Juniors Joseph Saicic, Zacchaeus Harrigan, Aaron Johnson and Gavin Rakitis swept the top four places and Glasssboro broke the record for lowest score at South Jersey Group 1 sectionals in Logan Township.
Glassboro went 1-2-4-5-6 and won its 3rd straight team title with 18 points, breaking the record of 20 set by Pennsville in 2006.
Glassboro’s 18 points are also the 3rd-lowest total in any group in South Jersey sectional history.
In 1971, Haddon Township, led by a 1-2-3 sweep from Dan Matoush, Jim Doherty and Mike Elder, won Group 2 with 17 points. And in 2008, Haddonfield went 1-2-3-4 behind Jonathan Vitez, Colin Baker, Raymond Schlitt and Matthew Nussbaum, to win Group 2 with 16 points.
Saicic won his 2nd straight individual title and became Glassboro’s 5th consecutive individual winner, covering 5,000 meters at DREAM Park in 15:34 (15:34.80), just off the Group 1 course record of 15:53.27 set by Glassboro’s Elijah Whitaker in 2023.
Glassboro is the first to win three straight in Group 1 since Haddon Township won eight in a row from 2008 through 2015.
Harrigan was 2nd in 15:47, Johnson ran 15:56, Rakitis 16:04 and freshman Christian Hughes was 6th in 16:13, 5th-fastest in course history by a freshman.
Glassboro’s average of 15:51.31 is 7th-fastest in course history. The previous fastest by a Group 1 school was Glassboro’s 16:26.33 at last year’s sectionals.
Glassboro, ranked 6th in New Jersey, finished ahead of Haddon Township [63], Woodstown [89], Pitman [137] and Collingswood [150]. All five advance to states Saturday at Holmdel County Park as well as all individuals in the top 15.
Audubon John Robinson broke up the Glassboro sweep bid in 5th place in 16:05.
Also in the top 10: Woodstown senior David Farrell [7th in 16:25], Haddon Township sophomore Kieran Adams [8th in 16:45], Maple Shade junior Eddy Farez Yunga [9th in 16:46.66] and Haddon Township freshman Ryan Luke [10th in 16:46].
Others in the top 15 who will advance to states: Pennsville senior Carter Marts [11th in 16:47], Woodstown junior Torsten Duva [12th in 16:51], Haddon Township junior James Strimel [13th in 16:55], Haddon Township sophomore Isaiah Williams [14th in 16:56] and Collingswood senior Joshua King [15th in 17:07].
Also under 17:30: Schalick Collin Bittle [16th in 17:08], Pitman Rhys Blackman [17th in 17:11], Haddon Township Simon Pierwola [18th in 17:12], Haddon Township Bryce Davis [19th in 17:16], Pitman Beckett Campbell [20th in 17:19], Woodstown Pacey Hutton [21st in 17:23] and Paulsboro Jeffrey Taylor [22nd in 17:23].
All-Time Sub-16 Composite Times at DREAM Park
15:42.15 … Cherokee, 2024 Group 4 Sectionals
15:44.00 … Ocean City, 2024 Group 3 Sectionals
15:44.60 … Cherokee, 2024 Olympic Conference
15:47.01 … Cherry Hill East, 2024 Group 4 Sectionals
15:48.06 … Cherokee, 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
15:52.43 … Haddonfield, 2021 Group 2 Sectionals
15:52.70 … Haddonfield, 2022 Group 2 Sectionals
16:53.52 … Cherokee, 2025 Olympic Conference
15:54.96 … Cherokee, 2023 Group 4 Sectionals
15:34.80
15:47.53
15:56.97
16:04.22
16:13.03
15:51.31
