From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Haddon Township graduates Jacob Dinerman and Matthew Conaway both placed in the top 10 Saturday at the NCAA Division 3 Metro Region race at DREAM Park in Logan Township.

Dinerman, a junior at Rutgers-Camden, placed 4^th in 24:43.4 over 8,000 meters, and Conway, a senior at Rowan, was 7^th in 24:48.2.

Did they qualify for NCAA Division 3 Nationals? That’s a great question! The qualifying protocol is not listed anywhere that I could find. I checked half a dozen school web sites and even downloaded the 18-page “2015 DIII Cross Country Championships Participant 2025-26 Manual” and the advancement procedures aren’t listed there either.

In any case, TCNJ did mention on its web site that it earned an auto bid to nationals by winning its first regional title in 20 years, defeating Swarthmore 56-76. No South Jersey runners raced for TCNJ, but assistant coach Mike Walker is a Rancocas Valley graduate!

Rowan placed 5^th. Sophomore Colin Patterson of Haddon Heights was Rowan’s 2^nd finisher in 31^st in 25:52.8, and senior Sean Hice of Washington Township was the Profs 3^rd finisher in 26:02.3 in 36^th. Williamstown graduates junior Aidan Brad and freshman Dylan Saber were Rowan’s 4^th and 5^th runners.

Stockton’s 4^th runner was sophomore Patrick Storti from Cinnaminson.

In the women’s race, Rowan junior Allyson Wernik of Washington Township placed 15^th in 22:31.9 over 6,000 meters. TCNJ senior Savannah Hodgens from Mainland Regional ran 23:16.7 and placed 38^th.

Also in the top 50: Rowan freshman Julianna Sieminski of Delsea [44^th in 23:27.6] and Stockton senior Madelyn Valasek from Shawnee [48^th in 23:32.7].