South Jersey will send a large contingent of 76 runners up to Holmdel Saturday for the 52nd annual Meet of Champions.

That includes 41 boys and 35 girls, with four boys teams, three girls teams, 13 individual boys and 14 individual girls.

The boys race is scheduled for 11 a.m. with the girls race at noon on the hilly, winding 5K course at Holmdel County Park.

Viper Timing is once again doing the timing – no idea why – so we’ll all hope for the best and hopefully we get results by the middle of next week.

Over the next couple days, I’ll be posting lists of every South Jersey boy and girl that’s ever placed in the top 25 at a Meet of Champions and every team that’s ever competed at a MoC.

But first, here’s a look at every South Jersey runner expected to race this weekend at Holmdel. Corrections, omissions, changes please let me know in the comment section! Thanks!

Boys Teams
Cherokee [won Group 4]
**Benjamin Realley
*Logan Bromley
***Jack Tindall
Liam Tindall
**Sean Sooy
Enzo Corona
Benjamin Weiner

Haddonfield [Group 2]
*Benjamin Andrus
Bennett Wright
*Ryan Gibson
*Peter Simpson
*Luke Andresen
*Aaron Keith
**Andrew Blum

Cherry Hill East [1st wild card]
Brandon Lyons
Brody Bogos
*Will Nelson
*Alvin Lin
*Milo Poerner
**Cian Sherlock
*Colin Moore

Ocean City [3rd wild card]
Ethan Buck
**Keenan Neuman
*Erik Preisner
**Nathan Aschmann
Zach Hutchinson
**Michael Romano
***Nevin Millstein

Boys Individuals
Ty Blackman [Glassboro], 2nd, Group 1
*Jacob Marino [Woodstown], 9th, Group 1
Isaac Linden [Moorestown Friends], 2nd, Parochial B
Ethan Caprarola [Bishop Eustace], 4th, Parochial B
Desmond Carey [Bishop Eustace], 8th, Parochial B
**Ryan Duffy [Kingsway], wild card
*Jacob Wickersham [Cinnaminson], wild card
*Rex Takakjy [Cherry Hill West], wild card
Noah Stapleton [Shawnee], wild card
Ethan Worst [Clearview], wild card
Mason Wassell [Highland], wild card
*Sean Martino [Cedar Creek], wild card
Dylan Saber [Williamstown], wild card

Girls Teams
Cherokee [3rd wild card]
*Madeline Meder
Megan Niglio
***Erin Healy
*Maya Kumar
Grace Wojciechowski
**Genisa John
Emily Butler

Paul VI [6th wild card]
*Macy Huber
**Grace Gutwoski
***Peyton Blake
***Morgan Kuzma
**Kara Salamone
***Johanna Trampe
Verina Belmonte

Ocean City [7th wild card]
Chloe Care
***Riley Tolson
Maeve Smith
Zoe Zammit
**Peighton Clemens
**Lillian Flora
7th runner

Girls Individuals
Jordan Hadfield [Schalick], 2nd, Group 1
Macie McCracken [Wildwood], 6th, Group 1
Jonalee Adames [Sterling], 10th, Group 2
Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 1st, Group 3
Sofia Day [Mainland Reg.], 10th, Group 3
*Julia Flanagan [Holy Cross], 4th, Parochial B
**Theresa Albertson [Eastern], wild card
*Sophia Aldridge [Williamstown], wild card
**Ryleigh Budsock [Cherry Hill East], wild card
Noella Reyes [Moorestown], wild card
*Ashley Doyles [Delran], wild card
Gabrielle DeJoseph [Moorestown], wild card
Nilaa Ponnappan [Camden Catholic], wild card
Juliana Sieminski [Delsea], wild card

East Stroudsburg sophomore Payton Falkenstein from Burlington Township put together a strong race at the NCAA Division 2 Atlantic Regional Saturday in Lock Haven, Pa.

Falkenstein ran 21:21 over 6,000 meters at West Branch Cross Country Course and was the Warriors’ 2nd finisher. East Stroudsburg placed a close 3rd of 22 schools with 114 points, finishing behind only Davis and Elkins of Elkins, W. Va., [93] and Slippery Rock (Pa.) [100].

