From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

We’re now in our 7th year since the DREAM Park course opened in Logan Township and Saturday will be the 5th year the course has been used for South Jersey sectionals.

Richie Castañeda of Camden Catholic set the initial course record when he ran 16:21.41 at the first meet ever held at DREAM Park – the 2018 South Jersey Shootout.

Cherokee’s Ethan Wechsler lowered it a few weeks later to 15:41.86 at the 2018 Olympic Conference meet and then lowered it again when he ran 15:12.65 at the 2019 Olympic Conference meet.

That remained the course record for two years, until Triton’s Dennis Fortuna dropped a 15:09.35 at the 2021 Group 3 sectional race. And then in 2022, Haddonfield’s George Andrus became the first and so far only runner to dip below 15 minutes at DREAM Park, when he won the Group 2 sectional race in 14:58.79.

As we get ready for the championship portion of the season, here’s our best attempt at an all-time DREAM Park sub-16:30 list. As always, errors, corrections and omissions, please let me know in the comment section!

DREAM Park All-Time Performance List
14:58.79 … George Andrus [Haddonfield], 2022 Group 2 Sectionals
15:09.35 … Dennis Fortuna [Triton], 2021 Group 3 Sectionals
15:09.97 … Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 2023 Group 3 Sectionals
15:12.65 … Ethan Wechsler [Cherokee], 2019 Olympic Conference
15:15.64 … Kyle Rakitis [Kingsway], 2021 Group 4 Sectionals
15:16.31 …….. *Peyton Shute, 2022 Group 3 Sectionals
15:19.24 … Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], 2021 Group 2 Sectionals
15:22.72 … *Nick Kuenkel [Cherokee], 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
15:22.80 … Patrick Ditmars [Cherokee], 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
15:23.05 …….. Nick Kuenkel, 2023 Group 4 Sectionals
15:28.95 …..… **Peyton Shute, 2021 Group 2 Sectionals
15:28.83 … Colin Hermack [Lenape], 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
15:30.14 … Fabian Ramales [Southern], 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
15:32.50 … ***Jack Tindall [Cherokee], 2024 Olympic Conference
15:35.32 …….. Robert Poplau [Cherokee], 2023 Group 4 Sectionals
15:36.30 … Andrew Bowker [Southern], 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
15:31.61 …… *George Andrus [Haddonfield], 2021 Group 2 Sectionals
15:33.27 … Elijah Whitaker [Glassboro], 2023 Group 1 Sectionals
15:34.16 … Tobias Janssen [Haddonfield], 2021 Group 2 Sectionals
15:36.61 … Billy Clewell [Camden Catholic], 2021 Bob Kiessling Invite
15:37.58 … Santino D’Amelio [Southern Reg.], 2023 Group 4 Sectionals
15:38.18 … Andrew Littlehales [Delsea], 2021 Group 3 Sectionals
15:38.92 … *Liam Tindall, 2023 Group 4 Sectionals
15:40.94 …… Patrick Ditmars, 2022 Olympic Conference
15:40.79 … **Benjamin Realley [Cherokee], 2024 Olympic Conference
15:40.34 … *Nicholas Loffredo [Manchester Twp.], 2021 South Jersey Open
15:41.71 … Conor Jacob [Cherokee], 2022 Olympic Conference
15:41.86 … Ethan Wechsler [Cherokee], 2018 Olympic Conference
15:43.54 …….. *Patrick Ditmars, 2021 Group 4 Sectionals
15:43.99 … Alex Boyko [Cinnaminson], 2022 S.J. Open
15:45.23 … Jack Bolling [Haddon Heights ], 2022 Group 2 Sectionals
15:45.70 … Liam Tindall [Cherokee], 2024 Olympic Conference
15:46.46 … Jacob Cobb [West Deptford], 2021 Group 2 Sectionals
