From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

The Ocean City girls, led by a sizzling anchor split by junior Carly Godfrey, ran the 10^th-fastest 4-by-8 in South Jersey history Wednesday at the Meet of Champions at Pennsauken.

Junior Lillian Flora, sophomore Riley Tolson, junior Peighton Clemens and Godfrey ran 9:12.78, finishing just behind Cranford, which won with a 9:11.10.

Flora led off in 2:17.34, Tolson split 2:18.62, Clemens ran 2:28.59 and Godfrey anchored in 2:08.27.

That’s the 3^rd-fastest non-winning time in meet history and fastest by a South Jersey school this year.

Cherokee took 3^rd in 9:15.27 with senior Madeline Meder [2:19.56], sophomore Erin Healy [2:21.29], senior Alyssa Suriano [2:19.39] and senior Sofia Recinto [2:13.65].

All-Time Meet of Champions 4-by-8 List
9:01.69 … Freehold Township, 2014 [1]
9:03.19 … Ridge, 2018 [1]
9:06.81 … Ridge, 2016 [1]
9:07.71 … Ocean City, 2025 [1]
9:08.15 … Southern Regional, 2016 [2]
9:08.75 … Ridge, 2019 [1]
9:10.06 … Southern Regional, 2014 [2]
9:10.24 … Haddonfield, 2021 [1]
9:10.69 … Freehold Township, 2013 [1]
9:11.10 … Cranford, 2026 [1]
9:11.48 … Ridge, 2015 [1]
9:11.81 … Ridge, 2017 [1]
9:12.78 … Ocean City, 2026 [2]
9:13.70 … North Hunterdon, 2016 [3]
9:14.04 … Mountain Lakes, 2017 [2]
9:14.07 … West Windsor-Plainsboro South, 2014 [3]
9:14.48 … Mount St. Dominic, 2012 [1]
9:14.98 … West Windsor-Plainsboro South, 2015 [2]

All-Time South Jersey 4-by-8 List
9:00.51 … Haddonfield, 2021
9:05.62 … Lenape, 2012
9:05.83 … Lenape, 2008
9:06.30 … Haddonfield, 2008
9:06.96 … Cherokee, 2025
9:07.71 … Ocean City, 2025
9:10.15 … Winslow Twp., 2025
9:10.32 … Haddonfield, 2000
9:12.30 … Haddonfield, 2019
9:12.78 … Ocean City, 2026
9:13.67 … Cherokee, 2025
9:14.25 … Cherokee, 2023