South Jersey sure showed up for the 2001 Meet of Champions, with a record 12 of the first 24 finishers coming from South Jersey.

Cherokee’s Marc Pelerin and Haddonfield’s Chris Platt went 1-2, Pelerin in 15:43 and Platt in 15:48, back when those times were actually really fast at Holmdel County Park.

Haddonfield’s Skip Stiles and Breton Bonnet ran 5th and 6th, with Eastern’s Dan Deichert 7th, Cherokee’s Keith Krieger 11th, Highland’s Robert Lacovara 14th, CInnaminon’s Jon Anderson 16th, Ocean City’s John Richardson 17th, Eastern’s Andrew Riviello 21st, Mainland Regional’s Greg Hughes 23rd and Cherokee’s Matt Mueller 24th.

Haddonfield won the MoC that year with 87 points, and Cherokee and Mainland Regional placed 4th and 5th.

With the Meet of Champions just a few days away, we thought it would be fun to take a look at every South Jersey boys that’s ever placed in the top 25 at a Meet of Champions. As always, let me know of any errors or omissions! Girls list tomorrow and all-time team placers coming up soon as well!

BOYS
2024
11. Brody Bogos [Cherry Hill East], 16:07
15. ***Jack Tindall [Cherokee], 16:11
19. *Benjamin Andrus [Haddonfield], 16:12
21. Bennett Wright [Haddonfield], 16:13
25. Peter Simpson [Haddonfield], 16:24

2023
2. Peyton Shute [Woodbury] 15:33
6. Nick Kuenkel [Cherokee] 15:56
14. Elijah Forrest [Collingswood] 16:12
19. Will Mrozinski [Paul VI] 16:16

2022
2. Patrick Ditmars [Cherokee] 15:39
3. George Andrus [Haddonfield] 15:40
4. Nick Kuenkel [Cherokee] 15:41
11. *Peyton Shute [Woodbury] 16:05
21. Conor Jacob [Cherokee] 16:25
24. Ryan Smith [Rancocas Valley] 16:30

2021
6. Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], 15:36
8.Dennis Fortuna [Triton], 15:46
16.George Andrus [Haddonfield], 15:58
17. Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 16:08
18. Patrick Ditmars [Cherokee], 16:08

2020 [Holmdel Invitational Exhibition]
10. Brady Shute [Woodbury] 16:18.4
19. Cole Wassell [Highland] 16:44.2
22. Josh Forrest [Collingswood] 16:46.2

2019
4. Ethan Wechsler [Cherokee] 15:41
5. Oliver Adler [Cherry Hill East] 15:48
8. Martin Riddell [Haddonfield] 15:58
13. *Anas Bensaoud [Clearview] 16:12
21. Chase Miller [Cherokee] 16:18
22. Austin Gabay [Cinnaminson] 16:18

2018
4. *Ethan Wechsler [Cherokee] 15:56
8. *Kevin Antczak [Mainland Reg.] 16:01
13. *Austin Gabay [Cinnaminson] 16:10
14. *Martin Riddell [Haddonfield] 16:10
15. Greg Eisenhower [Haddonfield] 16:10
16. Connor Melko [Bishop Eustace] 16:11
19. Colin Kane [Delsea] 16:23
20. Richard Castaneda [Camden Catholic] 16:23
21. Kieran Burns [Kingsway] 16:24

2017
13. **Martin Riddell [Haddonfield] 16:15
17. Joe Grandizio [Kingsway] 16:17
21. *Kieran Burns [Kingsway 16:20
22. Jonathan Connor [Kingsway] 16:22

2016
6. Jack Shea [Cherokee] 15:58
15. Robert Abrams [Cherry Hill West] 16:17
23. *Justin Kelly [Cherokee] 16:28

2015
1. Joshua Clark [Highland] 15:33
3. Aaron Groff [Cherry Hill East] 15:39
6. *Jack Shea [Cherokee] 15:46
22. Owen Long [Haddon Twp.] 16:17

2014
1. Luke Petela [Haddon Twp.] 15:40
3. Shawn Hutchinson [Bishop Eustace] 15:43
6. Dominick Munson [Timber Creek] 15:56
7. Aaron Groff [Cherry Hill East] 16:00
11. Sean Macpherson [Sterling] 16:02
14. Josh Clark [Highland] 16:12
23. *Justin Branco [Delsea] 16:19
24. Noah Culbreath [Kingsway] 16:20

2013
3. Louis Corgliano [Hammonton] 15:35
5. Steve Maine [Highland] 15:42

2012
6. Kyle Kirk [Camden Catholic] 15:56
11. Steve Maine [Highland] 15:59
16. Greg Halla [Haddonfield] 16:06
17. *Louis Corgliano [Hammonton] 16:07
21. Ryan Magnus [Kingsway] 16:15

