From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Stockton freshman Jimmy Clauson from Haddon Township placed 3^rd – just three seconds out of 1^st – in his 2^nd collegiate cross country race Friday.

Clauson ran 19:50 over 6,000 meters at the 4th annual Herb Lorenz Invitational on the Mike Walker-designed Green Lane Field course near The College of New Jersey in Ewing. Sophomore teammate Sam Szczepanski won the race in 19:47, and TCNJ freshman Tyler Hurst was 2^nd in 19:50.

Clauson opened his season with a 2^nd-place finish in the Jersey Pines Challenge in Lakewood, where he covered 6,000 meters 50 seconds slower.

The College of New Jersey went 2-4-5-6-7-(8-9) to win the team title, 24-37, over Stockton with Holy Family of North Philly, Brooklyn and Caldwell 3^rd through 5^th with 110, 114 and 112 points.

Freshman Will Nelson from Cherry Hill East was TCNJ’s 3^rd runner, in 4^th place with 20:13. Also for TCNJ, junior Silas Matteson from Cherokee was 6^th in 20:27,

The meet honors the memory of masters running star Herb Lorenz, who grew up in Pemberton, competed for TCNJ, taught at Burlington Township for years and coached at several South Jersey high schools, including Burlington Township and Lenape, in a legendary running and coaching career. He died in 2011 after a courageous battle with cancer.