Northern Burlington graduate Nina Burden finished her college cross country career at Stevens Saturday at the NCAA Division 3 Metro Region Championships.

Which is incredible considering she just ran her first-ever cross country race a few months ago.

It’s been quite a year for Burden. She placed 53rd out of over 250 runners at the Interregional Border Battle at DREAM Park in Logan Township last month, took 37th out of over 125 runners at the Middle Atlantic Conference meet in Grantham, Pa., and on Saturday was 86th out of nearly 200 runners at regionals.

What makes all of this so remarkable is that she never ran cross country before. Not in high school, not in college, nowhere.

Burden played soccer at Northern and was a 2nd-team all-BCSL all-star and stuck with soccer first three years at Stevens, making the MAC All-Academic Honor Roll each year.

She did run track at Northern but never ran anything longer than the 800. She had an 800 PR of 2:47.71 from indoor 2018 Group 3 sectionals at the Bubble, but she lost her senior year to COVID and her improvement has been amazing since arriving at Stevens, located along the Hudson River in Hoboken.

She placed 6th at the MAC outdoor meet in May in Chester, Pa., with a PR 2:17.98 and she also ran on top-5 4-by-4 and 4-by-8 relay teams. In all, she’s won 18 medals at the conference meet in either the 800 or on a relay team in four years with the Ducks.

Her 2:17.98 is No. 3 in school history, and her 2:20.90 from the 2023 AARTFC meet at the Armory is No. 3 on the indoor school all-time performance list.

As impressive as Burden’s track career and one year of cross country have been, she’s an even better student.

In 2022, she received the John F. Hedderich III Innovation and Entrepreneurship Research Scholarship and spent 10 weeks working at Stevens’ Laboratory for NeuroInnovation studying “the use of low-frequency electrode stimulation to trigger neural immune system responses,” according to an article on Stevens’ web site.

She may be finished with XC but she’s clearly got a bright future.

Junior Joshua Cason of Sicklerville Tech placed 2nd and seniors Matthew Conaway of Haddon Township and Caleb Clevenger of Haddonfield ran 12th and 13th, and Rowan made a case for an at-large bid to the NCAA Division 3 championships with a strong 2nd-place finish at the Metro Region Championships Saturday in Galloway Township.

Moravian packed its five scorers in the top nine and won the team title 29-61, with Haverford at 89. Moravian, Rowan and Haverford were ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the most recent USTFCCCA Metro Region poll.

The winner of each of 10 regions receives an auto bid to next weekend’s NCAA Division 3 Championships in Indiana, and 22 other schools will receive at-large bids. Rowan is a bubble team and will learn its fate on Monday.It appears the Profs will either be one of the last schools in or one of the first schools out.

The top seven finishers in each region not from the winning team also qualify for nationals, so Cason and Conway – who finished 2nd and 7th among runners not from Moravian – are on their way to Indiana either way. Rowan grad student Miles Voenell of Pacific Collegiate in Santa Cruz, Calif., who was 8th, will also race at nationals.

Cason ran 24:46.5 and finished behind only Haverford senior Peter Larochelle, who won the race in 24:34.8. Voenell ran 25:06.3, Conway 25:17.4, Clevenger 25:2.1 and sophomore Colin Patterson of Haddon Heights 27th in 25:45.3. Scott Hubbard of Audubon placed 33rd in 25:49.9 and senior Giancarlo Vega of Timber Creek was 64th in 27:02.3.

Rutgers-Camden sophomore Jacob Dinerman from Haddon Township placed 21st in 25:39.3.

Rowan has made 19 trips to NCAA Division 3 Nationals, most recently in 2017. They also competed as Glassboro State every year from 1974 through 1988 plus 1991, 1992 and 1993 and as Rowan in 2017.

Their best finish ever was 3rd place in 1982 in Fredonia, N.Y., behind North Central of Naperville, Ill., and Brandeis of Waltham, Mass. Pleasantville’s Greg Rapp placed 3rd at nationals and Tim O’Brien of Westfield 24th.

Williamstown’s Anna Sasse, a senior, and Washington Township’s Ally Wernik, a sophomore, finished 8th and 12th out of nearly 200 runners Saturday and helped the Rowan women win the NCAA Division 3 Metro Region Championship in Galloway Township.

The regional title is the first ever for the Rowan women and earned the Profs an auto bid to the NCAA Division 3 Championships Saturday in Indiana.

Rowan was ranked No. 1 in the Metro Region and lived up to its ranking by outscoring No. 2 Swarthmore 81-86.

Rowan went 6-8-12-15-40, and Swarthmore was 9-10-11-17-39 so the two teams were within three spots for all five scorers.

