UMBC junior Alexis Tepper from Cherry Hill East won her 2025 XC opener in an eight-team meet at Mount St. Marys.
Tepper ran 18:29 over 5,000 meters in Emmitsburg, Md., and finished 40 meters ahead of Delaware’s Ella Peterson, who was 2nd in 18:40.
Camden Catholic’s Leah Clear, a junior at Delaware, placed 4th in 18:50 and was Delaware’s No. 2 runner. The Blue Hens won the team title, 30-54, over Maryland Baltimore County.
UMBC junior Katelyn Deal from Woodstown, a 2:14 half-miler last spring, ran 19:50 and finished 26th overall.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 