2011
5. Shawn Wilson [Cherokee] 15:45
17. Connor Herr [Shawnee] 16:07

2010
6, Ben Potts [Haddonfield] 15:43
8. Paul Szulewski [Williamstown] 15:55
10. *Connor Herr [Shawnee] 15:58
13. Matt Nussbaum [Haddonfield] 16:01
21. Miles Schoedler [Ocean City] 16:09
24. *Peter Murray [Shawnee] 16:14
25. Greg Malloy [Cherokee] 16:14

2009
5. Jonathan Vitez [Haddonfield] 15:42
10. *Paul Szulewski [Williamstown] 15:57
25. David Forward [Shawnee] 16:19

2008
4. Brett Johnson [Ocean City] 15:56
8. *David Forward [Shawnee] 16:02
14. Michael Rankin [Paul VI] 16:17

2007
5. *Brett Johnson [Ocean City] 16:03
9. Mike Sheehan [Holy Cross] 16:09
12. **Jonathan Vitez [Haddonfield] 16:12
21. Mickey Borsellino [Haddon Heights] 16:23
25. Ryan Birchmeier [Ocean City] 16:28

2006
8. John Fennekohl [Ocean City] 16:02
14. Matt Poskus [Cinnaminson] 16:12
20. **Brett Johnson [Ocean City] 16:21
21. Kevin Cronin [Mainland Reg.] 16:23
22. *Alex Yersak [Cherokee] 16:23
25. Michael Keebler [Holy Spirit] 16:29

2005
13. Steve Grabowski [Cinnaminson] 16:07
21. Greg Bredeck [Cherokee] 16:18

2004
10. Tom Yersak [Cherokee] 16:13
12. Anthony Kelhower [Lenape] 16:15
22. *Greg Bredeck [Cherokee] 16:26

2003
2. Greg Hughes [Mainland Reg.] 15:39
4. Jon Anderson [Cinnaminson] 15:51
10. James Wyner [Mainland Reg.] 16:06
15. Carmen Cavella [Washington Twp.] 16:19
17. Brian Goldberg [Haddonfield] 16:20
18. Joseph Masters [Mainland Reg.] 16:22
24. Spenser Popeson [Mainland Reg.] 16:29

2002
2. Keith Krieger [Cherokee] 15:48
5. Robert Edwards [Bridgeton] 15:59
7. *Greg Hughes [Mainland Reg.] 16:10
8. *Jon Anderson [Cinnaminson] 16:10
11. *James Wyner [Mainland Reg. ]16:20
12. John Richardson [Ocean City] 16:21
13. Dan Deichert [Eastern] 16:21
16. Chris Platt [Haddonfield] 16:24
22. Andrew Riviello [Eastern] 16:35
24. *Brian Goldberg [Haddonfield] 16:39

2001
1. Marc Pelerin [Cherokee] 15:43
2. *Chris Platt [Haddonfield] 15:48
5. Skip Stiles [Haddonfield] 15:54
6. Breton Bonnette [Haddonfield] 15:55
7. *Dan Deichert [Eastern] 16:04
11. Keith Krieger [Cherokee] 16:20
14. Robert Lacovara [Highland] 16:27
16. **Jon Anderson [Cinnaminson] 16:29
17. *John Richardson [Ocean City] 16:29
21. *Andrew Riviello [Eastern] 16:33
23. **Greg Hughes [Mainland Reg.] 16:34
24. Matt Mueller [Cherokee] 16:34

2000
1. Mike Myers [Eastern] 15:50
2. *Marc Pelerin [Cherokee] 16:01
6. Adam Ambrus [Shawnee] 16:13
7. **Dan Deichert [Eastern] 16:15
9. Chad Lyons [Overbrook] 16:16
14. Matt Mueller [Cherokee] 16:26
17. **Keith Krieger [Cherokee] 16:30
18. **Chris Platt [Haddonfield] 16:33

1999
3. Brian Skelly [Washington Twp.] 16:13
6. *Adam Ambrus [Shawnee] 16:25
11. Mark Weems [Washington Twp.] 16:36
13. Joe Halin [Cherokee] 16:39
18. Adam Driscoll [Washington Twp.] 16:46]
20. *Mike Ritchie [Paul VI] 16:50
|21. **Marc Pelerin [Cherokee] 16:51

1998
1. Nate Miller [Highland] 15:57
7. Bill Mason [Cinnaminson] 16:18
8. *Bryan Skelly [Washington Twp.] 16:19
11. Joe Halin [Cherokee] 16:34
14. Dan Christensen [Shawnee] 16:36
15. Aaron Boucher [Cherokee] 16:37
22. Randy Wetzel [Oakcrest] 16:47
25. Robert Hewitt [Washington Twp.] 16:48

1997
2. *Murad Campbell [Overbrook] 16:15
4. Mike Fulton [Maple Shade] 16:20
8. *Bill Mason [Cinnaminson] 16:35
11. Dave DeJong [Shawnee] 16:40
13. Ray Tomczuk [Delran] 16:41
24. Tom Cresong [Paul VI] 16:51

