Paul VI senior Shaelan McNally opened her outdoor season with the fastest time by a South Jersey two-miler in 41 years.
McNally, competing at the Cherokee Night of 3200s, ran 10:18.93, the fastest time by a South Jersey girl since legendary Michelle Rowen ran 10:12.8 on May 28, 1983, at the South Jersey Group 4 Championships at Toms River East.
Her time is No. 16 in state history and one of the fastest ever this early in a season. McNally ran 2:11.85 and 4:52.90 indoors. Her previous 3,200 or two-mile PR was 10:48.90 last June at the state Parochial A meet at Franklin.
McNally negative-split the race, out in 5:13.92 and coming back in 5:05.01, closing in 2:26.74 and 71.86.
McNally was competing in a mixed race in the 17th of 21 sections of 3,200s. She finished 2nd in her race to Joseph Calabrese, a freshman from Monsignor Farrell in Staten Island, N.Y. Calabrese ran a PR 10:13.32.
For record purposes, some statisticians might not include the performance because it came in a mixed race. From the Backstretch policy is to include any performances in a mixed race.
McNally broke the Camden County record of 10:28.6 set by Olympian Erin Donohue of Haddonfield at 2001 South Jersey Group 2 sectionals at Buena.
There wasn’t a clock at 3,000 meters, but since she closed in 71.86, if her last 200 was in about 35 or 36 seconds, she came through 3,000 meters in about 9:40, which would put her around 13th-fastest on the all-time South Jersey 3,000 alumni list.
Olympian Marielle Hall holds the official South Jersey 3,000 record of 9:40.23 from the 2010 Penn Relays.
The 2nd-place girl was Ocean City junior Maeve, who ran a lifetime-best 10:50.72 . Cherokee senior Kerry O’Day also ran sub-11, finishing 3rd among girls in 10:58.48.
ALL-TIME N.J. 3,200 LIST
9:53.29 … Angelina Perez [Lakeland Regional], 2022
9:59.34 … Charlotte Bednar [The Lawrenceville School], 2021
10:10.24 … Abby Loveys [Randolph], 2019
10:12.73 … Dana Giordano [Bernards], 2012
10:12.8h … Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1983
10:13.44 … Ashley Higginson [Colts Neck], 2007
10:15.02 … Sarah Disanza [High Point Reg.], 2013
10:15.82 … Alexa Westley [Warren Hills], 2019
10:16.46 … Molly Malague [Metuchen], 2022
10:17.18 … Melanie Thompson [Voorhees], 2008
10:17.28 … Katie McCafferty [Oak Knoll], 2008
10:18.08 … Tilly O’Connor [St. Rose], 2023
10:18.0h … Jodie Bilotta [North Hunterdon], 1987
10:18.24 … Mackenzie Barry [Mendham], 2012
10:18.34 … Lily Shapiro [Colts Neck], 2021
10:18.93 … Shaelan McNally [Paul VI], 2024
10:18.7h … Janet Smith [North Edison], 1983
10:19.31 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2008
10:19.37 … Julia Trethaway [West Morris Central], 2019
10:21.46 … Grace Dwyer [Nottingham], 2015
10:22.02 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2012
10:22.87 … Courtney Thompson [St. John Vianney], 2014
10:25.33 … Megan Curham [Villa Walsh], 2013
10:25.54 … Cate DeSousa [Red Bank Cathollic], 2022
10:25.69 … Lindsay Hausman [Kent Place], 2023
10:26.14 … Elyssa Gensib [Princeton], 2012
10:26.1h … Christi Constantin [Kittatinny], 1988
10:26.47 … Katy Trotter [Red Bank], 2003
10:26.56 … Eve Glasergreen [North Hunterdon], 2014
10:26.59 … Colette Richter [Mountain Lakes], 2012
10:27.44 … Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.], 2017
10:27.74 … Colette Whitney [Voorhees], 2010
10:28.25 … Kaitlyn Mooney [Southern Reg.], 2016
10:28.35 … Kelly Janokowicz [Hillsborough], 2012
10:28.11 … Amanda Trotter [Red Bank], 2003
10:28.6h … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2001
10:28.80 … Caroline Kellner [West Windsor-Plainsboro South], 2012
10:29.28 … Rachel Vick [Kingsway], 2017
10:29.79 … Sarah Pagano [Immaculate Heart], 2008
10:29.97 … Carleen Jeffers [Ridgewood], 2015
ALL-TIME S.J. 3,200 LIST
10:12.8h ….. Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1983
10:18.93 … Shaelan McNally [Paul VI], 2024
10:19.31 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2009
10:22.02 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2012
10:27.44 … Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.], 2017
10:28.6h….. Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2001
10:29.28 … Rachel Vick [Kingsway], 2017
10:30.57 … Dina Iacone [Washington Twp.], 2012
10:32.4h….. Mindy Rowand [Sterling], 1985
10:33.22 … Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace], 2012
10:33.25 … Megan Venables [Highland], 2011
10:33.85 … Sarah Naticchia [Haddonfield], 2021
10:34.79 … Theresa Cattuna [Cherry Hill East], 2007
10:35.59 … Amanda Goetschius [Delsea], 2007
10:37.47 … Meghan McGlinchey [West Depford], 2009
10:37.53 … Vanessa Wright [Haddonfield], 2005
10:39.15 … Devon Grisbaum [Ocean City], 2015
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 