Falkenstein ran an all-course 6K PR by more than a minute. Her previous best was a 22:43 when she placed 6th at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships last month at Kutztown.

East Stroudsburg was ranked 8th in the Atlantic Region by the USTFCCCA before the race and moved up five spots in the final regional ranking.

With their 3rd-place finish, East Stroudsburg qualified for NCAA Division 2 Nationals, scheduled for Nov. 23 at Arcade Creek XC Course in Sacramento.

The Warriors matched the best finish in school history. They were also 3rd in 1999 and 2003.

The runner who finished six seconds before Falkenstein was Lydia Falkenstein of Davis and Elkins. Lydia Falkenstein is from Tallmansville, W. Va., and I haven’t found any evidence that they’re related. But that is pretty odd.

The Haddonfield boys made a little history Saturday at Holmdel with the fastest average time ever recorded at the state Group 2 meet, the 3rd-fastest time ever in any public school state meet and the fastest time ever recorded by a South Jersey school at states.

Haddonfield averaged 16:21 for its five scorers when it won the state Group 2 meet on the historic 5,000-meter course at Holmdel County Park.

Race winner Benjamin Andrus ran 16:03, Bennett Wright was 4th in 16:21, Ryan Gibson 5th in 16:22, Peter Simpson 6th in 16:26 and Luke Andresen 8th in 16:33.

Overall, Haddonfield’s time is 34th-fastest in Holmdel history, with 18 of the faster averages coming from CBA.

Haddonfield set the South Jersey best at Holmdel with its 16:20.2 at the 2010 Meet of Champions [Ben Potts 15:43, Matt Nussbaum 16:01, Gregory Halla 16:25, Tim Malloy 16:29, Ethan Quanci 17:03].

The only public school averages at the state meet faster than Haddonfield’s 16:21 Saturday have come from Westfield in Group 4 last year [15:59.4] and Colts Nbeck in Group 3 in 2016 [16:19.0].

The only faster times ever recorded by South Jersey schools are that 2010 Haddonfield performance and Paul VI’s 16:20.8 when they won the 1988 Meet of Champions (and the course was much slower). That 1988 PVI team included Jason DiJoseph [15:33], Matt Cieslik [16:24], Vincent Cieslik [16:32], Joe Cranston [16:48] and Jim Wolfram [16:59], with 6th man Pete Dougherty not far off [17:00].

The previous fastest time at Group 2 states not surprisingly was set by Haddonfield, who averaged 16:28.6 at the 2021 meet [Seth Clevenger 15:51], George Andrus [16:11], Tobias Janssen [16:24], Rob DiMedio [16:50] and Donald Jellig [17:07].

Haddonfield’s 16:21 average Saturday was 2nd-fastest of all the state meets. Meet of Champions is scheduled for this coming Saturday back at Holmdel.

Moorestown’s Kate Inglis, a senior at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., won her 5th conference title 1st in cross country at the Landmark Conference Championships.

Inglis covered the 6,000-meter course at Union Canal Tunnel Park in North Lebanon Township, Pa., in 21:56.

Inglis improved each year she ran at the conference meet, from 11th to 5th to 2nd to 1st this year.

She led the Cardinals to their 2nd straight conference title with a wild three-way finish between Catholic [59], Moravian [60] and Scranton [61].

Inglis also won conference titles on the track outdoors in the steeplechase in 2023 in Bethlehem and 2024 in Elizabethtown and the 3,000 and 5,000 indoors this past February in Selinsgrove.

Catholic races Saturday at the NCAA Division 3 South Regional at Choctaw Running Trails in Clinton, Miss. The Cardinals are ranked 7th in the region.

The Ocean City boys and girls, the Cherry Hill boys and the Cherokee and Paul VI girls all appear to have earned at-large bids to the cross country Meet of Champions Saturday.

Although the NJSIAA hasn’t bothered to announc anything officially, because why would anybody want to know if they’re racing next weekend or not, the MileSplit merge – which includes the six winning teams – shows those five teams should be among the top eight non-winners.

[Note – MileSplit has just posted the official list here, which shows no changes.]

