Senior Erik Preisner won his 2nd straight sectional title and led a 1-2 finish with junior Nathan Aschmann and Ocean City placed all five scorers in the top 10 to win its 3rd straight South Jersey Group 3 title and 10th overall.
Preisner became Ocean City’s first repeat champion since Miles Schoedler in 2009 and 2010, running 15:33.01 over 5,000 meters at DREAM Park in Logan Township. Aschmann ran 15:48.59 for 2nd place.
Also in Ocean City’s scoring group were junior Keenan Neuman [4th in 16:00.02], sophomore Nevin Millstein [8th in 16:19.15] and junior Michael Romano [10th in 16:27.62]. Sixth man sophomore Benjamin McCarthy was 12th in 16:35.16
The Red Raiders averaged 16:01.68 per man, 11th-fastest in course history, and outscored 2nd-place Highland 25-84. The 25 points are the lowest total in SJ-3 since Ocean City scored 23 in 2018.
Ocean City also won team titles in 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2018, 2019, 2023 and 2024.
The top 15 individuals and top five teams advance to the state championships next Saturday at Holmdel County Park.
Also among the top 15 finishers: Winslow Vincent Perri [5th in 16:01.46], Delsea Matthew Littlehales [6th in 16:17.22[, Highland Andrew Dopkin [7th in 16:18.41], Cherry Hill West Rex Takakjy [9th in 16:19.62], Highland Liam Murphy [11th in 16:27.86], Moorestown Zander Kane [13th in 16:39.67] and Shawnee Yanni Ekatomatis [14th in 16:54.91].
Timber Creek [116], Delsea [155] and Toms River East [159] join Ocean City and Highland as state qualifiers.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 