A historic race Saturday for Bordentown senior Nathan Krinsley, who ran the fastest 5,000 by a Bordentown runner at sectionals in 41 years
Krinsley ran 16:30 and placed 3rd at Central Jersey Group 1 Sectionals at Thompson Park in Jamestown, earning a trip to states as a wild-card finisher.
Krinsley placed 29th at sectionals last year in 17:51 so that’s a heck of a jump in one year. He’ll race in the state Group 1 meet at Holmdel County Park next Saturday.
Krinsley has had a very good season, placing 3rd at the Ray Hoagland Invite, then 12th at the Burlington County Open and 5th at the BCSL Liberty Division meet, where he broke up a Cinnaminson sweep.
On Saturday, he finished behind only Manville senior Jayran Rodriguez, who won the race in 15:59, and Shore Regional senior Brady McHugh, who ran 16:17 for 2nd place. Rodriguez was the state Group 1 XC champ last fall and Group 1 3,200 champ last spring at 9:17.53. McHugh ran 1:55.40 last spring at the Meet of Champions.
It’s the best finish by a Bordentown runner at sectionals in 15 years, since Saudiq Musari placed 2nd in the 2011 Central Jersey race at Thompson Park in 17:10. Bordentown placed 2nd as a team that year, behind only Metuchen, the last time the Scotties have advanced to states.
The fastest previous 5K by a Bordentown runner at sectionals was Matt Haas’s 16:46 when he was 4th at the 1985 South Jersey Group 1 meet at Clearview.
The last Bordentown runner to reach states was Renzo Almeida, who placed 14th at 2019 Central Jersey Group 2 sectionals in 17:06 and was 60th at the state Group 2 meet in 17:46 as a sophomore before transferring to Robbinsville, where he ran 9:34.46 for 3,200 meters.