The six team winners from Saturday’s state meets all qualify automatically and then eight more boys teams and eight girls teams qualify based on the results of a merge of every non-winning team.

The Haddonfield and Cherokee boys qualified automatically by winning Group 2 and Group 4.

Cherry Hill East, which finished only three points behind Cherokee in Group 4 was the lowest-scoring non-winning team, totaling 211 points and placing 4th in the overall merge and 1st among non-winners. So they’re a slam dunk.

Ocean City, which was 2nd to Colts Neck in Group 3, finished 7th in the merge and was the 3rd-lowest scoring non-winning team, behind only Cherry Hill East and Westfield, who was 3rd in Group 4. So they should be through.

The other boys wild-cards appear to go to St. Peter’s Prep of Jersey City [2nd in Parochial A], Ridgewood [4th in Group 4], Union Catholic of Scotch Plains [3rd in Parochial A] and South Brunswick [5th in Group 4].

The final spot will go to either Manalapan [6th in Group 4], Chatham [3rd in Group 3] or Ridge [7th in Group 4]. Because those three schools are separated by only three points – 554 for Manalapan, 555 for Chatham, 557 for Ridge – it’s too close to call since removing the runners from the six winning teams could change that order.

Presumably, the NJSIAA will announce the wild-cards before race-time Saturday.

This will be Cherokee’s 6th straight Meet of Champions appearance and 22nd overall. It’s Ocean City’s 2nd MoC and first since 2004. Cherry Hill East previously raced in 2013, 2014, 2019, 2021 and 2023.

In the MileSplit girls merge, Cherokee – 3rd in Group 4 – had the 3rd-lowest non-winning score behind Group 4 runner-up Ridgewood and Parochial A 2nd-place Pingry School of Basking Ridge. So they’re clearly through to the Meet of Champions.

After removing all six state champions, Middletown South [2nd in Group 3] and Freehold Township [4th in Group 4] were next, followed by Paul VI [3rd in Parochial A] and Ocean City [3rd in Group 3].

Paul VI is 100 points ahead of Ocean City in the merge, so they’re safely through, and Ocean City is 7th in the non-winner merge at 533, with Hopewell Valley 8th at 536. That’s close but probably far enough ahead of Haddonfield at 557 to get Ocean City (and Hopewell Valley) into the MoC.

In the merge of all schools, Haddonfield appears to be 9th among non-qualifiers, with Moorestown 12th and Cherry Hill East 13th. But again, nothing official yet.

Assuming the official at-large bids are the same as what we’re figuring, this will be Ocean City’s first time at the Meet of Champions since 2012. The Red Raiders also raced at the MoC in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 2003. Cherokee won Meet of Champions in 2021 and also raced in 2004, 2010 and 2023. And Paul VI is headed to the MoC for the first time since 2003. They also went in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002.

Boys who qualified as individuals by finishing in the top 10: Glassboro senior Ty Blackman, Woodstown junior Jacob Marino, Moorestown Friends senior Isaac Linden and Bishop Eustace seniors Ethan Caprarola and Desmond Carey

Girls who qualified without their teams: Schalick senior Jordan Hadfield, Wildwood senior Macie McCracken, Sterling senior Jonalee Adames, Northern Burlington senior Liliah Gordon, Mainland Regional senior Sofia Day and Holy Cross junior Julia Flanagan.

The boys race begins at 11 a.m. and the girls race at noon Saturday back at Holmdel County Park. This will be the 52nd annual Meet of Champions for both the boys and girls. The meet has been held every year since 1972 other than 2020.

The Shawnee boys enjoyed their best day in nearly two decades at the state Group 3 meet Saturday at Holmdel.

It was the first time in 18 years that the Renegades placed in the top five at a state meet.

Led by senior Noah Stapleton in 16th place, the Renegades placed 5th in the state. It was their best finish since the 2006 team, led by then-freshman David Forward in 18th, placed 3rd.

Stapleton ran 16:48, a Holmdel PR. He ran 17:09 last year at Shore Coaches. His time is fastest by a Shawnee runner since Mark Miller ran 16:41 at the 2016 state Group 4 meet.

