Molly Cataline became the first freshman girl to win the Burlington County Open in 24 years and led Northern to its first team title ever Friday in Mansfield Township.
Cataline covered the 5,000-meter Crystal Lake Park course in 18:53, becoming the first freshman to win the county title since Willingboro’s Brittnee Bynoe in 2002.
Northern’s best previous finish was 3rd place in 2021 and 2022. The only previous Northern girls to win the Burlco Open were Laura Mason in 1979 and Lilliah Gordon in 2022, 2023 an 2024.
Northern placed all five scorers in the top 20, with junior Kamiyah Vergo 4th in 20:01, freshman Mary-Kate Boyle 11th in 21:15, sophomore Abigail Leonhardt 13th in 21:23 and sophomore Adelina Floyd 17th in 21:40. Cataline and Boyle were the first two freshmen finishers.
Northern edged Moorestown, 43-48, with Cherokee 3rd with 70 points. This is the 5th straight year Moorestown has finished either 1st or 2nd and the 9th straight year Cherokee has placed in the top three.
Cherokee junior Erin Healy and sophomore Ava Guarini took 2nd and 3rd in 19:41 and 19:54.
Also in the top 10: Moorestown junior Makayla Zell [5th in 20:06], Lenape senior Audrey McCorkle [6th in 20:09], Maple Shade senior Juliana Catalani [7th in 20:24], Moorestown senior Catherine Hipple [8th in 20:39], Moorestown senior Sophia DiFiore [9th in 20:49] and Seneca Jaden Eberman [10th in 21:10].