1996
6. **Murad Campbell [Overbrook] 16:22
16. Karl Savage [Eastern] 16:39
22. Michael McGowan [Bishop Eustace] 16:48
25. Matt Ruhl [Triton] 16:52

1995
2. Scott Keyser [Mainland Reg.] 16:06
6. Jay Wassell [Highland] 16:15
15. Pat Ryan [Glassboro] 16:38
16. *Karl Savage [Eastern] 16:40
18. Ryan Anderson [Paul VI] 16:41
19. Eric Bonnette [Haddonfield] 16:43
21. Nick Noguer [Highland Reg] 16:48
23. Mark Freund [Eastern] 16:51
24. Aaron Kinsley [West Deptford] 16:51

1994
2. John Williams [Paul VI] 16:21
6. Joe DiGiacomo [Paul VI] 16:32
10. Carmen Mastrando [Eastern] 16:41
11. *Jay Wassell [Highland] 16:44
14. Kurt Wayton [Mainland Reg.] 16:49
17. Alex Totten-Lancaster [Shawnee] 16:54
22. *Eric Bonnette [Haddonfield] 17:01
25. Brian Bach [Paul VI] 17:02

1993
5. Phil Magee [Atlantic City] 16:28
6. Geoff Wayton [Mainland Reg.] 16:34
10. *Joe DiGiacomo [Paul VI] 16:43
16. Pat Nocito [Vineland] 16:57
21. John Buttil [Paul VI] 17:00
24. Matt Marcini [Millville] 17:03
25. Chuck Nolte [Maple Shade] 17:04

1992
9. John Salisbury [Haddon Heights] 16:27
10. *Phil Magee [Atlantic City] 16:27
11. Aaron Totten-Lancaster [Shawnee] 16:34
12. Geoff Wayton [Mainland Reg.] 16:37
14. Matt Feeley [Cinnaminson] 16:41
18. David Cox [Woodrow Wilson] 16:44
21. Scott Teske [Shawnee] 16:45
23. Brian Gallagher [Sterling] 16:47

1991
3. Tom Keefer [Paul VI] 16:09
7. Keith O’Brien [Shawnee] 16:20
9. Ted Callinan [Gloucester Catholic] 16:22
11. Pete Fixler [Vineland] 16:24
21. John Keevey [Cinnaminson] 16:48
22. John Salisbury [Haddon Heights] 16:50

1990
2. Ray Beyer [Absegami] 16:09
4. Pete Dougherty [Paul VI] 16:16
7. *John Keevey [Cinnaminson] 16:26
11. Kevin Underwood [Haddonfield] 16:32
15. *Ted Callinan [Gloucester Catholic] 16:41
18. Jerry Franks [Highland] 16:43
25. Eric Bayles [Paul VI] 16:52

1989
3. Joe Cranston [Paul VI] 16:13
4. Albert Donowa [Camden] 16:15
9. *Pete Dougherty [Paul VI] 16:32
10. Matt Martin [Haddon Twp.] 16:35
11. *Jerry Franks [Highland] 16:35
14. Mark Sivieri [St.Augustine] 16:45
19. Tim Shanahan [Haddonfield] 16:52
20. Steve Stanley [Cinnaminson] 16:52
22. Vin Cieslik [Paul VI] 16:53

1988
1. Jason DiJoseph [Paul VI] 15:33
3. Urie Ridgeway [Bridgeton] 15:47
6. Lance Hess [Bridgeton] 16:11
8. Jason Fiscus [Haddon Twp.] 16:17
11. Terrance Armstrong [Camden] 16:23
12. Mike Tobey [Audubon] 16:24
13. David Donohue [Haddon Twp.] 16:24
14. Matt Cieslik [Paul VI] 16:24
20. *Vin Cieslik [Paul VI] 16:32

1987
1. *Jason DiJoseph [Paul VI] 15:58
5. *Urie Ridgeway [Bridgeton] 16:23
6. Joe Shanahan [Haddonfield] 16:24
10. Eric Lorenz [Holy Cross] 16:41
11. Chris Creighton [Holy Cross] 16:42
13. Bob Scott [Clearview] 16:44
15. *Lance Hess [Bridgeton] 16:47
19. Dave Zamiechelli [Cinnaminson] 16:50
21. Joe Margre [Paul VI] 17:00
23. *Matt Cieslik [Paul VI] 17:03
25. Tim Ackerman [Absegami] 17:06

1986
3. **Jason DiJoseph [Paul VI] 16:15
8. **Urie Ridgeway [Bridgeton] 16:34
19. Pat Gallaher [Haddon Twp.] 16:49
22. Dan Gough [Haddonfield] 16:50
23. Evan Driscoll [Haddonfield] 16:53
25. Pat Fogerty [Collingswood] 16:55

