From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

It’s been 20 years since a South Jersey boys team won the Meet of Champions but just two years since a South Jersey girls team won.

In the first half century of the cross country Meet of Champions, we’ve had seven boys teams win championships and six girls teams.

The Paul VI boys won four titles from 1984 through 1994 and they remained the only boys program to win a MoC until Haddonfield won in 2001, starting a run of three straight S.J. championships. Mainland won in 2002 and 2003.

The first girls team to leave Holmdel with a 1st-place team trophy was Shawnee in 1991, and the Renegades also won four titles – 1991, 1997, 2002 and 2003. Moorestown won in 2001, which means South Jersey boys and girls programs swept the team titles each year from 2001 through 2003.

There’s only been one 1-2 South Jersey finish in Meet of Champions history, and then came in the 1989 boys race when Paul VI topped Highland 50-89 for the team title.

When COVID wiped out the 2000 Meet of Champions, Haddonfield won the replacement 2020 Holmdel Invitational, and then Cherokee won the 2021 title.

With the 51st annual Meet of Champions races scheduled for Saturday morning, here’s a look at every South Jersey program that’s raced as a full team at the Meet of Champions. Anybody missing?

BOYS
2022
3. Cherokee 106
6. Haddonfield 183
12. Cinnaminson 309

2021
3. Haddonfield 134
7. Cherokee 242
8. Cherry Hill East 259
15. Cinnaminson 324
18. Haddon Heights 360
20. Audubon 521
21. Bishop Eustace 621

2020 [Holmdel Invitational exhibition]
4. Haddonfield 121
8. Cherry Hill East 195

2019
3. Haddonfield 129
4. Cherokee 136
8. Cherry Hill East 217
18. Haddon Twp. 419

2018
2. Haddonfield 86
3. Kingsway 164
6. Cherokee 188
12. Cherry Hill East 276
15. Camden Catholic 301
17. Bishop Eustace 438
19. Haddon Twp. 500

2017
2. Kingsway 96
6. Haddonfield 178
19. Haddon Heights 499

2016
7. Cherokee 204
10. Kingsway 260
13. Haddonfield 302
17. Bishop Eustace 402
18. Sterling 445

2015
4. Haddonfield 145
7. Cherokee 214
8. Cherry Hill East 220
14. Haddon Township 355

2014
3. Cherry Hill East 126
4. Kingsway 183
5. Haddonfield 186
10. Haddon Township 213
17. Pennsville 490

2013
7. Haddonfield 237
9. Cherry Hill East 242
10. Highland 244
14. Haddon Township 323

2012
11. Kingsway 228
13. Haddonfield 274
17. Haddon Township 440
19. Schalick 562

2011
16. Bishop Eustace 450
17. Haddon Township 454
19. Haddon Heights 517

2010
2. Haddonfield 98
16. Bishop Eustace 419
18. Haddon Township 450

2009
4. Haddonfield 128

2008
4. Haddonfield 139
10. Cherokee 288
13. Cinnaminson 335
15. Haddon Heights 373
18. Haddon Township 431

2007
3. Haddonfield 159
9. Cherokee 230
11. Moorestown 243
13. Haddon Heights 356
20. Moorestown Friends 527

2006
3. Haddonfield 162
8. Haddon Township 222
9. Cherokee 243
10. Shawnee 252
15. Pennsville 315

2005
6. Cherokee 188
8. Washington Township 190
10. Moorestown 260
13. Haddonfield 326
19. Maple Shade 456

2004
5. Cherokee 149
9. Ocean City 223
16. Cinnaminson 384

2003
1. Mainland Regional 68
5. Cherokee 161
13. Cinnaminson 344
14. Maple Shade 369
15. Highland Regional 396
17. Bishop Eustace 452

2002
1. Mainland Regional 101
5. Cinnaminson 188
6. Cherokee 208
13. Haddonfield 310
18. Bishop Eustace 493
19. Maple Shade 533

