Freshman Evan Bongard from Washington Township and sophomore Branden Lachowicz from Delsea and sophomore C.J. Gilmore from Audubon all finished in the top 10 as Rowan College Gloucester County won the JUCO Region 19 Division 3 title Sunday in Newark.
Bongard ran 24:41 over what was apparently a 7.1K course at Branch Brook Park and placed 3rd and Lachowicz ran 25:17 and was 8th and Gilmore ran 25:30 and was 10th.
Gloucester won the team title 37-55 over Thaddeus Stevens of Lancaster and Brookdale of Lincroft, who both finished with 55 points.
I assume this performance qualifies the Roadrunners for the National Junior College Athletic Association Championships on Nov. 9 at Pole Green Park outside Richmond, but if the qualifying rules are listed anywhere I can’t find them.
Gloucester placed all seven starters in the top 16.
Freshman Sean Gallo from Clayton ran 26:04 and was 11th, freshman Walker Osborne from Deptford was 12th in 26:07, freshman Gary Schwegel from Pennsville 14th in 26:33 and sophomore Gavin Casella from Kingsway 16th in 26:53.
Rowan College Cumberland County freshman Matthew Tozer from Schalick placed 7th in 25:09.
The Rowan College Gloucester County women won 20-37 over Ocean County College.
Sophomore Courtney O’Hara from Gateway ran 22:31 over what was apparently a 3.3-mile course and placed 4th.
Also in their top 5: Freshman Gabriella Szwed from Delsea [9th in 26:33], sophomore Grace Wahl from Washington Township [10th in 26:52], sophomore Madison O’Donnell from Williamstown [11th in 27:00] and freshman Francesca Maccarone from Glassboro [15th in 30:07].
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 