From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

With Liliah Gordon qualifying again for Foot Locker Nationals – you can read about that here – we thought it would be a good time to go back and look at every South Jersey that’s ever finished in the top 25 at a Foot Locker (or Kinney or Champs or Eastbay) Regional in the nearly half century since the first race was held back in 1979 as part of the St. John’s Invitational at Van Cortlandt Park.

It’s taken a few years but I think I finally have a complete record of South Jersey runners at Foot Locker Regionals. If you notice anybody missing or an incorrect time or place, drop me a note and let me know!

Liliah won’t run in San Diego until a week from Saturday, but over the next few days we’ll post all-time finishes by all Foot Locker Nationals qualifiers from New Jersey. Track season starts this weekend, but it’s fun having one more cross country race to go!

All-Time South Jersey Foot Locker Regionals Top-25 Finishes
Boys
2024
None
2023
Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 5th [15:08]
Nick Kuenkel [Cherokee], 12th [15:40]
Aiden Williams [Audubon], 21st [15:59]
2022
None
2021
Not Held
2020
Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], 12th [15:42.3]
2019
Kevin Antczak [Mainland Reg.], 4th [15:24.0]
Austin Gabay [Cinnaminson], 22nd [16:07.4]
2018
Kevin Antczak [Mainland Reg.], 16th [16:02.8]
Austin Gabay [Cinnaminson], 23rd [16:16.3]
2017
None
2016
Josh Clark [Highland], 4th [15:28.4]
2015
None
2014
Luke Petela [Haddon Twp.], 2nd [15:33.4
Shawn Hutchison [Bishop Eustace], 10th [15:45.7]
Dominick Munson [Timber Creek], 23rd [16:03.3]
2013
Lou Corgilano [Hammonton], 9th [15:40.7]
2012
Shawn Wilson [Cherokee], 3rd[15:42.5]
Stephen Maine [Highland], 21st [16:12.5]
2011
Nick Costello [Delsea], 19th [16:26.5]
Shawn Wilson [Cherokee], 21st [16:31.1]
2010
Miles Schoedler [Ocean City], 15th [16:03.5]
Paul Szulewski [Williamstown], 20th [16:19.1]
2009
Paul Szulewski [Williamstown], 13th [16:23.2]
Michael Rankin [Paul VI], 24th [16:37.4]
2008
Brett Johnson [Ocean City], 8th [15:50.1]
Dave Forward [Shawnee], 16th [16:09.7]
2007
Brett Johnson [Ocean City], 25th [16:07.8]
2006
None
2005
None
2004
None
2003
Jon Anderson [Cinnaminson], 7th [15:30.4]
Greg Hughes [Mainland Reg.], 17th [16:04.1]
2002
Keith Krieger [Cherokee], 12th [15:55.7]
Greg Hughes [Mainland Reg.], 23rd [16:12.9]
2001
Marc Pelerin [Cherokee], 6th [15:40.1]
Chris Platt [Haddonfield], 19th [16:08.8]
2000
Marc Pelerin [Cherokee], 9th[15:50.1]
Mike Myers [Eastern], 14th [15:58.3]
Chad Lyons [Overbrook], 25th [16:04.5]
1999
None
1998
Nate Miller [Highland], 5th [15:49]
1997
Murad Campbell [Overbrook], 2nd [15:27]
1996
Matt Ruhl [Triton], 18th [16:37.0]
1995
None
1994
Kurt Wayton [Mainland Reg.], 16th [16:07.1]
1993
*Kurt Wayton [Mainland Reg.], 223rd [16:23]
1992
None
1991
Tom Keefer [Paul VI], 11th [16:20.0]
Keith O’Brien [Shawnee], 21st [16:33.2]
Pete Fixler [Vineland] 23rd [16:34.6]
1990
Pete Dougherty [Paul VI], 9th [16:16.5]
1989
Mark Sivieri [St. Augustine], 11th [16:23.0]
Joe Cranston [Paul VI], 19th [16:29.6]
Vince Cieslik [Paul VI], 25th [16:38.3]
1988
Jason DiJoseph [Paul VI], 1st [15:17.6]
Jason Fiscus [Haddon Twp.], 12th [15:58.3]
Urie Ridgeway [Bridgeton], 13th [16:00.0]
Dave Donohue [Haddon Twp.], 20th [16:10.7]
1987
Jason DiJoseph [Paul VI], 4th [15:46.7]
Eric Lorenz [Holy Cross], 8th [15:49.4]
Urie Ridgeway [Bridgeton], 11th [16:03.0]
Joe Shanahan [Haddonfield], 13th [16:08.9]
Joe Magre [Paul VI], 25th [16:22.1]
1986
Jason DiJoseph [Paul VI], 6th [15:55]
1985
Kevin Pumphrey [Highland], 2nd [15:25.6]
Ron Faith [Paul VI], 6th [15:46]
1984
Jeff Davis [Cumberland Reg.], 13th [15:50]
Chris Hageman [Paul VI], 18th [15:56]
Kevin Pumphrey [Highland], 20th [15:59]
George Steinhoff [Paul VI], 23rd [16:03]
Ron Faith [Paul VI], 25th [16:07]
1983
Bill Stewart [Cherry Hill East], 11th [15:53]
1982
None
1981
None
1980
Dan Owens [Absegami], 12th [16:06.3]
1979 [qualifying held at St. John’s Invitational]
Jerry Andrews [Highland], 1st [15:34.0]
Jim Smith [Haddonfield], 3rd [15:48]

