From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Sophomore Dylan Hosty led seven Haddonfield runners in the top nine at South Jersey Group 2 sectionals and the Bulldogs won their state-record 34^th sectional title and 17^th in a row in Logan Township with a perfect 15-point score.

Haddonfield, ranked 6^th in the state, did not sweep the top five spots, but went 1-3-4-5-6 with a runner from Barnegat in 2^nd. Because Barnegat only had three finishers, her place isn’t included in team scoring.

This is the 5^th time a team has scored 15 points at South Jersey Sectionals and the 4^th time it’s been Haddonfield. The 2001 Moorestown team that went on to win the Meet of Champions won Group 2 sectionals 15-83 over Haddon Township. Haddonfield defeated Haddon Township 15-55 in Group 2 in 2005, Cedar Creek 15-82 in 2021 and Sterling 15-68 in 2022. So all five 15-point performances have come in Group 2.

Hosty ran 17:53 over 5,000 meters at DREAM Park – that’s the 5^th-fastest time in course history and fastest by a Haddonfield girl – and won by 24 seconds over Barnegat’s Angelina Colavita, who was 2^ndin 18:17. This is the 8^th consecutive year a Haddonfield girl has won sectionals.

After Hosty, took the next four spots with senior Molly Mills [3^rd in 18:59], senior Madison Kelsey [4^thin 19:29.41], senior Devon Gervasi [5^th in 19:34] and sophomore Tatum Russo [6^th in 19:35].

Haddonfield’s 6^th and 7^th runners, sophomore Bella DeFinis and senior Harper Benjamin, took 8^th and 9^th in 19:56 and 20:05

Haddonfield averaged 19:06.44, 9^th-fastest in course history.

Also advancing to states with top-15 finishes were Sterling senior Brianna Gilligan [7^th in 19:54], Sterling junior Riley Sharp [10^th in 20:09], Gloucester junior Corinne Kelly [11^th in 21:02], Middle Township sophomore Teagan Emmer [13^th in 21:52] and Sterling senior Mia Rueblinger [15^th in 22:22].

Joining Haddonfield and Sterling at states as top-5 teams will be Middle Township [82], Pinelands Regional [126] and Cedar Creek [133].

This is the 8^th straight year Haddonfield has won with fewer than 25 points.

Haddonfield is the first girls XC program in New Jersey history to win 17 consecutive sectional titles in any group.

Last time Haddonfield did not win South Jersey Group 2 was 2009, when they were 2nd to Delsea by eight points.