Also racing Saturday for Shawnee were senior Simon Bernhardt [30th in 17:04], junior Yanni Ekatomatis [41st in 17:12], senior Elias Knoll [58th in 17:31] and senior Jake Steelman [83rd in 17:59], with senior Finnegan Bracken just behind Steelman [88th in 18:05].

Shawnee’s 17:18 team average is their fastest since the 1998 state Group 4 meet, where they placed 4th with Dan Christensen [16:49], Adam Ambrus [17:02], Richard Stevenson [17:17], Adam Grant [17:20] and Will Peoples [17:44] averaging 17:14.

It was also 5th-fastest among all South Jersey schools on Saturday, behind only Haddonfield [16:21], Cherry Hill East [16:33], Cherokee [16:34] and Ocean City [16:45].

Shawnee came up a few spots shy of qualifying for Meet of Champions. In a merge of the 105 no non-winning teams, the Renegades ranked 15th. The top eight non-winning teams received at-large bids to the MoC.

Led by junior Macy Huber and sophomore Grace Gutowski, the Paul VI girls enjoyed their finest day in 22 years Saturday at Holmdel County Park.

Paul VI set a school record with a 20:13 average for its top five runners and placed 3rd in the state Parochial A meet with 74 points. That’s the program’s lowest total since 2002, when PVI placed 2nd to Red Bank with 68 points behind Erin Sigwart and Liz Kessler in 3rd and 4th.

Still waiting for the merge of non-winning teams to see who’s headed for the Meet of Champions back at Holmdel Saturday. Hopefully, Viper Timing isn’t in charge of that or we may never find out. But unofficially, Paul VI should be on its way.

Anyway, Paul VI’s 20:13 average was tied for 9th-fastest of all teams in all six races and 2nd-fastest among South Jersey schools, behind only Cherokee’s 20:10 in the state Group 4 meet.

Paul VI won state titles in 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1994 and 1995 but never had a five-runner average close to 20:13.

Huber placed 3rd in 19:16 behind two Union Catholic runners and Gutowski was 5th in 19:38. Their times were 3rd- and 8th-fastest of all South Jersey runners Saturday.

Also for the Eagles, freshman Peyton Blake ran 20:16 and was the fastest freshman in the race in 13th place, freshman Morgan Kuzma was 23rd in 20:43 and sophomore Kara Salamone ran 21:16 for 30th. Freshman Johanna Trampe [41st in 21:44] and junior Verina Belmonte [49th in 22:19] also raced for PVI.

Huber’s time is 3rd-fastest all-time by a Paul VI girl, behind Dawn Cody’s 18:50 at the 1982 Meet of Champions and Shaelan McNally’s 18:56 at the 2021 Meet of Champions.

PVI lowered its all-time top-5 composite average from 19:21.2 to 19:15.2 with Huber lowering her Holmdel PR from 19:41 from this year’s Shore Coaches and Gutowski bumping Erin Carmody [19:43 in 1988] off the list. That moved them past Delsea [19:16.8], Seneca [19:20.8] and Bishop Eustace [19:20.8] and into the No. 10 spot on the all-time South Jersey Holmdel composite average performance list.

Nationally 11th-ranked Union Catholic won with 40 points and Pingry School of Basking Ridge was 2nd with 70. Paul VI is ranked 5th in New Jersey.

Paul VI A … 19:15.2
18:50 … Dawn Cody [1982 Meet of Champions]
18:56 … Shaelan McNally [2021 Meet of Champions]
19:16 … Macy Huber [2024 Parochial A]
19:36 … Sandy Wright [1988 Meet of Champions]
19:38 … Grace Gutowski [2024 Paochial A

Fastest Team Averages
19:29 .. Union Catholic [1st, Parochial A]
19:56 … Princeton [1st, Group 4]
19:53 … Ridgewood [2nd, Group 4]
20:01 … Rumson-Fair Haven [1st, Group 2]
20:06 … Colts Neck [1st, Group 3]
20:09 … Middletown South [2nd, Group 3]
20:09 … Manalapan [5th, Group 4]
20:10 … Cherokee [3rd, Group 4]
20:13 … Paul VI [3rd, Parochial A]
20:13 … Freehold Township [4th, Group 4]
20:13 … Pingry [2nd, Parochial A]

State champs Ben Andrus of Haddonfield and Liliah Gordon of Northern Burlington posted the fastest South Jersey times at the 12 state cross country championship races at Holmdel County Park.