2001
1. Haddonfield 87
4. Cherokee 146
5. Mainland Regional 153
14. Paul VI 339
15. Moorestown 364
17. Bishop Eustace 408

2000
2. Cherokee 69
6. Eastern Regional 190
10. Haddonfield 255
14. Moorestown 368
15. Bishop Eustace 393
19. Maple Shade 514

1999
2. Paul VI 95
3. Cherokee 104
4. Washington Township 127
8. Eastern Regional 236
18. Wildwood Catholic 495

1998
2. Cherokee 66
3. Washington Township 110
4. Shawnee 143
6. Paul VI 176
11. Haddonfield 297
14. Moorestown 319
16. Wildwood Catholic 434

1997
3. Cherokee 123
5. Shawnee 167
8. Paul VI 197
12. Maple Shade 336
15. Wildwood Catholic 393
16. Haddonfield 394

1996
6. Highland 160
15. Haddonfield 357

1995
3. Paul VI 118
6. Highland 196
10. Haddonfield 279
13. Mainland Regional 314

1994
1. Paul VI 63
4. Highland Regional 138
7. Shawnee 225
15. Absegami 361

1993
4. Paul VI 156
6. Eastern Regional 189
12. Delran 276
13. Maple Shade 355
18. Haddonfield 481

1992
4. Paul VI 146
5. Shawnee 154
9. Vineland 214
12. Cinnaminson 286
13. Bridgeton 325
14. Haddon Heights 334
15. Maple Shade 336

1991
5. Shawnee 175
7. Vineland 178
8. Paul VI 181
11. Delran 246
14. Haddon Heights 317

1990
2. Paul VI 130
7. Highland Regional 224
8. Shawnee 232
9. Haddonfield 244
10. Cinnaminson 255
16. Riverside 366

1989
1. Paul VI 50
2. Highland Regional 89
5. Haddonfield 189
7. Cinaminson 211
10. Bridgeton 251
11. Cherokee 254
16. Sacred Heart 391
18. Riverside 459

1988
1. Paul VI 62
3. Highland Regional 134
5. Bridgeton 151
6. Haddon Township 166
8. Shawnee 217
11. Cherokee 243
12. Buena 289
13. Haddonfield 318
14. Cinnaminson 361
15. Sacred Heart 364

1987
2. Paul VI 86
10. Bridgeton 250
13. Cinnaminson 270
14. Haddonfield 279
15. Sacred Heart 436

1986
3. Paul VI 149
8. Haddonfield 240
9. Haddon Township 241
12. Cinnaminson 263
13. Holy Cross 283
18. Kingsway 388

1985
3. Paul VI 138
11. Haddonfield 272
14. Haddon Township 377
16. Maple Shade 394
18. Bishop Eustace 489

1984
1. Paul VI 53
8. Eastern Regional 238
12. Haddonfield 302
13. Cinnaminson 308
14. Holy Cross 312
18. Bishop Eustace 467

1983
2. Holy Cross 109
4. Paul VI 135
16. Shawnee 372
18. Bishop Eustace 419
19. Haddonfield 478

1982
4. Paul VI 146
14. Haddonfield 367
17. Bishop Eustace 420

1981
10. Cherry Hill East 264

1980
8. Haddonfield 206

1979
6. Delsea 176
13. Haddonfield 282

1978
12. Haddonfield 259
13. Eastern 292
15. Audubon 364
19. Wildwood Catholic 567

1977
None

1976
None

1975
None

1974
None

1973
None

1972
No team scoring

GIRLS
2022
2. Haddonfield 88
9. Clearview 209

2021
1. Cherokee 117
5. Haddonfield 179
10. Cherry Hill East 267

2020 [Holmdel Invitational exhibition]
1. Haddonfield 52
2. Cherokee 144

2019
4. Haddonfield 172
7. Kingsway 210
18. Schalick 464

2018
15. Shawnee 331

2017
2. Kingsway 126
5. Shawnee 190
14. Haddonfield 353

2016
3. Kingsway 132
4. Shawnee 179
9. Haddonfield 249

2015
7. Seneca 204
12. Haddonfield 310

2014
13. Haddonfield 356

2013
5. Haddonfield 164
7. Shawnee 176
10. Seneca 216
14. Pitman 352

2012
12. Seneca 254
14. Ocean City 328
16. Pitman 376

2011
14. Delsea 360
16. Moorestown 377

2010
6. Cherokee 220
12. Bishop Eustace 291
14. Haddonfield 307
17. Moorestown 324