1985
1. Ron Faith [Paul VI] 16:10
7. *Dan Gough [Haddonfield] 16:36

1984
6. *Ron Faith [Paul VI] 16:07
9. Jeff Davis [Cumberland Reg.] 16:09
10. Kevin Pumphrey [Highland] 16:13
11. Chris Hageman [Paul VI] 16:18
12. George Steinhoff [Paul VI] 16:21
20. Tom Metzger [Paul VI] 16:33
25. Bill Shea [Eastern] 16:38

1983
9. Tom Farrell [Holy Cross] 16:18
11. Ken Picciano [Pennsauken] 16:21
13. *George Steinhoff [Paul VI] 16:24
20. Bill Stewart [Cherry Hill East] 16:35
21. **Ron Faith [Paul VI] 16:35
25. *Jeff Davis [Cumberland Reg.] 16:39

1982
15. Jeff Boyer [Overbrook] 16:16
16. Steve Keen [Cinnaminson] 16:18
17. Bill Stewart [Cherry Hill East] 16:19

1981
17. Bruce Miller [Cherry Hill East] 16:39
19. John Hageman [Paul VI] 16:41
23. Jeff Boyer [Overbrook] 16:45

1980
4. Don Deckert [Oakcrest] 16:06
6. Dan Owens [Absegami] 16:16

1979
1. Jim Smith [Haddonfield] 16:09
10. Tom Milligan [Delsea] 16:39
13. Don Deckert [Oakcrest] 16:40

1978
3. *Jim Smith [Haddonfield] 16:09
8. Al Harden [Millville] 16:31
22. Terry Delaney [Moorestown] 16:46
23. Ken Noddin [Gateway] 16:48

1977
3. Mike Mantini [Gateway] 15:27

1976
24. Jeff Lane [Haddon Twp.] 15:42

1975
None

1974
1. Marty Ludwikowski [Cherry Hill West] 14:42|
25. Dennis Driscoll [Northern Burlington] 15:27

1973
1. Greg Stremmel [Gateway] 14:22
9. Joe Germano [Pennsauken] 14:43
19. Jay Ravel [Eastern] 15:04

1972
7. Mark Roddy [Lenape] 12:34
11. Willie Marino [Williamstown] 12:42
14. Jay Vickery [Cherry Hill West] 12:53
15. **Marty Ludwikowski [Cherry Hill West] 12:54
20. Ed Donahue [Collingswood] 12:59

Is Aubrey Bishop the most improved runner in South Jersey? She’s certainly one of them.

Bishop, a Kingsway junior, earned an auto qualifier for the Meet of Champions Saturday when she placed 9^th in a loaded state Group 4 race at Holmdel County Park.

Bishop ran 19:24, which is a Holmdel PR by 99 seconds and 116 seconds faster than she ran at states last year.

As a sophomore, Bishop set a Holmdel best of 21:03 at Shore Coaches and then placed 65^th at states in 21:30.

She ran 5:51.68 and 12:53.45 last spring, but she must have had one heck of a summer of training because she showed up for XC a completely different runner.

Bishop opened her season with an all-course 5,000 PR of 19:24.49 at Cumberland Regional and lowered it to 19:15.01 a few days later at Salem Tech.

But her big breakthrough came at Shore Coaches, when she ran 20:01 at Holmdel and placed 9^th in the B race, which included girls from some of New Jersey’s top teams – Ridgewood, Princeton and West Windsor-Plainsboro North.

She lowered her all-course PR to 18:43.27 when she placed 2^nd to Williamstown’s Sophia Aldridge at the Gloucester County meet at West Deptford Park and then took 2^nd to Aldridge again at the Tri-County Conference Showcase at Cumberland Regional, where she ran 19:07.06.

From there it was off to sectionals in Logan Township, where she had a fantastic race with another 5,000 all-course PR of 18:33.29 and placed 3^rd in Group 4 behind Cherry Hill East’s Addison Weiss and Cherokee’s Alyssa Suriano. That’s 2^nd-fastest by a Kingsway girl at DREAM Park behind only Aubrey Pierontoni’s 18:24.57 at 2021 sectionals.

On Saturday, Bishop had another big race, running 19:23.10 at states and finishing 3^rd among South Jersey girls, behind Weiss [3^rd in 18:52.21] and Aldridge [7^th in 19:14.51].

Her time is 3^rd-fastest ever by a Kingsway girl at Holmdel, behind two-time Meet of Champions winner Chelsea Ley, who ran 17:44 at 2008 Shore Coaches, and Rachel Vick, who ran 18:29 at the 2016 state Group 4 meet and went on to place 3^rd at M-of-C with.

Bishop’s 19:23.10 was 8^th-fastest among all South Jersey runners Saturday and 35^th-fastest among all runners in the six state championship races. Last year her 21:20 ranked 50^th among South Jersey girls and 224^th state-wide.

Bishop qualified for Meet of Champions as a top-10 finisher. She’ll line up alongside New Jersey’s best runners at 11 a.m. Saturday back at Holmdel.