Girls
2024
Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 7th [18:01]
2023
Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 7th [17:51]
Shaelan McNally [Paul VI], 16th [18:31]
2022
Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 20th [19:16.1]
Shaelan McNally [Paul VI], 23rd [19:22.4]
2021
None
2020
Not Held
2019
None
2018
Isabella Turner [Shawnee], 22nd [19:03.0]
2017
None
2016
Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.], 1st [17:40.3]
2015
Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 5th [17:44.2]
Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.], 6th [17:47.8]
2014
Devin Grisbaum [Ocean City], 22nd [18:50.5]
2013
Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 5th [17:43.2]
2012
None
2011
Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace], 4th [18:24.9]
Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 11th [18:44.4]
Dina Iacone [Washington Twp.], 22nd [19:16.3]
2010
Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 3rd [18:08.0]
Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace], 16th [18:44.8]
2009
Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 5th [18:36.4]
Megan Venables [Highland], 16th [19:13.3]
2008
Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 5th [18:08.3]
Megan Venables [Highland], 15th [18:38.9]
Megan McGlinchey [West Deptford], 25th [18:50.9]
2007
Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 10th [18:00.4]
2006
Theresa Cattuna [Cherry Hill West], 23rd [18:42.5]
2005
None
2004
Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City], 10th [18:33.0]
2003
Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City], 2nd [18:16.4]
Arianna McKinney [Highland], 22nd [19:07.3]
2002
None
2001
None
2000
None
1999
None
1998
Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2nd [18:08]
1995
Ann Klocke [Bishop Eustace, 14th [18:45.9]
1994
Jamie Weisgerber [Woodstown], 15th [18:39.8]
1993
None
1992
None
1991
None
1990
None
1989
None
1988
None
1987
None
1986
None
1985
Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro], 9th [N/A]
1984
Mindy Rowand [Sterling], 10th [18:25]
1983
Lori Watson [Cherry Hill East], 11th [18:40]
1982
Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 3rd [17:28.7]
Wendy Westphal [Highland], 17th [18:37.5]
1981
Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 11th [18:17.6]
1980
None
1979
None

KEY
1979-1992: Kinney
1993-2019: Foot Locker
2021: East Bay
2022: Champs
2023: 2024 – Foot Locker

1979 – 2022: Van Cortlandt Park, New York
2023 – 2024: Franklin Park, Boston