15:46.62 … *Aziz Muhammad-Kane [Highland], 2022 Group 3 Sectionals
15:46.92 …… Boyko [Cinnaminson], 2022 Group 2 Sectionals
15:46.21 … ***Ryan Duffy [Kingsway], 2023 Group 4 Sectionals
15:47.44 … Nicholas Krol [Williamstown], 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
15:47.57 … Conor Jacob [Cherokee], 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
15:47.43 … Brandon Lyons [Cherry Hill East], 2024 Olympic Conference
15:48.68 … *Dylan Saber [Williamstown], 2023 Group 4 Sectionals
15:48.20 … Robert DiMedeo [Haddonfield], 2022 Group 2 Sectionals
15:48.21 … Matt McCarron [Cinnaminson], 2022 Group 2 Sectionals
15:48.82 … Nick Scarangelli [Ocean City], 2022 Group 3 Sectionals
15:49.66 … Ryan Taylor [Egg Harbor Twp. ], 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
15:50.79 …… Nick Kuenkel, 2023 Olympic Conference
15:51.71 … Daniel Brake [Sanford School], 2024 South Jersey Shootout
15:52.44 … Connor Melko [Bishop Eustace], 2018 Olympic Conference
15:52.42 …….. *Connor Jacob, 2021 Group 4 Sectionals
15:52.94 ……. Robert Poplau, 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
15:52.50 ….… Robert Poplau, 2023 Olympic Conference
15:52.26 … *Taysaun Wilson [Toms River North], 2023 Group 4 Sectionals
15:52.10 … *Logan Bromley [Cherokee], 2024 Olympic Conference
15:53.43 … *Brady Shute [Woodbury], 2019 South Jersey Shootout
15:53.40 … Colin Hermack [Lenape], 2022 Olympic Conference
15:53.21 … Colin Patterson [Haddon Heights], 2022 Group 2 Sectionals
15:54.68 … Oliver Adler [Cherry Hill East], 2019 Olympic Conference
15:54.07 … Chris Colavita [Washington Twp.], 2021 Group 4 Sectionals
15:54.21 … **Sean Sooy [Cherokee], 2024 Olympic Conference
15:55.10 … Cole Wassell [Highland], 2020 South Jersey Open
15:55.86 … Andre Faigal [Rancocas Valley], 2021 Group 4 Sectionals
15:55.70 …… *Colin Patterson, 2021 Group 2 Sectionals
15:55.57 … Will Mrozinski [Paul VI], 2023 Bob Kiessling
15:55.49 … Matthew Littlehales [Delsea], 2024 South Jersey Open
15:56.19 … *Fabian Ramales [Southern], 2021 Group 4 Sectionals
15:56.73 … **Levi Tofino Miller [Southern Reg.], 2021 Group 4 Sectionals
15:57.58 … Santino Anthony D’Amelio [Southern], 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
15:57.35 … Raine Guidarelli [Cherry Hill East], 2023 Olympic Conference
15:57.09 … Enzo Corona [Cherokee], 2024 Olympic Conference
15:58.56 … Zeb Hinker [Lower Cape May Reg.], 2021 S.J. Open
15:58.30 … *Kyle Robert Skiendzielewski [Southern Reg.], 2023 Group 4 Sectionals
15:58.35 … Alvin Lin [Cherry Hill East], 2024 Olympic Conference
15:59.24 … Colin Keane [Washington Twp.], 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
15:59.09 … *Elijah Forrest [Collingswood], 2022 Group 2 Sectionals
15:59.73 …….. *Will Mrozinski, 2022 Bob Kiessling Invitational
15:59.21 … Mason Wassell [Highland], 2024 South Jersey Shootout
16:00.70 …….. *Dennis Fortuna [Triton], 2020 S.J. Open
16:00.57 … **Noah Manwaring Lenape], 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
16:00.65 … **Saber, 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
16:00.73 … *Matt Hoffman [Ocean City], 2022 Group 3 Sectionals
16:01.20 … Nico Grilli [Cherokee], 2020 Olympic Conference Batch
16:01.93 … Chris Spisak [Cherokee], 2018 Olympic Conference
16:01.84 … Jake Buniva [Lenape], 2021 Olympic Conference
16:01.20 …….. *Raine Guidarelli, 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
