From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Junior Addison Weiss and senior Ryleigh Budsock finished 1-2 and Cherry Hill East girls edged Paul VI by two points in a battle of two of the state’s top teams Wednesday at the Olympic Conference meet in Logan Township.

Cherry Hill East finished with a 43-45 edge, the closest Olympic Conference finish in the histoy of a meet that dates back to 1978 on the girls side [although team scoring wasn’t incorporated until 1988].

East went 1-2-11-13-16 and PVI 4-5-9-12-15, with Moorestown 3^rd with 72 points. PVI is ranked 8^th in New Jersey by MileSplit and Cherry Hill East is 13^th.

Weiss ran 19:11 at DREAM Park to win her 2^nd straight conference title, and Budsock 19:29 to lead the race. Other Cherry Hill East scorers were Katherine Grottini [11^th in 20:54], Noelle Terry [13^th in 20:57] and Austyn Semar [16^th in 21:17], with 6^th runner Rebecca Tibbetts just behind Semar [17^th in 21:20].

For PVI, Isabella Suarez and Morgan Kuzma placed 3^rd and 4^th in 19:55 and 19:57, Peyton Barger ran 20:34 for 9^th, Emilia Grelli was 12^th in 20:56 and Grace Gutowski placed 15^th in 21:02.

Cherokee Ava Guarini ran 19:46 for 3^rd, Lenape Audrey McCorkle was 6^th in 20:03, Moorestown’s Makayla Zell and Catherine Hipple took 7^th and 8^th in 20:11 and 20:17 and Seneca Jaden Eberman placed 10^th in 20:49.

Others under 21:30: Winslow Zion Ebisike [14^th in 20:58], Moorestown Sophia DiFiore [18^th in 21:22] and Moorestown Juliet Stack Maya [19^th in 21:26].