And the Haddonfield boys and Cherokee girls had the fastest team averages.

Here’s a look at all the top individual and team performances from Holmdel! As always, please let me know in the comment section of any omissions or errors!

BOYS
Top individuals  [17:00]
*16:03 … *Ben Andrus [Haddonfield], Group 2 [1st]
16:15 … Brandon Lyons [Cherry Hil East], Group 4 [7th]
16:19 … Brody Bogos [Cherry Hill East], Group 4 [9th]
16:21 … Bennett Wright [Haddonfield], Group 2 [4th]
16:21 … Ben Realley [Cherokee], Group 4 [10th]
16:26 … *Logan Bromley [Cherokee], Group 4 [11th]
*16:22 … Ryan Gibson [Haddonfield], Group 2 [5th]
*16:26 … Peter Simpson [Haddonfield], Group 2 [6th]
16:31 … Ethan Buck [Ocean City], Group 3 [9th]
16:32 … **Keenan Neuman [Ocean City], Group 3 [10th]
*16:33 … Luke Andresen [Haddonfield], Group 2 [8th]
16:37 … **Ryan Duffy [Kingsway], Group 4 [15th]
16:38 … ***Jack Tindall [Cherokee], Group 4 [16th]
16:38 … *Will Nelson [Cherry Hill East], Group 4 [22nd]
16:39 … *Erik Preisner [Ocean City], Group 3 [12th]
16:40 … *Alvin Lin [Cherry Hill East], Group 4 [19th]
16:43 … Liam Tindall, [Cherokee], Group 4 [21st]
16:43 … **Sean Sooy [Cherokee], Group 4 [22nd]
16:46 … Enzo Corona [Cherokee], Group 4 [25th]
16:47 … Ty Blackman [Glassboro], Group 1 [2nd]
16:47 … *Jacob Wickersham [Cinnaminson], Group 2 [13th]
16:47 … *Rex Takakjy [Cherry Hill West], Group 3 [14th]
16:48 … Noah Stapleton [Shawnee], Group 3 [16th]
16:51 … Ethan Worst [Clearview], Group 3 [18th]
16:52 … Mason Wassell [Highland], Group 3 [20th]
16:53 … **Nathan Aschmann [Ocean City], Group 3 [21st]
16:54 … *Sean Martino [Cedar Creek], Group 2 [16th]
16:55 … Dylan Saber [Williamstown], Group 4 [31st]
16:57 … Julian Rich [Sicklerville Tech], Group 3 [25th]
16:57 … *Milo Poerner [Cherry Hill East], Group 4 [33rd]
16:57 … Sean Alemi [Paul VI], Parochial A [19th]

Top teams  [18:00]
16:21 … Haddonfield, Group 2 [1st]
16:33 … Cherry Hill East, Group 4 [2nd]
16:34 … Cherokee, Group 4 [1st]
16:45 … Ocean City, Group 3 [2nd]
17:18 … Shawnee, Group 3 [5th]
17:45 … Paul VI, Parochial A [8th]
17:57 … Glassboro, Group 1 [3rd]
17:57 … Highland, Group 3 [14th]

