From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Ocean City junior Rily Tolson destroyed the course record by over half a minute and ran what is believed to be the fastest cross country 5,000 ever by a South Jersey girl Saturday leading Ocean City to its 15^th sectional title and 4^th in a row.

Tolson ran 17:05.69 to win the South Jersey Group 3 race by over a minute over freshman Addison Sheehy of Toms River East, who has run 17:26 this year at Ocean County Park.

Tolson ran 17:19.40 at the Cape-Atlantic Championships at Egg Harbor last week, which was believed to be the fastest 5,000 on any course by a South Jersey girl. Before that, it was thought to be 17:23 by Highland’s Megan Venables at the 2010 Group 3 meet at Delsea.

The previous course record was 17:46.86 set by Cherry Hill East’s Addison Weiss at last year’s Olympic Conference meet. Tolson ran 41 seconds faster.

Ocean City outscored 2^nd-place Moorestown 20-101 and averaged 18:34.32, 2^nd-fastest in course history behind Haddonfield’s 18:19.90 at 2022 South Jersey Group 2 Sectionals.

The Red Raiders placed all five scorers in the top 10, with senior Carly Godfrey 4^th in 18:28, senior Lillian Flora 6^th in 18:51, freshman Mackenzie Jenkins 7^th in 19:08 and junior Lenna Driscoll 9^th in 19:16.

Senior Peighton Clemens and freshman Cara Jefferson also finished in the top-15, Clemens 12^th in 19:34 and Jeffereson 13^th in 19:40.

Joining Haddonfield and Moorestown at the state Group 3 meet next Saturday at Holmdel County Park will be Mainland Regional [127], Highland [157] and Winslow Township [176].

Top-15 finishers heading to states: Triton senior Emily Lutner [3^rd in 18:21], Winslow junior Annabella Cassidy [8^th in 19:13], Moorestown junior Makayla Zell [10^th in 19:18], Moorestown junior Catherine Hipple [11^th in 19:18] and Delsea sophomore Brooke Mashburn [14^th in 19:45].

Also under 20 minutes: Moorestown sophomore Juliet Stack Maya [16^th in 19:48], Mainland freshman Quinlan Smith [17^th in 19:50], Highland sophomore Isabella Prendergast [18^th in 19:54], Shawnee junior Kelsey Beer [19^th in 19:55] and Mainland senior Lauren LaMonaca [20^th in 19:58].

Others under 21 minutes: Highland junior MaKayla McHutchinson [21^st in 20:02], Winslow freshman Zion Ebiske [22^nd in 20:05], Seneca senior Jaden Eberman [23^rd in 20:14], Triton junior Jemma Friend [24^th in 20:16], Triton junior Cecilia Stagliano [26^th in 20:25], Mainland junior Adrian Sykes [27^th in 20:26], Moorestown junior Katherine Simpson [28^th in 20:26], Mainland senior Cecilia Foreman [31^st in 20:39], Highland senior Toni-Loren Powell [32^nd in 20:40], Seneca freshman Sofia Sparacio [33^rd in 20:44], Clearview senior Leah Hagerman [35^th in 20:47] and Highland sophomore Alexandria Theodore [36^th in 20:58].