The last Kingsway girl to finish in the top 25 at Meet of Champs is Alexis Mullarkey, who placed 19^th in 2017 in 19:09.

Delsea graduate Laney Vecchio, a freshman at Rowan College Gloucester County, won the NJCAA Division 3 national title Saturday in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Vecchio ran 20:20.5 through heavy snow over 5,000 meters at Lakeside Golf Course.

She won the National Junior College Athletic Association title by 50 meters over Tyliyah Diaz-Cruz of Thaddeus Stevens Tech. Diaz-Cruz ran 20:32.8.

Vecchio is the school’s first national XC champion in 31 years, since Valerie Banks of Millville won the 1994 race at Alfred State University in Allegany County, N.Y. The school was then known as Gloucester County College.

According to her TFRRS page, Vecchio only ran one race before nationals, the Region 19 qualifier at Thaddeus Stevens Tech in Lancaser, Pa.

At Delsea last fall, Vecchio placed 9^th in the Gloucester County Championships and 22^ndat South Jersey Group 3 Sectionals, where she PR’d with a 19:55.05 at DREAM Park in Logan Township.

There is no mention of Vecchia’s race on Rowan College Gloucester County’s web site.

Five boys teams, five girls teams, seven boys individuals and seven girls individuals will represent South Jersey at the 54th annual Meet of Champions Saturday at Holmdel County Park.

There are four ways to qualify for the Meet of Champions:

1) Winning teams: All 12 winning teams from states automatically qualify.

2) Wild-card teams: After the winning teams are removed from a merge of all the boys races and all the girls races, the eight teams with the lowest scores qualify as wild-card teams.

3) Top 10 individuals: The top 10 individuals in each race automatically qualify, regardless of whether their team advanced.

4) Wild-card individuals: The 30 fastest individuals in a merge after every runner who has qualified with his team also advances.

Here’s a look at all of South Jersey’s qualifiers. As always, if you see any errors or omissions please let me know ASAP!

BOYS
Team Winners
Glassboro, won Group 1|
16:51 … Joseph Saicic
17:05 … Zacchaeus Harrigan
17:12 …  Jaeden Wesley
17:35 … Aaron Johnson
18:34 … Gavin Rakitis
18:38 … Jason Martin

Haddonfield, won Group 2
15:57 … Ryan Gibson
16:02 … Luke Andresen
16:16 … Benjamin Andrus
16:18 … Peter Simpson
16:18 … Michael Sinnes
17:20 … Andrew Blum
17:29 … Brandon Stoner

Wild-Card Teams [Finished in top eight in merge after team winners removed]
Cherokee, 2nd Group 4
15:54 … Jack Tindall
16:32 … Benjamin Realley
16:45 … Maximo Harada
17:01 … Gavin Danielewicz
17:25 … Leo Vyvyan
17:28 … Dominic Pileri
17:29 … Sean Sooy

Ocean City [2nd, Group 3]
16:29 … Nathan Aschmann
16:30 … Erik Preisner
17:25 … Benjamin McCarthy
17:35 … Michael Romano
17:38 … Keenan Neuman
18:40 … Hayden Tarves
19:52 … Nevin Millstein

Cherry Hill East [4th, Group 4]
16:27 … Milo Poerner
16:49 … Alvin Lin
16:51 … Cian Sherlock
17:34 … Braedan Sherlock
18:09 … Conan Poerner
18:23 … Aneesh Rajagopal
18:51 … Adam Billet

Auto Individual Qualifiers [finished in top 10, team didn’t advance]
17:16 … Jacob Marino [Woodstown], 9th Group 1
16:03 … Jacob Wickersham [Cinnaminson], 4th, Group 2
18:28 … Rutger Sochacki [Bishop Eustace], 6th, Parochial B

Wild-Card Qualifiers [top 30 in merge after auto qualifiers removed]
17:04 … Sean Martino [Cedar Creek], 14^th, Group 2
16:56 … Vincent Perri [Winslow Twp.], 14^th, Group 3
16:58 … Rex Takakjy [Cherry Hill West], 15^th, Group 3
16:58 … **Trevor Szilier [Washington Twp.], 18^th, Group 4

GIRLS
Team Winner
Ocean City [1st, Group 3]
19:14 … Riley Tolson
19:40 … Carly Godfrey
20:43 … Peighton Clemens
21:03 … Lenna Driscoll
21:04 … ***Bella Cera
21:31 … Gabrielle Henry
21:57 … Lillian Flora

Wild-Card Teams [Finished in top eight in merge after team winners removed]
Paul VI, 2nd in Parochial A 
18:57 … Grace Gutowski
19:37 … Giovanna Mantuano
20:12 … Peyton Blake
20:31 … Morgan Kuzma
20:59 … Macy Huber
21:18 … Isabella Suarez
21:57 … Kara Salamone

