Schalick senior Jordan Hadfield ran an all-course 5K PR and won the Varsity D small-school race Saturday at the Six Flags Wild Safari in Jackson.
Hadfield ran 18:21 and won by 45 meters over Dagny Shiffler of Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, Montgomery County, Pa. Shiffler ran 18:31.
Hadfield’s previous 5,000 PR was an 18:26 when she won last year’s Salem County Championships at Schalick in Pittsgrove Township.
Hadfield is defending state Group 1 XC champ and won state Group 1 titles last spring in both the 1,600 and 3,200.
Her time is 3rd-fastest in meet history by a Group 1 runner, behind only South Hunterdon’s Kelly Shaffer [18:06 in 2012] and Point Pleasant Beach’s Brianna Feerst [18:17 in 2011]. Hadfield had the previous course best by a South Jersey Group 1 runner with her 19:18 when she won last year.
She tied the 2nd-fastest time ever by a South Jersey girl, behind only Washington Township’s Dina Iacone, who ran 18:09 in 2011. Haddonfield’s Shelby Cain also ran 18:21, also in 2011.
Her time is also fastest by any South Jersey girl on any 5,000-meter course this fall. Theresa Albertson of Eastern ran 18:24 last weekend at the Osprey Invitational at Stockton University in Galloway Township.
Also under 22 minutes Saturday in the D race were Maple Shade Crystal Benito [17th in 20:54], Maple Shade Juliana Catalani [20th in 21:06] and Haddon Township Blake Kemery [27th in 21:53]
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 