Haddonfield’s Luke Andresen, Peter Simpson, Ben Andrus and Bennett Wright ran the 12th-fastest 4-mile relay in state history late Thursday evening and missed the hallowed 52-year-old South Jersey record by less than eight seconds.
Andresen, Simpson, Andrus and Wright all split between 4:20 and 4:24 and Haddonfield placed 5th at West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field in 17:27.79.
Haddon Township’s Mark Yellin, Dan Matousch, Steve Cummings and Mike Elder set the South Jersey record – then No. 5 in U.S. history – with its 17:20.0 at the 1970 New Jersey Relays in Elizabeth.
Haddonfield, with Colin Baker, Ben Potts, Matt Nussbaum and Jon Vitez, virtually tied that record with a FAT 17:20.21 when it won 2010 Greensboro Nationals.
Haddonfield’s performance Thursday is 3rd-fastest in South Jersey history and fastest in 15 years.
Andresen, Simpson, Andrus and Wright earned All-America honors by finishing in the top six. Andresen led off in 4:20.01, Simpson split 4:22.45, Andrus ran 4:23.99 and Wright anchored in 4:21.35.
Andreson, Simpson and Andrus are all back in 2026, and Haddonfield has several potential 4th legs, including Michael Sinnes, who ran 4:27.44, Ryan Gibson, who ran 4:31.51, and Augustan Coley, who ran 4:33.67 as a freshman.
Haddonfield finished behind one school from Oregon, two from Utah and Mannheim Township outside Lancaster.
All-Time New Jersey 4-Mile Relay Sub-17:30 List
17:12.2h … Essex Catholic, 1966
17:12.6h … Paramus Catholic, 1973
17:16.62 … CBA, 2024
17:19.69 … West Windsor-Plainsboro, 2018
17:20.14 … CBA, 2019
17:20.0h ..… Haddon Twp., 1973
17:20.21 ..… Haddonfield, 2010
17:21.16 … Don Bosco, 2013
17:21.60 … Colts Neck, 2024
17:23.32 … CBA, 2013
17:25.2h … St. Joe’s-Metuchen, 1976
17:27.79 … Haddonfield, 2025
17:28.84 ..… Mainland Reg., 2004
17:29.1h … St. Joe’s-Metuchen, 1975
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 