Haddonfield [2nd, Group 2]
18:52 … Riley Austin
20:14 … Dylan Hosty
20:17 … Madison Kelsey
20:49 … Sofia Conrey
20:57 … Harper Benjamin
21:24 … Devon Gervasi
21:27 … Tatum Russo

Cherokee [3rd, Group 4]
19:56 … Alyssa Suriano
20:12 … Erin Healy
20:34 … Maya Kumar
20:41 … Madeline Meder
20:45 … Sofia Recinto
20:54 … Ava Guarini
22:38 … Gabrielle Urban

Cherry Hill East [4th, Group 4]
18:53 … Addison Weiss
19:59 … Ryleigh Budsock
20:21 … Emmie Wang
21:17 … Rebecca Tibbetts
21:19 … Gabriella Pizzo
21:34 … Katherine Grottini
21:41 … Ella Davidson

Auto Individual Qualifiers [finished in top 10, team didn’t advance]
18:44 … Julia Flanagan [Holy Cross], 1st, Parochial B
19:17 … Riley Fayer [Audubon], 3rd, Group 1
20:46 … Abby Marino [Woodstown], 10th Group 1
19:15 … Sophia Aldridge [Williamstown], 7th, Group 4
19:24 … *Aubrey Bishop [Kingsway], 9th, Group 4

Wild-Card Qualifiers [top 30 in merge after auto qualifiers removed]
20:08 … Lyana Gutierrez [Highland], 15^th, Group 3
20:17 … Ashley Doyle [Delran], 20^th, Group 2

Burlington Township’s Payton Falkenstein placed 5th overall and led East Stroudsburg to 2nd place in the NCAA Division 2 Atlantic Region and a berth in the Division 2 Championships later this month.

Falkenstein, a junior, ran 21:32.5 over 6,000 meters at the West Branch Cross Country Course near Lock Haven, Pa. She was East Stroudsburg’s 1st finisher.

The top three teams earned auto bids to the NCAA Division 2 Championships, scheduled for Nov. 22 at the Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course, which is listed as being in Kenosha, Wisc., but is actually just north of Kenosha in Somers, Wisc.

East Stroudsburg’s XC web site hasn’t realized yet that the women’s XC team has qualified for nationals, so I can’t tell you the last time that happened or how often it’s happened or what their best finish is. Maybe later in the week they’ll get around to writing about this terrific achievement.

Davis & Elkins of Elkins, W. Va., won the team title 58-113 over East Stroudsburg.

Cherokee sophomore Jack Tindall and Haddonfield senior Ryan Gibson were the only boys to go under 16 minutes at states on Saturday, and four South Jersey girls dipped under 19 minutes – Holy Cross senior Julia Flanagan, Haddonfield senior Riley Austin, Cherry Hill East sophomore Addison Weiss and Paul VI junior Grace Gutowski.

Here’s a look at every South Jersey boy who ran 17:30 or faster and every girl who ran 21:00 or faster in the 12 race at Holmdel County Park.

BOYS
15:53.19 … **Jack Tindall [Cherokee], Group 4 [1st]
15:56.54 … Ryan Gibson [Haddonfield], Group 2 [1st]
16:01.58 … Luke Andresen [Haddonfield], Group 2 [3rd]
16:02.66 … Jacob Wickersham [Cherokee], Group 2 [4th]
16:06.00 … Benjamin Andrus [Haddonfield], Group 2 [5th]
16:17.66 … Peter Simpson [Haddonfield], Group 2 [6th]
16:26.75 … Milo Poerner [Cherry Hill East], Group 4 [4th]
16:28.72 … *Nathan Aschmann [Ocean City[], Group 3 [8th]
16:29.94 … Erik Preisner [Ocean City], Group 3 [10th]
16:31.28 … *Benjamin Realley [Cherokee], Group 4 [5th]
16:44.13 … *Maximo Harada [Cherokee], Group 4 [12th]
16:48.26 … Alvin Lin [Cherry Hill East], Group 4 [14th]
16:50.28 … *Cian Sherlock [Cherry Hill East], Group 4 [16th]
16:50.42 … **Joe Saicic [Glassboro], Group 1, [2nd]
16:55.16 … Vincent Perri [Winslow Twp.], Group 3 [14th]
16:55.69 … Michael Sinnes [Haddonfield], Group 2 [12th]
16:57.04 … Rex Takakjy [Cherry Hill West], Group 3 [15th]
16:57.26 … **Trevor Szilier [Washington Twp.], Group 4 [18th]
17:00.74 … *Gavin Danielewicz [Cherokee], Group 4 [22nd]
17:03.12 … Sean Martino [Cedar Creek], Group 2 [14th]
17:04.27 … **Zacchaeus Harrigan [Glassboro], Group 1 [5th]
17:11.57 … Jaeden Wesley [Glassboro], Group 1 [7th]
17:11.74 … **Michael Beaver [Kingsway], Group 4 [34th]
17:12.19 … Matthew Reed [Egg Harbor Twp.], Group 4 [35th]
17:12.60 … *Jason Smith [Paul VI],, Parochial A [23rd]
17:12.83 … *Jamar Mack [Middle Twp.], Group 2 [20th]
17:14.59 … Ryan McCann [Cedar Creek], Group 2 [22nd]
17:15.87 … Jacob Marino [Woodstown], Group 1 [9th]
17:19.36 … *Andrew Blum [Haddonfield], Group 2 [23rd]
17:20.14 … David Houck [Woodbury], Group 2 [24th]
17:20.96 … Logan Pavelik [Williamstown], Group 4 [44th]
17:22.31 … **Liam Aspenberg [Egg Harbor Twp.], Group 4 [45th]
17:22.32 … Shaun Maloney [Haddon Twp.], Group 1 [11th]
17:24.30 … *Leo Vyvyan [Cherokee], Group 4 [49th]
17:24.84 … **Benjamin McCarthy [Ocean City], Group 3 [28th]
17:25.00 … Matthew Littlehales [Delsea], Group 3 [29th]
17:27.40 … *Timothy Shack [Eastern], Group 4 [50th]
17:27.66 … Dominic Pileri [Cherokee], Group 4 [52nd]
17:28.10 … Logan Camm [Audubon], Group 1 [12th]
17:28.60 … *Sean Sooy [Cherokee], Group 4 [53rd]
17:28.56 … Brandon Stoner [Haddonfield], Group 2 [28th]