16:01.07 … Cavan Agatone [Clearview], 2022 Group 3 Sectionals
16:01.06 … Jeremy Sallade [The Wilberforce School], 2022 Bob Kiessling Invitational
16:01.40 … Brody Bogos [Cherry Hill East], 2024 Olympic Conference
16:02.57 … *Ryan Smith [Rancocas Valley], 2021 Group 4 Sectionals
16:02.84 …… Will Mrozinski, 2023 Olympic Conference
16:02.59 …….. Matt Hoffman, 2023 Group 3 Sectionals
16:02.09 …….. Elijah Forrest, 2023 Group 2 Sectionals
16:03.0h …….. Brady Shute [Woodbury], 2020 Group 2 Sectionals
16:03.0h … Jackson Braddock [Southern Regional], 2020 Group 4 Sectionals
16:03.15 … Andrew Tatesure [Lacey Twp.], 2023 Group 3 Sectionals
16:04.83 … Chase Miller [Cherokee], 2019 Olympic Conference
16:04.55 … Gavin Gallo [Highland], 2022 Group 3 Sectionals
16:04.97 … Sean Alemi [Paul VI], 2024 Olympic Conference
16:05.3h … Aidan Groff [Cherry Hill East], 2020 Olympic Conference
16:05.42 …….. Buniva, 2021 Group 4 Sectionals
16:05.51 …… *Nicholas Krol [Williamstown], 2021 S.J. Open
16:05.85 … Cole Knoedler [Highland], 2022 Group 3 Sectionals
16:05.74 … *Will Nelson [Cherry Hill East], 2024 Olympic Conference
16:06.40 …….. Cole Wassell [Highland], 2020 Group 3 Sectionals
16:06.98 …… *Will Mrozinski, 2022 Olympic Conference
16:06.52 …….. Ryan Smith, 2022 Olympic Conference
16:06.73 … Matt Sabo [Toms River North], 2021 Group 4 Sectionals
16:06.75 … Cesar Pedro [Kingsway], 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
16:07.88 … Tyler Jackson [Cherokee], 2019 Olympic Conference
16:07.13 … *Matthew Sullivan [Haddonfield], 2022 Group 2 Sectionals
16:07.47 … *Scott Hubbard [Audubon], 2021 S.J. Open
16:07.89 … Colin Shand [Moorestown], 2022 Group 3 Sectionals
16:07.93 … Jack Gaffin [Cherry Hill East], 2021 S.J. Open
16:07.51 … **Matthew Littlehales [Delsea], 2023 Group 3 Sectionals
16:07.21 … Aiden Williams [Audubon], 2023 Group 1 Sectionals
16:07.36 … Benjamin Weiner [Cherokee], 2024 Olympic Conference
16:07.4h … Nico Grilli [Cherokee], 2020 Olympic Conference
16:07.63 … *Nico Grilli [Cherokee], 2019 Olympic Conference
16:07.88 … Tyler Jackson [Cherokee], 2019 Olympic Conference
16:08.67 … Owen Ritti [Ocean City], 2021 Group 3 Sectionals
16:08.59 … Ian Romea [Haddonfield], 2022 Group 2 Sectionals
16:08.85 … **Dominic Burgio [Williamstown], 2023 Grouip 4 Sectionals
16:09.90 …….. Nicholas Krol, 2022 S.J. Shootout
16:09.85 … Matt McCarron [Cinnaminson], 2022 S.J. Shootout
16:09.55 …… *Poplau, 2022 Olympic Conference
16:09.67 …….. *Elijah Whitaker, 2022 Group 2 Sectionals
16:09.70 … *Nikihl Raman [Cherry Hill East], 2023 South Jersey Open
16:10.86 … Jake Aylmer [Haddon Township], 2019 S.J. Shootout
16:10.02 … ***Peter Simpson [Moorestown], 2022 Group 3 Sectionals
16:10.43 …….. *Liam Tindall, 2023 Olympic Conference
16:10.50 … **Logan Bromley [Cherokee], 2023 Olympic Conference
16:10.64 …….. Lance Guidarelli,. 2023 Group 4 Sectionals
16:10.99 … **Ethan Buck [Ocean City], 2023 Group 3 Sectionals
16:10.61 … Liam Dougherty [Haddonfield], 2023 Group 2 Sectionals
16:11.3h … Julian Lawson [Washington Twp.], 2020 Olympic Conference
16:11.9h … Josh Forrest [Collingswood], 2020 Group 2 Sectionals
16:11.51 … **Peter Simpson [Moorestown], 2023 Group 3 Sectionals
16:12.15 …….. Jack Gaffin, 2021 Group 4 Sectionals
16:12.72 … **Hunter Bostwick [Washington Twp.], 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
16:12.11 …….. ***Matthew Littlehales, 2022 Group 3 Sectionals