GIRLS
Top individuals [21:30]
17:58 … Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], Group 3 [1st]
19:07 … *Riley Austin [Haddonfield], Group 2 [2nd]
19:16 … Macy Huber [Paul VI], Parochial A [3rd]
19:23 … *Madeline Meder [Cherokee], Group 4 [7th]
19:25 … Jordan Hadfield [Schalick], Group 1 [2nd]
19:27 … Megan Niglio [Cherokee], Group 4 [9th]
19:37 … Chloe Care [Ocean City], Group 3 [9th]
19:38 … **Grace Gutowski [Paul VI], Parochial A [5th]
19:41 … Jonalee Adames [Sterling], Group 2 [10th]
19:42 … Sofia Day [Mainland Reg.], Group 3 [10th]
19:52 … **Theresa Albertson [Eastern], Group 4 [13th]
19:59 … *Sophia Aldridge [Wiliamstown], Group 4 [18th]
19:59 … **Ryleigh Budsock [Cherry Hill East], Group 4 [19th]
19:53 … Macie McCracken [Wildwood], Group 2 [6th]
19:55 … ***Riley Tolson [Ocean City], Group 3 [13th]
20:09 … Noella Reyes [Moorestown], Group 3 [17th]
20:12 … Maeve Smith [Ocean City], Group 3 [20th]
20:16 … *Ashley Doyle [Delran], Group 2 [20th]
20:16 … Gabrielle Joseph [Moorestown], Group 3 [22nd]
20:16 … ***Peyton Blake [Paul VI], Parochial A [13th]
20:18 … ***Erin Healy [Cherokee], Group 4 [27th]
20:18 … Nilaa Ponnappan [Camden Catholic], Parochial A [14th]
20:18 … Juliana Sieminski [Delsea], Group 3 [25th]
20:23 … ***Hope Edwards [Moorestown], Group 3 [28th]
20:24 … **Molly Mills [Haddonfield], Group 2 [23rd]
20:25 … **Madison Kelsey [Haddonfield], Group 2 [24th]
20:26 … *Natalie Dumas [Eastern], Group 4 [31st]
20:29 … *Julia Flanagan [Holy Cross], Parochial B [4th]
20:43 … ***Morgan Kuzma [Paul VI], Parochial A [23rd]
20:45 … **Olivia Masucci [Vineland], Group 4 [40th]
20:49 … *Shaelea Conway [Cherry Hill East], Group 4 [42nd]
20:49 … Cate Feudtner [Cherry Hill East], Group 4 [43nd]
20:49 … *Lyana Gutierrez [Highland], Group 3 [34th]
20:49 … *Maya Kumar [Cherokee], Group 4 [44th]
20:51 … *Ella Davidson [Cherry Hill East], Group 4 [45th]
20:52 … Zoe Zammit [Ocean City], Group 3 [37th]
20:55 … Grace Wojciechowski [Cherokee], Group 4 [48th]
20:58 … Gabrielle Brown [Vineland], Group 4 [50th]
21:02 … ***Emmie Wang [Cherry Hill West], Group 4 [51st]
21:03 … Makayla Zell [Moorsetown], Group 3 [46th]
21:06 … *Paige Pacquing [Egg Harbor Twp.], Group 4 [55th]
21:12 … Tylin Regan [Haddonfield], Group 2 [35th]
21:15 … Kaysie Luna [Sterling], Group 2 [36th]
21:16 … **Kara Salamone [Paul VI], Parochial A [30th]
21:18 … Kaylee Russen[Washington Twp.], Group 4 [63rd]
21:19 … Kayla Leonhardt [Northern Burlington], Group 3 [60th]
21:20 … **Aubrey Bishop [Kingsway], Group 4 [65th]
21:21 … Dylan Melcher [Haddonfield], Group 2 [38th]
21:21 … Audrey Musmeci [Highland], Group 3 [61st]
21:21 … **Devon Gervasi [Haddonfield], Group 2 [41st]
21:22 … ***Ella Mokienko [Mainland Reg.], Group 3 [61st]
21:27 … **Gabriella Pizzo [Cherry Hill East], Group 4 [66th]
21:28 … **Kylee Black [Vineland], Group 4 [67th]
21:28 … *Lilliana Stack Maya [Moorestown], Group 3 [68th]

Top Teams [22:00]
20:10 … Cherokee, Group 4 [3rd]
20:13 … Paul VI, Parochial A [3rd]
20:28 … Ocean City, Group 3 [3rd]
20:39 … Moorestown, Group 3 [6th]
20:42 … Haddonfield, Group 2 [2nd]
20:42 … Cherry Hill East, Group 4 [6th]
21:21 … Northern Burlington, Group 3 [9th]
21:48 … Sterling, Group 2 [7th]
21:49 … Mainland Regional, Group 3 [13th]
21:49 … Delsea, Group 3 [14th]

Viper Timing never did manage to get any results posted today, so thanks to Lambo, Robert Keller and everybody at MileSplit for getting everything up as fast as possible on their site.

