From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Sophomore Keira Epstein on Thursday became the Glassboro girl in meet history to win the Tri-County Conference Showcase.

Epstein, a 1^st-year runner, ran an all-course best 19:00 at DREAM Park in Logan Township to become Glassboro’s first conference winner since the meet’s inception in 1986.

Her previous 5,000-meter best was a 19:21 at West Deptford Park last Thursday. That was her first race under 20 minutes.

Epstein won by nearly half a minute over Kingsway junior Kaitlyn Orazi, who was 2^nd in 19:24. Senior Katelyn Gallinaro and senior Aubrey Bishop placed 3^rd and 4^th in 19:27 and 19:34 and Kingsway, with six in the top 11 (and top 9 in team scoring) won the team title 20-88 over Highland.

Glassboro hadn’t even had a girl in the top 10 in the conference meet in 39 years. In the 1987 meet at Kingsway, Charlette Washington placed 4^th for a 2^nd straight year in 19:57.

For Kingsway, freshman Aubrey Scheeper was 7^th in 20:25, freshman Alyssa Stankovich was 10^th in 20:47 and 6^th runner senior Ava Buchanan was 11^th in 20:48.

Also in the top 10 were Woodstown junior Abby Marino [5^th in 20:07], Williamstown senior Julia Burgio [6^th in 20:19], Delsea sophomore Brooke Mashburn [8^th in 20:40], Gloucester County Tech junior Jordan Moczydlowski [9^th in 20:44].

Also under 22 minutes: Highland sophomore Isabella Prendergast [12^th in 20:49], Clearview senior Julianne Roes [13^th in 21:04], Highland junior MaKayla McHutchison [14^th in 21:14], Williamstown sophomore Kennedy Hartwyk [15^th in 21:31], Gloucester Tech freshman Savannah Vai [16^th in 21:40], Clearview senior Leah Hagerman [17^th in 21:46], Highland senior Toni-Loren Powell [18^th in 21:49], Woodstown freshman Reese Madiraca [19^th in 21:56] and Pennsville junior Sawyer Slad [20^th in 21:58].