland [Northern Burlington] 19:26
8. Roxanne Hughes [Bishop Eustace] 19:33
9. *Kacy Corbett [Camden Catholic] 19:36
10. Kathleen Linck [Bishop Eustace] 19:41
11. **Adrianne DelSol [Bishop Eustace] 19:46
13. Liz Moore [Shawnee] 19:50
18. Kari Vigerstol [Holy Cross] 19:57
24. Missy Whitaker [Shawnee] 20:14

1993
2. Liz Moore [Shawnee] 19:29
4. Karen O’Neil [Shawnee] 19:39
8. Cathy McGuigen [Bridgeton] 19:57
12. *Colleen Sunderland [Northern Burlington] 20:01
14. Megan Hartman [Ocean City] 20:05
15. Julie Schick [Mainland] 20:05
18. Jen Rafferty [Riverside] 20:11
21. *Kathleen Linck [Bishop Eustace] 20:19

1992
2. *Kari Vigerstol [Holy Cross] 19:22
4. *Megan Hartman [Ocean City] 19:34
5. *Liz Moore [Shawnee] 19:34
7. Erica More [Kingsway] 19:52
12. Jennifer Harris [Paul VI] 20:07
13. *Cathy McGuigan [Bridgeton] 20:13
14. *Karen O’Neil [Shawnee] 20:14
24. *Julie Schick [Mainland Reg.] 20:33

1991
6. **Liz Moore [Shawnee] 19:46
8. ***Becky Leon [Cinnaminson] 19:51
11. Janet Rue [Pitman] 19:55
13. *Ynnette Feliciano [Paul VI] 20:08 ???
14. *Erica More [Kingsway] 20:15
21. Danielle Rollick [Paul VI] 20:25
25. Catherine Kinsley [West Deptford] 20:32

1990
3. Miriam Pietersma [Ocean City] 19:46
5. *Janet Rue [Pitman] 19:48
6. **Erica More [Kingsway] 19:56
9. Lori Townsend [Kingsway] 20:08
10. Cheryl Keating [Sacred Heart] 20:11
14. *Julie Goldstein [Shawnee] 20:19
17. Jessica Smith [Bishop Eustace] 20:22
19. *Ynnette Feliciano [Paul VI] 20:27

1989
7. Sherry Jenkins [Camden Catholic] 20:06
9. Michele Owen [Clearview] 20:10
12. **Ynnette Feliciano [Paul VI] 20:21
13. *Lori Townsend [Kingsway] 20:24
14. **Tabitha Francks [Gloucester Catholic] 20:26
16. *Cheryl Keating [Sacred Heart] 20:31
25. Sandy Wright [Paul VI] 20:52

1988
8. *Sandy Wright [Paul VI] 19:36
10. Erin Carody [Paul VI] 19:44
11. Tabitha Francks [Gloucester Catholic] 19:45
14. Carrie Thompson [Clearview] 19:51
17. *Lori Townsend [Kingsway] 20:02
25. Dawn Pfeiffer [Bishop Eustace] 20:33

1987
9. Maryjo Dougherty [Ocean City] 20:01
18. Ann Wodarczyk [Gloucester Catholic] 20:26

1986
22. ***Michelle Owen [Clearview] 20:30
24. ***Sandy Wright [Paul VI] 20:31

1985
7. Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro] 19:33
10. Deanna Germano [Shawnee] 19:43
11. Mindy Rowand [Sterling] 19:53
14. Missy McNally [Paul VI] 20:02
18. Jennifer O’Donohue [Egg Harbor Twp.] 20:11

1984
3. Mindy Rowand [Sterling] 18:40
11. *Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro] 19:17
23. Danielle McManus [Paul VI] 19:50

1983
7. Lori Watson [Cherry Hill East] 18:57
13. Melody Sye [Ocean City] 19:22
14. *Mindy Rowand [Sterling] 19:22
18. Suyong Jenerette [Pemberton] 19:33
24. Michelle DiMuro [Shawnee] 19:45

1982
1. Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.] 17:40
5. Dawn Cody [Paul VI] 18:50
10. Wendy Westphal [Highland] 18:59

1981
5. *Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.] 18:36
11. *Dawn Cody [Paul VI] 19:39
12. *Wendy Westphal [Highland] 19:45
15. Kathy Ezell [Sterling] 19:55

1980
18. Karen Fileshifter [Holy Cross] 19:44
24. **Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.] 19:57

1979[5K]
7. Renee DeFeo [Clayton] 19:40
25. Doreen Startare [Paul VI] 20:21

1978 [5K, Bowl run in reverse]
3. Eva Marie Berardi [Williamstown] 19:19
8. Monique Purcell [Holy Spirit] 19:51
18. Laura Mason [Northern Burlington] 20:31

1977 [three miles, Bowl run in reverse]
3. *Monique Purcell [Holy Spirit] 18:23
11. **Renee DeFeo [Clayton] 19:12

1976 [two miles]
5. Johanna Zarrillo [Mainland Reg.] 12:42

1975
None

1974
4. Kathy Christman [Rancocas Valley] 11:53
14. Sue Gehring [Woodbury] 12:19

1973
4. Cathy Young [Rancocas Valley] 12:59
16. *Kathy Christman [Rancocas Valley] NA
21. Carol Parson [Cherry Hill East] NA

1972
5. *Cathy Young [Rancocas Valley] 13:21
6. Sharon Fitzpatrick [Holy Cross] 13:24
7. **Kathy Christman [Rancocas Valley] 13:37
13. Cindy Cummings [Haddon Twp.] 13:54
22. Patti Barnes [Rancocas Valley] NA