GIRLS
18:43.59 … Julia Flanagan [Holy Cross], Parochial B [1st]
18:51.52 … Riley Austin [Haddonfield], Group 2 [4th]
18:52.21 … **Addison Weiss [Cherry Hill East], Group 4 [3rd]
18:56.74 … *Grace Gutowski [Paul VI], Parochial A [4th]
19:13.65 … **Riley Tolson [Ocean City], Group 3 [4th]
19:14.51 … Sophia Aldridge [Williamstown], Group 4 [7th]
19:16.47 … Riley Fayer [Audubon], Group 1 [3rd]
19:23.10 … *Aubrey Bishop [Kingsway], Group 4 [9th]
19:36.84 … Giovanna Mantuano [Paul VI], Parochial A [9th]
19:55.53 … Alyssa Suriano [Cherokee], Group 4 [19th]
19:58.99 … *Ryleigh Budsock [Cherry Hill East], Group 4 [20th]
20:07.91 … Lyana Gutierrez [Highland], Group 3 [15th]
20:11.08 … **Erin Healy [Cherokee], Group 4 [24th]
20:11.13 … **Peyton Blake [Paul VI], Parochial A [17th]
20:13.69 … ***Dylan Hosty [Haddonfield], Group 2 [18th]
20:16.04 … *Madison Kelsey [Haddonfield], Group 2 [19th]
20:16.34 … Ashley Doyle [Delran], Group 2 [20th]
20:20.40 … **Emmie Wang [Cherry Hill East], Group 4 [30th]
20:30.34 … **Morgan Kuzma [Paul VI], Parochial A [20th]
20:30.77 … *Sophia DiFiore [Moorestown], Group 3 [20th]
20:33.16 … Maya Kumar [Cherokee], Group 4 [32nd]
20:40.13 … **Makayla Zell [Moorestown], Group 3 [24th]
20:40.40 … Madeline Meder [Cherokee], Group 4 [38th]
20:42.18 … *Peighton Clemens [Ocean City], Group 3 [27th]
20:44.06 … Sofia Recinto [Cherokee], Group 4 [39th]
20:45.22 … **Abby Marino [Woodstown], Group 1 [10th]
20:48.19 … Sofia Conrey [Haddonfield], Group 2 [25th]
20:53.14 … ***Ava Guarini [Cherokee], Group 4 [44th]
20:54.47 … *Catherine Hipple [Moorestown], Group 3 [33rd]
20:55.81 … *Taylor Sierzega [West Deptford], Group 2 [29th]
20:56.56 … *Harper Benjamin [Haddonfield], Group 2 [31st]
20:58.42 … Macy Huber [Paul VI], Parochial A [26th]
20:59.67 … *Addison Lambert [Egg Harbor Twp.], Group 4 [49th]

Sophomore Jack Tindall was the overall winner, junior Benjamin Realley placed 5th and junior Maximo Harada was 12th and Cherokee nearly upset New Jersey’s 2nd-ranked team Saturday, faling three points shy of beating Manalapan for the state Group 4 championship at Holmdel County Park.

Manalapan won 71-74 for its first state title, preventing Cherokee from winning its 9th championship and 4th in the last six years.

Tindall ran a lifetime Holmdel best 15:53.19, fastest ever by a South Jersey sophomore on the historic 5,000-meter layout. The previous best was 16:11 by Cherry Hill East’s Aaron Groff at the 2013 state Group 4 meet.