Sasse ran 22:18.9 over 6,000 meters at Stockton University, and Wernik ran 22:50.4.

Grad student Mia Guerra from Hasbrouck Heights led the Profs in 6th place in 22:17.1. Junior Gabriella Pagano from Pope John XXIII [15th in 23:03.3] and sophomore Emily Zanni from Sherwood High in Olney, Md. [42nd in 23:54.8] were Rowan’s 4th and 5th scorers.

Also in the top 20 was Savannah Hodgens, a TCNJ sophomore from Mainland Regional. Hodgens placed 18th in 23:13.8.

Stockton’s No. 2 runner was post-grad Amanda McNally from Seneca, who ran 23:29.2 and finished 30th.

The NCAA Division 3 nationals women’s race is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at the Laverne Gibson Championship Course in Grange Corner, Ind., outside Terre Haute.

The top teams in each of 10 regionals earn auto bids to nationals and 22 at-large teams will also be invited, with the full field scheduled to be announced on Monday.

This will be Rowan’s 4th trip to nationals. The 1994 team placed 11th at Lehigh and the Profs also placed 26th and 27th in 2011 and 2012.

That 1994 group, coached by legendary Bill Fritz, was led at nationals by Cherry Hill East’s Antoinette Elton of Cherry Hill East in 29th and Suzanne Mergner of Colonia in 34th. Marcia Baker of Newark West Side, Pitman’s Janet Rue, Buena’s Michelle Garbeil, Kingsway’s Erica More and Bronawyn Hagan of Keansburg were also on that 1994 Rowan team.

Cherokee, Ocean City and Paul VI placed 6th, 7th and 8th at the Meet of Champions Saturday morning at Holmdel, the 1st time in 28 years three South Jersey schools all finished among the top eight in the state.

A parochial school that draws students from all over North Jersey won with 80 points. Cherokee was 6th with 182, Ocean City 7th with 206 and Paul VI 8th with 208.

South Jersey had three top-8 schools six times – all in a row from 1990 through 1996. We’ll take a look at thoes finishes later in this post.

Cherokee’s 6th-place finish equals the Chiefs’ 2nd-best all-time. They won the 2021 meet and they were also 6th in 2010.

Ocean City’s 7th-place finish is their best since the 2003 team was 5th. They were also 4th in 1987 and 1988.

And Paul VI, competing as a team for the first time 2003, had its best finish since the 1996 team placed 7th. PVI was also 2nd in 1990, 5th in 1991, 3rd in 1992, 5th in 1993, 7th in 1994, 8th in 1995, so this is their 9th time in the top 8.

Senior Megan Niglio led Cherokee in 17th place in 19:09, with junior Madeline Meder 28th in 19:32. Freshman Erin Healy [71st in 20:14.29], senior Grace Wojciechowski [115th in 20:56.69] and junior Maya Kumar [127th in 21:26.73] also scored for the Chiefs. For team scoring purposes, they ran 6th, 14th, 36th, 58th and 68th.

Ocean City raced without No. 1 runner Maeve Smith, who has been battling injuries, but still had its best finish in more than two decades. Senior Chloe Care ran 20th in 19:19.43, sophomore Carly Godfrey placed 48th in 19:56.45, freshman Riley Tolson was 65th in 20:08.62, senior Zoe Zammit was 121st in 21:08.15 and sophomore Lillian Flora 134th in 21:36.16. Their team scores were 9th, 25th, 34th, 63rd and 75th. Soph Peighton Clemens wasn’t far back at 21:54.

For Paul VI, junior Macy Huber led the way in 41st with 19:53, sophomore Grace Gutowski was 49th in 19:57, freshman Peyton Blake 53rd in 20:01, freshman Morgan Kuzma 106th in 20:46 and freshman Johanna Trampe 142nd in 21:59, with senior Verina Belmonte just outside the top 5 in 22:03. Team scoring: 21st, 26th, 28th, 51st, 82nd.

Here’s a look at every year South Jersey has had three teams in the top eight:

2024: Cherokee [6th, 182 points], Ocean City [7th, 206 points], Paul VI [8th, 208 points]
1996: Shawnee [2nd, 93 points], Bishop Eustace [4th, 138 points], Paul VI [7th, 208 points]
1995: Bishop Eustace [2nd, 77 points], Shawnee [3rd, 87 points], Paul VI [8th, 236 points]
1994: Bishop Eustace [2nd, 77 points], Shawnee [5th, 108 points], Paul VI [7th, 208 points]
1993: Shawnee [4th, 125 points], Paul VI [5th, 157 points], Ocean City [7th, 210 points]
1992: Paul VI [3rd, 141 points], Bishop Eustace [4th, 142 points], Shawnee [6th, 159 points]
1991: Shawnee [1st, 99 points], Paul VI [5th, 138 points], Cinnaminson [8th, 195 points]
1990: Paul VI [2nd, 136 points], Shawnee [5th, 165 points], Ocean City [8th, 189 points]

Oddly, Paul VI has scored exactly 208 points and placed 7th or 8th three of the last four times three South Jersey schools finished in the top 8.

