From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Cherokee’s Jack Tindall won his 2^nd straight Olympic Conference title and ran the fastest time ever at DREAM Park by a sophomore Wednesday in Logan Township.

Tindall led five Cherokee scorers in the top 10 as the Chiefs won their 5^th straight conference title and 9^th in the last 10 years.

Cherokee outscored 2^nd-place Cherry Hill East 25-59, with Paul VI 3^rd with 83 points. This is the 4^th straight year and 7^th time in the last 10 years Cherokee and Cherry Hill East have finished 1-2. Cherry Hill East and Cherokee went 1-2 in 2015 and 2020 and Cherokee and Washington Township finished 1-2 in 2021.

Tindall is the first repeat winner since Cherokee’s Ethan Wechsler won in 2018 and 2019. He ran the 7^th-fastest time in course history and broke the sophomore record of 15:28 set in 2021 by Woodbury’s Peyton Shute at 2021 South Jersey Group 1 Sectionals.

Also in the top 10 for the Chiefs were juniors Ben Realley [3^rd in 15:51], Maximo Harada [5^th in 15:57], Sean Sooy [6^th in 16:01] and Gavin Danielewicz [10^th in 16:15].

Cherokee’s five scorers averaged 15:53.62 per runner, 5^th-fastest in course history behind last year’s Cherokee team at this meet [15:44.60], Cherokee at 2022 Group 4 Sectionals [15:48.06], Haddonfield at 2021 Group 2 Sectionals [15:52.43] and Haddonfield at 2022 Group 2 Sectionals.

Cherokee’s 6^th and 7^th runners both ran sub-16:30, senior Dominic Pileri 12^th in 16:24 and junior Leo Vyvyan 13^th in 16:29.

Cherry Hill East was led by senior Cian Sherlock and senior Alvin Lin, who both ran sub-16 at DREAM Park. Sherlock placed 2^nd in 15:31 and Lin 4^th in 15:54. Sherlock’s time is fastest ever by a Cherry Hill East runner at DREAM Park. Brandon Lyons ran 15:47 last year at the Olympic Conference meet.

Also in the top 10: Winslow Vincent Perri [7^th in 16:05], Eastern Timothy Shack [8^th in 16:10] and Cherry Hill West Rex Takakjy.

Others who ran sub-17: Paul VI juniors Max Long [11^th, 16:22] and Jason Smith [14^th, 16:33], Cherry Hill East freshman Braeden Sherlock [15^th, 16:34], Paul VI junior Chris Monaghan [16^th, 16:34], Cherokee Hamza Salahuddin [17^th, 16:35], Rancocas Valley senior Teddy Jones [18^th, 16:36], Cherry Hill East freshman Conan Poerner [19^th, 16:41], Paul VI junior Chase Cooley [20^th, 16:45], Cherry Hill East junior Aneesh Rajagopal [21^st, 16;46], Cherry Hill East senior Milo Poerner [22^nd, 16:48], Moorestown junior Ethan Taylor [23^rd, 16:50], Paul VI junior Caden Briggs [24^th, 16:54], Lenape sophomore Jayden Carn [25^th, 16:54], Lenape junior Aaron Smith [26^th, 16:54] and Seneca senior Dominic Lera [27^th, 16:59]

15:20.92       920.92
15:51.52       951.52
15:57.80       957.80
16:01.80       961.80
16:15.56       975.56           15:53.62
15:53.62

2024   Tindall 15:32           Cherokee 17, Cherry Hill East 47

2023   Kuenkle 15:50         Cherokee 24, Cherry Hill East 54
2022   Ditmars 15:40          Cherokee 42, Cherry Hill East 72
2021   Clewell 15:46          Cherokee 33, Washington Twp. 70
2020   Groff                          CHE 42, Cherokee 45
2019   Wechsler                   Cherokee 21, Cherry Hill East 38
2018   Wechsler                   Cherokee 20, Cherry Hill East 62
2017   Justin Kelly               Cherokee 18, Lenape 56
2016   Jack Shea                   Cherokee 22, Cherry Hill East 48
2015   Groff                          CHE 34, Cherokee 35 [American]

1000 seconds = 5000 meters
1 second = 5 meters
0.1 second = 0.5 meters
0.01 second = 0.05 meters
0.05 seconds – 0.25 meters