Here are direct links to results from all 12 races :

Group 1 boys [9:30 a.m.]: Click here.
Group 2 boys [2 p.m.]: Click here.
Group 3 boys [10 a.m.]: Click here.
Group 4 boys [12 p.m.]: Click here.
Parochial A boys [1:30 p.m.]: Click here.
Parochial B boys [11:30 a.m.]: Click here.
Group 1 girls [10:30 a.m.]: Click here.
Group 2 girls [3 p.m.]: Click here.
Group 3 girls [11 a.m.]: Click here.
Group 4 girls [1 p.m.]: Click here.
Parochial A girls [2:30 p.m.]: Click here.
Parochial B girls [12:30 p.m.]: Click here.

Junior Benjamin Andrus won the individual title and Haddonfield placed all five scorers in the top eight – all in a 30-second compression – to win its 22nd state title and seventh in a row Saturday at Holmdel County Park.

Andrus joined his brother George in 2022 as the 2nd member of his family with a state Group 2 title.

Haddonfield averaged 16:20.69 on Holmdel’s historic 5,000-meter course and outscored 2nd-place Bernards 24-112.

The Bulldogs outscored the field 24-31.

Haddonfield’s 24-point total is the 2nd-lowest ever by a South Jersey school at states, lowest in 47 years and lowest ever by a public school. In 1977, St. Augustine scored a perfect 15 with John Pfaff, Tom Pfaff, Tom Baruffi, Bob Domico and Grteg Kazmierizak.

Bernards, which won 23 state titles from 1965 through 2004, is the only New Jersey public school to win more state titles than Haddonfield.

Although the meet wasn’t held in 2020, Haddonfield has won each of the last seven times it was contested, and their streak is 3rd-longest in state history, behind Bernards’ 14-year streak in Group 1 and 2 from 1974 through 1987 and CBA’s 11-year streak in Parochial A from 1995 through 2005.

Haddonfield’s 16:20.69 average is 3rd-fastest ever by a South Jersey school at Holmdel and fastest in 14 years. It’s also fastest ever at states. Mainland Regional averaged 16:19.12 when it won the 2003 Meet of Champions, and Haddonfield averaged 16:19.68 when it placed 2nd in the 2010 Meet of Champions.

The Bulldogs would only need to average a little over 1 ½ seconds per runner Saturday at the Meet of Champions to break the South Jersey record.

Here’s a look at the top-10 single-race team averages by South Jersey schools:

16:19.12 … Mainland Regional, 2003 Meet of Champions [1]
16:19.68 … Haddonfield, 2010 Meet of Champions [2]
16:20.69 … Haddonfield, 2024 State Group 2 [1]
16:21.56 … Haddonfield, 2001 Meet of Champions [1]
16:21.40 … Haddonfield, 2021 Meet of Champions [3]
16:22.4h ….. Mainland Regional, 2003 Shore Coaches
16:22.94 … Kingsway, 2017 Group 4 [1]
16:25.00 … Mainland Regional, 2003 Group 4 [1]
16:26.05 … Cherry Hill East, 2014 Group 4 [1]
16:27.2h ….. Paul VI, 1988 [1]

Andrus won by about 35 meters over Tommy Jendryka of Mendham, who was 2nd in 16:08. Jacob Nolan of Madison placed 3rd before three straight Haddonfield runners crossed the line – senior Bennett Wright [4th in 16:20], junior Ryan Gibson [5th in 16:21] and junior Peter Simpson [6th in 16:25].

After Bernards’ 1st runner crossed, Haddonfield’s Luke Andresen [8th in 16:32] made it five Bulldog finishers before any other school had its 2nd runner across the line. Senior 6th runner Aaron Keith also placed in the top 20, taking 19th in 17:11.

Haddonfield won its first state title in 1978 and has also won championships in 1980, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023, all in Group 2 except 1985, 1987 and 1989 in Group 1.

Thanks to the MileSplit guys for sending me screen shots of the results since Viper Timing has yet to post any results from any race today.