Junior Joe Saicic won his 2nd straight state Group 1 title and Glassboro won its 2nd straight Group 1 team title, earning a spot in the Meet of Champions on the same course next weekend.
Saicic, 2nd last year, ran 16:13 at Holmdel County Park, finishing 1 ½ seconds ahead of defending champion Jayran Rodriguez of Manville [16:13.23-16:14.87], and Glassboro cruised to a 33-96 win over Bernards at Holmdel County Park with its all-underclass lineup. Haddon Township was 3rd with 123 points, also with all underclassmen.
Glassboro’s 33 points are 4th-lowest in Group 1 history, behind Bernards in 1981 (15 points) and 1982 (19 points) and Haddon Township in 2014 [31 points].
Junior Aaron Johnson and freshman Christian Hughes also placed in the top 10 for the Bulldogs, Johnson in 7th in 17:09 and Hughes in 8th in 17:14. Junior Gavin Rakitis placed 13th in 17:29 and junior Zacchaeus Harrigan was 16th in 17:35.
Saicic is Glassboro’s 4th individual state champion. Tom Horne won Group 1 in 1993, Pat Ryan in 1995 and Elijah Whitaker in 2023.
Junior James Strimel led Haddon Township in 14th place in 17:34. Freshman Ryan Luke [27th in 17:55], sophomore Bryce Davis [29th in 17:59], sophomore Isaiah Williams [34th in 18:05] and sophomore Simon Pierwola [40th in 18:14] were also in the Hawks’ top-5.
Bordentown senior Nathan Krinsley placed 4th in 17:06, matching the best finish ever by a Bordentown runner at states. In 1976, Artie Milak was 4th in the 1974 Group 1 race at Buccleuch Park in New Brunswick.
Audubon junior John Robinson finished just behind Krinsley in 5th place in 17:08. Woodstown senior David Farrell ran 18:09 in 35th place and Pennsville senior Carter Marts and Maple Shade junior Eddy Farez Yunga both ran 18:14 for 38th and 39th.
