Senior Ashley Doyle became the first Delran girl in 43 years to qualify for states in consecutive years when she placed 7th at the Central Jersey Group 2 meet Saturday in Jamesburg.
Doyle, 8th last year, moved up to 7th this year, covering 5,000 meters at Thompson Park in 20:15.05.
It’s the best finish by a Delran girl since Madelyn Tattory placed 4th at the 2014 South Jersey Group 2 race in 19:38.0 at Delsea.
Doyle is the first Delran girl to qualify for states in consecutive seasons since Karen Pupo in 1981 and 1982. Pupo was 6th at South Jersey Group 2 at Pennsauken in 1981 and 6th at the state meet, also at Pennsauken. She placed 3rd at 1982 sectionals in Blackwood and qualified again for states, but there’s no sign of her in the results, although the best available results don’t go very deep.
Doyle this year won the BCSL Liberty Division race and was 5th at the County Open behind Julia Flanagan and three Cherokee girls.
She placed 20th at states last year with a 20:16 at Holmdel County Park, where this year’s state meet will be held on Saturday.The fastest time by a Delran girl at Holmdel is Tattory’s 20:09 at the 2014 state Group 2 meet.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 