1st-time XC runner Riley Fayer runs fastest Group 1 time ever at DREAM Park, leads Audubon to 2nd straight sectional title!!!!!!!!!!

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Senior Riley Fayer, in her first season of cross country, became Audubon’s first-ever sectional champion and led the Green Wave to their 2nd straight team title and 3rd overall in Logan Township

Fayer ran 18:18.40 and won the South Jersey Group 1 race in 18:18.49, the fastest time ever by a Group 1 runner at DREAM Park. The previous fastest was 18:33.39 by Schalick’s Jordan Hadfield at the 2023 South Jersey Group 1 meet.

Fayer won by about 350 meters over sophomore Abby Marino of Woodstown, who placed 2nd in 19:44.80.

Audubon outscored 2nd-place Haddon Township, 43-61,

The Audubon girls also won sectional titles in 1981 and 2024. In 1981, Audubon won on a 6th-runner tiebreaker with Manchester Township after both finished with 56 points. And last year they won 53-66 over Haddon Township.

Only one of Audubon’s seven runners from last year’s championship team raced Saturday – junior Sophia Rizzo. Three of the four underclassman in Audubon’s top seven at sectionals last year are either not on the team or didn’t run Saturday.

Freshman Emma Camm and 1st-year junior Isabella Legatie placed 3rd and 5th, Camm in 20:09.69 and Legatie 5th in 20:41.78.

Also in Audubon’s scoring group were sophomores Ashley Cheney [16th in 22:32.66] and Tallulah Witherington [23rd in 23:16.22]. Cheney competed in XC last year but was not on Audubon’s varsity. Witherington is another 1st-year XC runner. Rizzo was 33rd in 24:00.51, and Audubon only had six finishers.

The top 15 individuals and top five teams advance to the state championships Saturday at Holmdel County Park.

Also among the top 15 individuals were Maple Shade junior Juliana Catalani [4th in 20:26.77], Haddon Township junior Tanner Lajoie [6th in 20:57.91], Woodstown junior Anabel Schaal [7th in 21:05.00], Glassboro sophomore Abigail Johns [8th in 21:33.72], Pitman sophomore Peyton Coyle [9th in 21:36.28], Cape May Tech senior Kirstyn McHale [10th in 21:43.17], Schalick junior Helen Lillia [11th in 21:48.21], Haddon Township senior Blake Kemery [12th in 21:56.00], Pennsville sophomore Sawyer Slad [13th in 22:08.65], Maple Shade freshman Johana Perez [14th in 22:14.66] and Haddon Township sophomore Isabella Dodd [15th in 22:21.87].

Qualifying as full teams in addition to Audubon and Haddon Township are Maple Shade [86], Woodstown [88] and Schalick [108].

One thought on “1st-time XC runner Riley Fayer runs fastest Group 1 time ever at DREAM Park, leads Audubon to 2nd straight sectional title!!!!!!!!!!”

  1. Anthony Pugliese's avatar Anthony Pugliese November 1, 2025 / 5:05 pm

    Hey Reuben,

    Thanks for recognizing our girls!! I know you like to be informed, so here goes. From last year’s sectional champs, two graduated and the rest are still with the team. Three of them have competed this year, but not in our top 7. Sophia Rizzo ran today and so did Lydia Gravante (who has been sub-20) but she was a DNF today. We believe the ladies from last year will be able to contribute at the varsity level next year.

    We hope to get the top 7 all to the line at Holmdel.

    Anthony Pugliese

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