Junior Addison Weiss nearly broke her own course record in winning her 2nd straight sectional title and leading the Cherry Hill East girls to their its 1st sectional title in 20 years Saturday morning in Logan Township
Weiss, who set the DREAM Park course record of 17:46.86 at last year’s Olympic Conference meet, ran 17:50.96 on Saturday to win the South Jersey Group 4 race by 19 seconds over Kingsway senior Aubrey Bishop, who was 2nd in 18:09.
Cherry Hill East outscored 2nd-place Kingsway 56-73 to win its first title since 2006, when it topped Lenape 58-60. Cherry Hill East’s only previous team titles came in 2005 and 2006. Egg Harbor [100], Cherokee [111] and Toms River North [131] also advanced to the state meet Saturday at Holmdel County Park.
Also for Cherry Hill East, senior Ryleigh Budsock ran 18:14 for 3rd, senior Katherine Grottini was 13th in 19:22, sophomore Rebecca Tibbetts was 18th in 19:51 and freshman Austyn Semar placed 21st in 19:53.
Cherry Hill East averaged 19:02.52, 5th-fastest in course history.
Other South Jersey runners in the top 15, locking up auto qualifying spots at states: Kingsway junior Kaitlyn Orazi [5th in 18:31], Cherokee junior Erin Healy [6th in 18:41], Lenape senior Audrey McCorkle [8th in 18:52], Egg Harbor junior Molly Rooney [9th in 18:52], Cherokee sophomore Ava Guarini [10th in 18:57], Kingsway Katelyn Gallinaro [11th in 18:59], Egg Harbor senior Meghan Johnson [12th in 19:13] and Williamstown senior Julia Burgio [15th in 19:31].
Others under 20 minutes: Vineland senior Olivia Masucci [16th in 19:47], Williamstown sophomore Kennedy Hartwyk [17th in 19:48], Cherokee senior Gabrielle Urban [19th in 19:52], Eastern senior Theresa Albertson [20th in 19:53] and Williamstown junior Yazmire Bonhomme [22nd in 19:55].