16:13.31 …… *Bowker [Southern Reg.], 2021 Group 4 Sectionals
16:13.62 …….. *Aiden Williams [Audubon], 2021 Group 1 Sectionals
16:13.82 …….. *Boyko, 2021 Group2 Sectionals
16:13.23 … *Simon Donovan [Germantown Friends], 2021 Bob Kiessling Invite
16:13.45 …… **Peter Simpson, 2023 Olympic Conference
16:14.1h … John Ruona [Shawnee], 2020 Olympic Conference
16:14.04 … Noah Stapleton [Shawnee], 2024 Olympic Conference
16:14.80 … Rex Takakjy [Cherry Hill West], 2024 Olympic Conference
16:15.6h …..… **George Andrus, 2020 Group 2 Sectionals
16:15.53 …….. Ryan Smith, 2022 S.J. Open
16:15.81 …… **Noah Manwaring [Lenape], 2022 Olympic Conference
16:16.17 …….. *McCarron, 2021 Group2 Sectionals
16:16.83 …… *Bolling [Haddon Heights], 2021 Group 2 Sectionals
16:16.99 …… *DiMedio [Haddonfield], 2021 Group 2 Sectionals
16:16.30 … **Cian Sherlock [Cherry Hill East], 2024 Olympic Conference
16:17.95 … Ryan Allen [Kingsway], 2021 Group 4 Sectionals
16:17.66 … *Chase Miller [Cherokee], 2018 Olympic Conference
16:18.26 … Dan Wyshinski [Pennsville], 2019 S.J. Shootout
16:18.04 …… *Lance Guidarelli [Cherry Hill East], 2022 Olympic Conference
16:18.34 … Aaron Kolosowsky [Washington Twp.], 2023 South Jersey Open
16:18.67 … Linden Wineland [Mainland Reg. ], 2021 Group 3 Sectionals
16:18.64 … Cole Mylan [Timber Creek], 2021 Group3 Sectionals
16:18.38 … Christian Schiattarella [Southern], 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
16:18.82 … *Brody Bogos [Cherry Hill East], 2023 South Jersey Open
16:19.11 … *Brady Bogos, 2023 Olympic Conference
16:19.78 … *Christian Rouzard [Rancocas Valley], 2023 Olympic Conference
16:19.18 … Arjun Patel [Millville], 2024 South Jersey Shootout
16:19.27 … **Colin Moore [Cherry Hill East], 2023 South Jersey Open
16:20.4h … Gabe Rodriguez [Cherry Hill East], 2020 Olympic Conference Batch
16:20.46 … *Aidan Eyre [Cherry Hill East], 2019 Olympic Conference
16:20.10 … ***Peter Simpson [Moorestown], 2022 Olympic Conference
16:20.79 … Donald Jellig [Haddonfield], 2022 Group 2 Sectionals
16:20.34 … ***Benjamin Realley [Cherokee], 2023 Olympic Conference
16:20.71 … **Colin Moore [Cherry Hill East], 2023 Olympic Conference
16:20.79 … * Wassell, 2023 Group 3 Sectionals
16:21.34 … Mike Liberty [Oakcrest], 2019 S.J. Shootout
16:21.41 … Richard Castaneda [Camden Catholic], 2018 S.J. Shootout
16:21.6h …….. *Zeb Hinker, 2020 Group 2 Sectionals
16:21.09 … *Bennett Wright [Haddonfield], 2023 Group 2 Sectionals
16:21.25 … **Alvin Lin [Cherry Hill East], 2023 South Jersey Open
16:21.78 … Bradley Popler [Cherokee], 2021 Group 4 Sectionals
16:21.34 … **Ryan Gibson [Haddonfield], 2023 Group 2 Sectionals
16:22.77 …… **Liam Tindall [Cherokee], 2022 Olympic Conference
16:22.60 … **P.J. Kresloff [Germantown Friends], 2021 Bob Kiessling Invite
16:22.33 … Jake Smith [Highland], 2022 Group 3 Sectionals
16:22.44 … Simon Bernhardt [Shawnee], 2024 Olympic Conference
16:22.98 … Colin Moore [Cherry Hill East], 2024 Olympic Conference
16:23.17 … Austin Milou [Washington Twp.], 2018 Olympic Conference
16:23.13 …..… *Colin Hermack, 2021 Group 4 Sectionals
16:23.90 ….…. Scott Hubbard, 2021 Group 2 Sectionals
16:23.56 … Derek Coceano [Cinnaminson], 2022 Group 2 Sectionals
16:23.42 … Milo Poerner [Cherry Hill East], 2024 Olympic Conference
16:23.50 … Anthony DiBattista [Cherokee], 2024 Olympic Conference