He’s the first sophomore to win a state Group 4 XC title in 31 years, since Matt Elmuccio of Westfield won his first of three in a row in 1994.

Realley ran 16:31.28 and Harada 16:44.13 – his 1st time under 17 minutes at Holmdel.

Cherokee’s 4th runner was junior Gavin Danielewicz, who placed 22nd in 17:00.74 – a 40-second Holmdel best. Junior Leo Vyvyan was 49th in 17:24.30 – an 18-second Holmdel best.

Cherokee’s top five included a sophomore and four juniors. Manalapan’s top two are seniors.

Tindall is the 5th Cherokee runner to win a state title, following Joe Halin in 1999, Marc Pelerin in 2001, Shawn Wilson in 2012 and Ethan Wechsler in 2018.

Senior Milo Poerner ran 16:26.75 for 4th place, senior Alvin Lin 16:48.26 for 14th and junior Cian Sherlock 16:50.28 for 16th for Cherry Hill East, who placed 4th in Group 4 with 154 points.

Washington Township sophomore Trevor Szilier ran 16:57.26 for 18th place.

Senior Julia Flanagan became Holy Cross’s 1st state cross country champion in 31 years Saturday morning in Holmdel.

Flanagan ran 18:43.59 at Holmdel County Park and became the first Lancer girl to win at states since Kari Vigerstol won her second in a row in Parochial A in 1994.

Flanagan was 4th in this race last year in 20:29, so she ran 106 seconds faster this year.

She’s only the third South Jersey girl to win the state Parochial B race. Ann Klocke ran 19:20 at Holmdel in 1995 from Eustace ran 18:46.89 in 2011.

Flanagan had run a Holy Cross course-best 18:52 last month at Shore Coaches.

The state title is Flanagan’s 3rd. She won the Parochial B 3,200 last winter at the Bubble and again last spring at the Parochial B meet in Galloway Township.

Flanagan won by about 150 meters over two-time defending state champ Blythe Dudley of Villa Walsh Academy in Morristown, who was 2nd in 19:21.52.

Sophomore Joe Saicic placed 2nd, sophomore Zacchaeus Harrigan 5th and senior Jaeden Wesley 7th as mighty Glassboro rolled to the 1st state championship in school history.

Glassboro, ranked 13th in the state – a rarity for a Group 1 – overwhelmed the field, finishing with a 70-109 edge on Metuchen. Woodstown, led by Jacob Marino in 9th in 17:15.87, placed 3rd with 140 points.

Glassboro’s previous best finish at states was 3rd last year.

Saicic ran 16:50.42, Harrigan 17:04.27 and Wesley 17:11.57. It was a 22-second Holmdel PR for Wesley.

Sophomore Aaron Johnson was Glassboro’s 4th runner in 14th place in 17:34.35, a five-second Holmdel PR for Johnson.

Sophomore Gavin Rakitis and senior Jason Martin ran 18:33.51 and 18:37.19 and placed 46th and 49th for the Bulldogs, who had only six finishers.

Glassboro is the 19th South Jersey school to win Group 1, a group that includes Haddon Township eight times, Haddonfield four times before they moved up to Group 2, Maple Shade twice, Pennsville once and most recently Audubon in 2021.

The only Group 1 with a lower winning score since 2011 is Haddon Township with 51 in 2013, 31 in 2014 and 53 in 2019.

Sophomore Riley Tolson placed 2nd and junior Carly Godfrey 8th to lead the Ocean City girls to their 1st state title in 37 years Saturday in Holmdel.

Tolson ran 19:13.53 at Holmdel County Park and Godfrey 19:39.87, and Ocean City topped 2nd-place Middletown South 94-110, with North Hunterdon 3rd at 117 in a hot three-team race.

Ocean City is ranked 8th in New Jersey. Middletown South is 5th and North Hunterdon is 12th, so the Red Raiders came out on top in a loaded field.

This is the Red Raiders’ 1st state title since the 1988 team, led by Kelli Dougherty in 5th and Lori Heywood in 10th, won Group 3 by a 71-79 score over Philipsburg.

Junior Peighton Clemens ran 20:42.18 for 26th and sophomore Lenna Driscoll and freshman Bella Cera placed 37th and 38th in 21:02.97 and 21:03.22.

All five Ocean City girls finished ahead of the corresponding runner from Middletown South, with Godfrey providing the largest gap, finishing nine spots ahead of South’s 2nd runner.

Ocean City averaged 20:20.35, 3rd-fastest in school history at Holmdel behind last year’s team at Shore Coaches [19:52.86] and the 2012 team at states [20:14.16].

The Red Raiders became only the fourth South Jersey school ever to win the state Group 3 title. Ocean City won in 1988. Moorestown, led by Julia Kuder and Betsy Bulat, outscored Middletown South by two to win the 1998 title and Clearview topped North Hunterdon by 25 points in 2022, with Abby Waddington, Abby Kotran and Margaret Wisniewski all finishing in the top 12.