Isaac Linden, a senior at Moorestown Friends, ran an all-course PR of 16:58 to win the boys race at the Ray Hoagland Invitational Saturday in Eastampton.
Linden’s previous 5,000 PR was 17:08 at last year’s Friends League Championships at the George School in Middletown Township, Bucks County. He went on to place 4th at the state Parochial B Championships at Holmdel.
Linden finished 50 meters ahead of 2nd-place Christopher Gray, a Rancocas Valley senior, who ran 17:07.
R.V. had four of the top eight finishers and won the team title 39-50 over Paul VI, with Camden Catholic 3rd with 86.
After Gray, senior Christian Rouzard was 4th in 17:17, junior Tedd Jones 5th in 17:28 and senior Brady McKee 8th in 17:50. RV’s 5th and 6th runners were sophs Alex Kinney and Cody Habeck, who took 22nd and 24th in 18:36 and 18:48.
Paul VI was led by Trev Del Borrello and Nick Ablaza, who ran 3rd and 9th in 17:12 and 17:52 in their first-ever varsity race.
Also in the top 10 were Seneca junior Dominic Lera [6th in 17:49], Burlington City senior Luke Damato [7th in 17:50] and Paul VI junior Collin Conway [10th in 17:52].
Also under 18 minutes Seneca senior Connor McCafferty [11th in 17:53], Camden Catholic senior Sean Leahy [12th in 17:56] and Paul VI soph Jacob McGee [13th in 17:58].
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 