Senior Ty Blackman placed 33rd in the Meet of Champions Saturday, the best finish by a Glassboro runner in 29 years.

Blackman ran 16:34.65 at Holmdel County Park and was the top South Jersey runner not from Haddonfield, Cherokee or Cherry Hill East, who all qualified for the 53rd annual Meet of Champions as full teams.

His finish is the best by a Glassboro runner since Pat Ryan took 15th in the 1995 race (in 16:38, slower than Blackman ran in 33rd).

Also running as an individual was Cinnaminson junior Jacob Wickersham, who placed 44th in 16:42.50, a Holmdel PR.

Shawnee senior Noah Stapleton ran 16:49.88, fastest by a Shawnee runner at Holmdel since Mark Miller’s 16:41 at the state Group 3 meet in 2016.

Clearview senior Ethan Worst [16:54.05], Cherry Hill West junior Rex Takakjy [16:56.65] and Williamstown senior Dylan Saber [16:59.99] all also ran sub-17.

Liliah Gordon on Saturday morning became the 2nd South Jersey girl in the 53-year history of the Meet of Champions to place in the top eight four years in a row.

Gordon, a senior at Northern Burlington, placed 2nd in the 53rd annual meet at Holmdel County Park in 18:12 after taking 8th as a freshman, 7th as a sophomore and 5th as a junior.

Mainland Regional’s Alyssa Aldridge placed 2nd in 2014, won in 2015 and 2016 and was 2nd in 2017.

Gordon’s finish matches the best ever by a Burlington County girl. Kari Vigerstol of Holy Cross was 2nd in 1992 and Liz Moore of Shawnee was 2nd in 1993. Vigerstol and Moore placed 1-2 in the outdoor Meet of Champions 1,600 in 1993.

Gordon, a Foot Locker finalist last year, cemented her status as one of the all-time greats in South Jersey history.

Union Catholic sophomore Paige Sheppard won the race in 18:01.76. Gordon finished 60 meters clear of 3rd-place Allison Lee of West Windsor-Plainsboro North, who edged Gordon at the Central Jersey Group 3 meet before Gordon ran away with the state Group 3 title.

Gordon has been the top South Jersey finisher at the Meet of Champions all four years. Aldridge was 2nd to Ocean City’s Devin Grisbaum in 2014, so Gordon is the first girl to lead all South Jersey runners at a M-of-C since Haddonfield Olympian Erin Donohue, who was 10th in 1997, 2nd in 1998 and 1st in 1999 and 2000.

Cherokee, Ocean City and Paul VI, South Jersey’s three full teams racing Saturday, placed 6th, 7th and 8th, and we’ll have more on them later.

But in terms of South Jersey individuals, Schalick senior Jordan Hadfield ran 19:28.71 to place 25th for the 2nd straight year and Mainland senior Sofia Day was 33rd in 19:38.90.

Haddonfield packed five runners within 20 seconds and placed 2nd, Cherokee packed its five scorers in 31 seconds and placed 3rd and Cherry Hill East made it three South Jersey teams in the top-5 for the first time in 10 years Saturday morning at the 52nd annual Meet of Champions.

Junior Benjamin Andrus, senior Bennett Wright, Junior Peter Simpson, junior Luke Andresen and junior Ryan Gibson all ran between 16:11 and 16:31, and Haddonfield averaged 16:21 over the historic 5K course at Holmdel County Park

Cherokee placed five runners in the top 40 to take 3rd and Cherry Hill East averaged under 17 minutes to place 5th.

Haddonfield scored 83 points in 2nd place, Cherokee scored 103 in 3rd and Cherry Hill East scored 135 in 5th. Ocean City made it four South Jersey schools in the top 10 with a 9th-place finish.

Haddonfield has placed in the top 10 an incredible 23 times since 1980 and in the top 10 an astounding 14 times.

Their 83 points is the lowest score at a Meet of Champions by a South Jersey school since Mainland Regional won with 68 points in 2003 and Haddonfield’s lowest score ever at a MoC – lower even than when they won the race in 2001.

Haddonfield’s finish is the best by a South Jersey school since the Bulldogs placed 2nd in 2018. Haddonfield has now placed in the top 5 seven consecutive years – or eight if you include the unofficial 2020 MoC.

