Another year, another sectional title.
The Haddonfield boys, ranked 2nd in New Jersey, rolled to their 21st consecutive South Jersey Group 2 title Saturday and scored fewer than 30 points for the 13th time.
Ryan Gibson and Benjamin Andrus finished 1-2 – both under 15:50 – and Case Hurly and Michael Sinnes also placed in the top seven as Haddonfield scored 27 points at DREAM Park in Logan Township.
Even with Luke Andresen, Bennett Wright and Peter Simpson sitting this one out, Haddonfield averaged 16:11.50 for its five scorers.
Haddonfield outscored 2nd-place Haddon Heights 27-80 with Cedar Creek a close 3rd with 86.
Gibson won the race in 15:38, becoming the Bulldogs’ 21st individual champion, and Andrus ran 15:47 for 2nd.
Hurly was 5th in 16:13, Sinnes 7th in 16:34 and Linus Kucer 12th in 16:44. They were backed up by Leonardo DiCello [14th in 16:47] and John Leibrandt [18th in 16:59].
Second-place Haddon Heights was led by Reggie Hernandez in 4th with a 16:10 and Zaccheaus Harrigan in 8th in 16:36.
Also in the top 15 and earning a trip to states (if their team doesn’t qualify): Cedar Creek Sean Martino [3rd in 16:05], Pleasantville Melvin Lewis [6th in 16:18], Cedar Creek Vincenzo Vecchio [9th in 16:36], Middle Township Jamar Mack [10th in 16:41], Cedar Creek Ryan McCann [11th in 16:43], West Depford Lane McClintock [13th in 16:46], Haddon Heights Owen James [15th in 16:49].
Others under 17:30 were Gloucester Marcus Flagg [16th in 16:53], Gloucester Vincent Kelly [17th in 16:55], Medford Tech Luke Damato [19th in 17:08], Collingswood Graham Reynolds [20th in 17:19], Seneca Dominic Lera [21st in 17:24] and West Deptford Gavin Yoder [22nd in 17:25].
Haddonfield won four straight titles from 1999 through 2002, then lost to the Jon Anderson-led Cinnaminson team in 2003 before now winning 21 straight.
In all, the Bulldogs have won a state-record 42 sectional titles – 1967 in Group 3, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1997 and 1998 in Group 1, then in Group 2, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and the current 21 in a row.
Other Haddonfield sectional champs: Bob Peterson in 1967, Jim Smith in 1977, 1978 and 1979, Eric Bonnette in 1995 and 1996, Chris Platt in 2000, 2001 and 2002, Mike Burke in 2004, Jonathan Vitez in 2007, 2008 and 2009, Ben Potts in 2010, Greg Pelose in 2015, Martin Riddell in 2017, 2018 and 2019, Seth Clevenger in 2021 and George Andrus in 2022.
Lowest scores in South Jersey sectional history
16 … Haddonfield, 2008 [Group 2]
17 … Haddon Township, 1971 [Group 2]
20 … Pennsville, 2006 [Group 1]
20 … Haddonfield, 2010 [Group 2]
20 … Haddonfield, 2018 [Group 2]
21 … Haddonfield, 2009 [Group 2]
21 … Haddon Township, 2011 [Group 1]
22 … Haddonfield, 2023 [Group 2]
23 … Highland, 1989 [Group 3]
23 … Haddonfield, 2013 [Group 2]
23 … Ocean City, 2018 [Group 3]
23 … Haddonfield, 2019 [Group 2]
25 … Mainland Regional, 2003 [Group 4]
25 … Ocean City, 2019 [Group 3]
26 … Clearview, 1965 [Group 2]
26 … Burlington Twp., 1966 [Group 1]
26 … Haddonfield, 2014 [Group 2]
26 … Kingsway, 2017 [Group 4]
27 … Burlington Twp., 1967 [Group 1]
27 … Overbrook, 1968 [Group 2]
27 … Haddon Township, 1988 [Group 1]
27 … Highland, 1988 [Group 3]
27 … Haddonfield, 2001 [Group 2]
27 … Haddonfield, 2015 [Group 2]
27 … Haddonfeld, 2024 [Group 2]
28 … Haddonfield, 2021 [Group 2]
28 … Haddon Township, 2010 [Group 1]
28 … Haddon Township, 2012 [Group 1]
28 … Haddon Township, 2014 [Group 1]
29 … Burlington Twp., 1967 [Group 1]
29 … Williamstown, 1971 [Group 1]
29 … Cinnaminson, 2003 [Group 2]
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 