Senior Sean Alemi and sophomore Caden Briggs finished 1-2 and Paul VI recorded the lowest winning score in 23 years Saturday at the Bob Kiessling Invitational at DREAM Park in Logan Township, formerly the Knights of Columbus Invitational.
Paul VI went 1-2-5-7-8 for 23 points, the lowest winning score since PVI scored 22 points in 2001. PVI set the meet record with a perfect 15 points in the initial meet in 1970 and again in 1987.
Paul VI has won the KoC / Kiessling race 24 times since the meet’s inception in 1970. There were several years in the 1990s where team scoring was not kept and other years where the meet wasn’t held.
Alemi won the race in 16:01 and Briggs ran 16:23 for 2nd. Sophomore Chase Cooley was 5th in 16:41, senior Christian Napoli 7th in 16:55 and freshman Trevor Del Borrello 8th in 17:06.
PVI won 23-53 over Camden Catholic, with Moorestown Friends edging Bishop Eustace 101-103 for 3rd place.
Moorestown Friends senior Isaac Linden ran 16:28 for 3rd place, Bishop Eustace senior Ethan Caprarola was 4th in 16:32, Camden Catholic senior Eric Lopez 6th in 16:44, Camden Catholic sophomore Brayden Magee 9th in 17:11 and Camden Catholic senior Sean Leahy 10th in 17:16.
Others who ran under 17:30: Paul VI sophomore Chris Monaghan [11th in 17:17], Paul VI senior Nick Salamone [12th in 17:18], Camden Catholic freshman Declan Walsh [13th in 17:19] and Bishop Eustace senior Desmond Carey [14th in 17:26].
The meet does not serve as a qualifier for states. Parochial Schools qualify automatically for the state Parochial A and B meets next weekend at Holmdel.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 