2009
8. Delsea 222
11. Haddonfield 260
14. Seneca 309
20. Wildwood Catholic 500

2008
12. Haddonfield 314
15. Shawnee 358

2007
8. Haddonfield 221
10. Lenape 264
17. Haddon Township 460
18. Our Lady of Mercy 467

2006
7. Cherry Hill East 188
8. Lenape 190
10. Haddonfield 222
17. Wildwood Catholic 408

2005
6. Haddonfield 162
13. Moorestown 303
18. Bishop Eustace 588

2004
8. Cherokee 241

2003
1. Shawnee 119
5. Ocean City 178
12. Paul VI 309
16. Haddonfield 362
19. Gloucester City 439

2002
1. Shawnee 69
4. Moorestown 155
11. Paul VI 259
18. Bishop Eustace 477
20. Schalick 535

2001
1. Moorestown 88
3. Shawnee 142
13. Paul VI 330
19. Bishop Eustace 449
20. Schalick 564

2000
3. Moorestown 116
6. Shawnee 174
12. Bishop Eustace 300
19. Haddon Township 505
20. Gloucester City 540

1999
2. Moorestown 132
4. Shawnee 164
13. Woodrow Wilson 262

1998
4. Shawnee 164
7. Moorestown 211
16. Haddonfield 343

1997
1. Shawnee 99
12. Paul VI 264

1996
2. Shawnee 93
4. Bishop Eustace 138
7. Paul VI 208
11. Egg Harbor Township 245
16. Schalick 477

1995
2. Bishop Eustace 77
3. Shawnee 87
8. Paul VI 236
9. Ocean City 256
13. Haddonfield 333
17. Schalick 482
18. Maple Shade 517

1994
2. Bishop Eustace 77
5. Shawnee 108
7. Paul VI 208
13. Camden Catholic 341
14. Ocean City 363
15. Haddonfield 377

1993
4. Shawnee 125
5. Paul VI 157
7. Ocean City 210
9. Bishop Eustace 229
14. Haddonfield 350

1992
3. Paul VI 141
4. Bishop Eustace 142
6. Shawnee 159
11. Kingsway 267
14. Haddonfield 324

1991
1. Shawnee 99
5. Paul VI 138
8. Cinnaminson 195
11. Haddonfield 291

1990
2. Paul VI 136
5. Shawnee 165
8. Ocean City 189
9. Kingsway 194
10. Bishop Eustace 210
13. Haddonfield 361
16. Sacred Heart 382

1989
3. Paul VI 84
10. Kingsway 250
12. Bishop Eustace 261

1988
4. Ocean City 115
10. Bishop Eustace 232

1987
4. Ocean City 125
10. Kingsway 227
12. Bishop Eustace 269

1986
5. Paul VI 133
9. Ocean City 227

1985
6. Paul VI 192
11. Holy Cross 293
17. Gloucester Catholic 514

1984
3. Paul VI 107

1983
7. Shawnee 255
8. Paul VI 288
12. Holy Cross 324
22. Haddonfield 500

1982
3. Paul VI 169
14. Haddonfield 321

1981
None

1980
7. Holy Cross 170

1979
None

1978
None

1977
None

1976
None

1975
13. Rancocas Valley 399
17. Mainland Regional 420

1974
None

1973
4. Rancocas Valley 269
9. Gateway 349
16. Holy Cross 522

1972
4. Rancocas Valley 152
5. Holy Cross 162
12. Haddon Township 349