16:23.5h … *Gabe Rodriguez [Cherry Hill East], 2020 Olympic Conference
16:29.04 … Tate Midora [Cherokee], 2024 Olympic Conference
16:24.5h …….. Billy Clewell, 2020 Olympic Conference Batch
16:24.5h … Brett Shea [Cherokee], 2020 Olympic Conference
16:24.0h … Eric Scully [Hun School], 2022 Fall Crush Open
16:24.60 …… **Santino D’Amelio [Southern Regional], 2021 Group 4 Sectionals
16:24.95 …..…*Nicholas Krol, 2021 Group 4 Sectionals
16:24.90 …… Gavin Gallo [Highland], 2022 S.J. Shootout
16:24.94 … Forrest Miller [Triton], 2021 Group 3 Sectionals
16:24.22 … Joseph Natoli [Cherokee], 2021 Olympic Conference
16:24.76 … Sean Haggerty [Barnegat], 2022 Group 2 Sectionals
16:24.28 …….. **Brody Bogos, 2023 Group 4 Sectionals
16:24.52 …….. Aziz Muhammad-Kane, 2023 Group 3 Sectionals
16:24.34 … Calleb Brox [The Wilberforce School], 2023 Bob Kiessling
16:25.4h … Anas Bensaoud [Clearview], 2020 Group 4 Sectionals
16:25.13 … Ethan Anderer [Cherry Hill East], 2021 Group 4 Sectionals
16:25.96 …… Colin Shand [Moorestown], 2022 Olympic Conference
16:25.50 … Joel Oquendo [Pennsauken], 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
16:25.39 … **Yanni Ekatomatis [Shawnee], 2023 Olympic Conference
16:25.03 … *Brandon Lyons [Cherry Hill East], 2023 Group 4 Sectionals
16:25.49 … **Alvin Lin [Cherry Hill East], 2023 Group 4 Sectionals
16:25.12 … Will Ashton [Manchester Twp.], 2023 Group 2 Sectionals
16:25.24 … Will Blackman [Glassboro], 2023 Group 1 Sectionals
16:26.30 …….. **Anas Bensaoud, 2018 S.J. Shootout
16:26.49 … ***Taysaun Wilson, 2021 Group 4 Sectionals
16:26.3h …..… *Tobias Janssen, 2020 Group 2 Sectionals
16:26.28 …… *Elijah Forrest, 2022 S.J. Open
16:26.02 … Ethan Bergmann [Haddon Twp. ], 2021 Group 2 Sectionals
16:26.95 … Leonardus Kittles [Haddon Heights], 2021 S.J. Open
16:26.87 … **Will Ashton, 2022 Group 2 Sectionals
16:26.76 … *Ryan Haefele [Eastern], 2023 Olympic Conference
16:27.08 … *Noah Stapleton [Shawnee], 2023 Olympic Conference
16:27.82 … *Anthony DiBatista [Cherokee], 2023 Group 4 Sectionals
16:27.42 … *Ryan Macom [Toms River North], 2023 South Jersey Open
16:28.20 …….. Nico Grilli, 2020 Group 4 Sectionals
16:27.32 … Michael Gavio [Cherokee], 2019 [Olympic Conference
16:27.92 …..… **Robert Poplau, 2021 Group 4 Sectionals
16:27.74 …… *Cole Knoedler, 2021 Group 3 Sectionals
16:27.18 … Justin Newman [Toms River South], 2022 Group 3 Sectionals
16:27.49 … **Alvin Lin [Cherry Hill East], 2023 Olympic Conference
16:27.83 … *Benjamin Weiner [Cherokee], 2023 Olympic Conference
16:28.91 …….. **Ethan Anderer, 2019 Olympic Conference
16:28.90 … Cole Kolodziej [Washington Twp.], 2020 Olympic Conference Batch
16:28.32 … Grant Yoon [Cherry Hill East], 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
16:28.62 … Teddy Wilson [Toms River North], 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
16:28.20 … Noah Stapleton [Shawnee], 2024 South Jersey Shootout
16:28.43 … Sean Alemi [Paul VI], 2024 South Jersey Open
16:29.89 … Dan White [Robbinsville], 2018 S.J. Shootout
16:29.20 … Timothy Sincavage [Southern Regional], 2020 Group 4 Sectionals
16:29.74 … *Elliot Post [Mainland Reg.], 2021 Group 3 Sectionals
16:29.29 … Justin Penny [Lenape], 2021 Olympic Conference
16:29.25 … *Tyler Schill [Cinnaminson], 2021 Group 2 Sectionals
16:29.66 … ***Benjamin Realley [Cherokee], 2023 Group 4 Sectionals
16:29.70 … **Brett Shea [Cherokee], 2018 Olympic Conference