From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Some 46 years ago this week, Eva Marie Berardi of Williamstown became the first South Jersey girl to win a Shore Coaches title.

At the inaugural Shore Coaches girls meet held in 1978 at Brookdale Community College in Middletown Township, Monmouth County, Berardi ran away from Sue Minogue of now-closed Mater Dei High (also in Middletown), to win the Varsity B race in 17:35 over 2 ½ miles, finishing 100 meters ahead of Minogue, who ran 18:00.

Forty-one more girls have won individual titles since Berardi broke the ice in the 2nd annual girls race.

The first South Jersey team champs at Shore Coaches came in 1982, when Paul VI won the A race 93-100 over Ridgewood.

Dawn Cody was the individual winner with an 18:57 at Holmdel, and PVI’s four other scorers all packed in 17 seconds – Karen Brooks in 20th in 20:43, Dawn Hillman 22nd in 20:47, Claire McGovern 23rd in 20:48 and Kathy Kupper 27th in 21:00.

The 46th annual Shore Coaches girls meet runs Saturday at Holmdel County Park. The meet has been held every year since 1978 other than 2020.

Here’s the schedule for the varsity girls races:

9:45 a.m. – Varsity F
10:15 a.m. – Varsity E
10:45 a.m. – Varsity D
12:25 p.m. – Varsity C
12:55 p.m. – Varsity B
1:25 p.m. – Varsity A

Here’s a look at every South Jersey individual and team winner in meet history! Anybody missing? Let me know in the comment’s section!

2023
Group C … Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington] 18:18
Group D … Shaelan McNally [Paul VI] 18:56
2022
Group B … Abigail Kotran [Clearview] 19:04
2021
Group B … Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington] 19:00
2020
Not held
2019
None
2018
None
2017
None
2016
Group C … Alyssa Condell (Timber Creek) 19:17
2015
Group B … Alyssa Aldridge (Mainland Regional) 18:20
2014
None
2013
Championship Race … Briana Gess (Haddonfield) 18:36
2012
None
2011
Group A … Megan Lacy (Cherokee) 18:19
Group D … Paige Senatore (Delsea) 19:24
2010
None
2009
Group B … Chelsea Ley (Kingsway) 18:03
2008
Group C … Chelsea Ley (Kingsway) 17:44
Group E … Marielle Hall (Haddonfield) 18:53
2007
Group B … Chelsea Ley (Kingsway) 18:23
2006
Group A … Theresa Cattuna (Cherry Hill East) 19:08
2005
Group C … Amanda Goetschius (Delsea) 18:44
Group E … Colleen Brogan (Haddonfield) 19:48
2004
Group D … Arianna McKinney (Highland) 19:14
Group E … Vanessa Wright (Haddonfield) 18:34
2003
Group C … Arianna McKinney (Highland) 18:45
2002
None
2001
None
2000
Group E … Erin Donohue (Haddonfield) 18:41.3
1999
Group A … Jenna Darcy (Shawnee) 19:28.2
Group E … Erin Donohue (Haddonfield) 18:48.2
1998
Group F … Erin Donohue (Haddonfield) 18:58.9
1997
Group E … Erin Donohue (Haddonfield) 18:36
1996
None
1995
None
1994
Group A … Liz Moore (Shawnee) 19:12
1993
Group B … Megan Hartman (Ocean City) 20:04
Group D … Colleen Sunderland (Northern Burlington) 20:50
Group E … Jen Rafferty (Riverside) 20:38
1992
Group D … Tiffany Goldy (Pitman) 21:22
1991
Group B … Julie Schick (Mainland) 20:15
Group C … Becky Leon (Cinnaminson) 20:12
Group D … Janet Rue (Pitman) 20:33
1990
Group D … Lori Townsend (Kingsway) 20:23
1989
Group D … Lori Townsend [Kingsway] 20:18
1988
Group D … Lori Townsend (Kingsway) 20:19
1987
Group A … Lauren Bello (Paul VI) 19:49
1986
None
1985
Group A … Mindy Rowand (Sterling) 20:17
Group C … Deanna Germano (Shawnee) 20:04
1984
None
1983
Group C … Melody Sye [Ocean City] 19:55
1982
Group A … Dawn Cody [Paul VI] 18:57
1981
None
1980
None
1979
None
1978
Group B … Eva Marie Berardi (Williamstown) 17:35.1
1977
None

2023
Paul VI [Group D]
2022
Clearview [Group B]
Ocean City [Group C]
2021
Cherokee [Group A]
Haddonfield [Group D]
2020
Not held
2019
Haddonfield [Group D]
2018
Kingsway [Group B]
2017
Kingsway [Group B]
2016
None
2015
None
2014
Moorestown [Group C]
2013
Shawnee [Group B]
2012
Seneca [Group B]
2011
None
2010
None
2009
Seneca [Group C]
Bishop Eustace [Group E]
2008
Haddonfield [Group E]
2007
Lenape [Group A]
Haddonfield [Group E]
2006
Cherry Hill East [Group A}
Haddonfield [Group E]
2005
Moorestown [Group C]
Haddonfield [Group E]
2004
None
2003
Shawnee [Group B]
2002
Moorestown [Group C]
2001
Moorestown [Group D]
2000
Moorestown [Group C]
1999
Shawnee [Group A}
1998
Shawnee [Group A}
Moorestown [Group D]
1997
Shawnee [Group A}
Paul VI [Group C]
1996
Shawnee [Group A}
1995
Shawnee [Group A}
1994
Ocean City [Group B]
Bishop Eustace [Group D]
1993
Shawnee [Group A]
Ocean City [Group B]
Bishop Eustace [Group D]
Haddonfield [Group E]
1992
Shawnee [Group A]
Bishop Eustace [Group C]
1991
Shawnee [Group A
1990
Kingsway [Group D]
1989
Kingsway [Group D]
1988
Kingsway [Group D]
1987
Paul VI [Group A]
1986
None
1985
None
1984
None
1983
None
1982
Paul VI [Group A]
1981
None
1980
None
1979
None
1978
None
1977
None