Their 16:21.79 average is a virtually tie for 3rd-fastest ever at Holmdel by a South Jersey school. Haddonfield averaged a hand-timed 16:21 last weekend at the state Group 2 meet, where FAT timing wasn’t used.

Here is a look at Haddonfield’s astounding 23 top-10 finishes:

2024 – 2nd , 83 points
2023 – 7th, 200 points
2022 – 6th, 183 points
2021 – 3rd, 134 points
2020 – 4th, 121 points
2019 – 3rd, 129 points
2018 – 2nd, 86 points
2017 – 6th, 178 points
2015 – 4th, 145 points
2014 – 5th, 186 points
2013 – 7th, 237 points
2010 – 2nd, 98 points
2009 – 4th, 128 points
2008 – 4th, 139 points
2007 – 3rd, 159 points
2006 – 3rd, 162 points
2001 – 1st, 87 points
2000 – 10th, 255 points
1996 – 10th, 279 points
1990 – 9th, 244 points
1989 – 5th, 189 points
1986 – 8th, 240 points
1980 – 8th, 206 points

Andrus led Haddonfield in 16th place in 16:11.39, Wright was 18th in 16:12.07, Simpson 22nd in 16:23.48, Andresen 26th in 16:30.08 and Gibson 28th in 16:31.95.

Aaron Keith and Case Hurly also ran for Haddonfield, Keith crossing in 17:18.68 and Hurly in 17:50.77.

Cherokee, which averaged 16:34 when it won the state Group 4 meet last weekend, lowered its average to 16:30.45, their 2nd-lowest ever behind a 16:28.4 at the 2022 Meet of Champions.

This was Cherokee’s 7th consecutive top-10 finish and 20th overall. The Chiefs have placed in the top 5 10 times. The 3rd-place finish equals their best since they placed 2nd in 2000, and their 103 points is their lowest total since that 2000 team scored 69.

Freshman Jack Tindall, who missed a significant amount of training camp the last couple weeks, led Cherokee in 13th place in 16:10.18. Sophomore Benjamin Realley placed 23rd in 16:25.14, junior Logan Bromley ran 16:35.81 for 31st, senior Liam Tindall was 38th in 16:39.96 and senior Enzo Corona placed 40th in 16:41.15. Sophomore Sean Sooy was also under 17 minutes in 16:54.47 and senior Benjamin Weiner ran 17:02. Note the official results show Corona in 31st and Bromley in 40th, but their finishes were flip-flopped.

Three of the top freshmen and sophomores in the entire race were from Cherokee.

Cherry Hill East’s 5th-place finish is their best since the 2014 team placed 3rd. East has also placed in the top 10 in 2013 [9th], 2019 [8th] and 2021 [8th].

Senior Brody Bogos had a very strong race for Cherry Hill East, placing 11th in 16:06.62, a Holmdel PR and 3rd-fastest ever by a Cherry Hill East runner. Seniro Brandon Lyons ran 16:29.43 for 24th, juniors Alvin Lin and Will Nelson came across virtually together in 42nd and 44th in 16:42.55 and 16:42.94 and junior Milo Poerner was 84th in 17:05.99 for a 16:51.83 team average. Senior Nikhil Raman ran 17:18.22 and sophomore Cian Sherlock ran 17:50.01 for East.

And Ocean City had three runners under 17 minutes – junior Erik Preisner [35th in 16:38.50], senior Ethan Buck [55th in 16:49.99] and sophomore Keenan Neuman [64th in 16:55.06]. They were backed up by sophomore Nathan Aschmann [81st in 17:04.24] and senior Zach Hutchinson [107th in 17:20.38]. Sophomore Michael Romano [18:05] and freshman Nevin Millstein [18:19] also raced for Ocean City, which averaged 16:57.83.

This is the 5th time three South Jersey schools placed in the top five at a Meet of Champions:

2014: Cherry Hill East [3rd], Kingsway [4th], Haddonfield [5th]
2001: Haddonfield [1st], Cherokee [4th], Mainland Regional [5th]
1999: Paul VI [2nd], Cherokee [3rd], Washington Township [4th]
1998: Cherokee [2nd], Washington Township [3rd], Shawnee [4th]
1989: Paul VI [1st], Highland [2nd], Haddonfield [5th]
1988: Paul VI [1st], Highland [3rd], Bridgeton [5th]

Cinnaminson’s Austin Gabay placed 8th out of more than 200 runners Friday and Butler placed a strong 3rd at the NCAA Division 1 Great Lakes Regional Championship.

Butler, ranked 21st in Division 1, finished behind only No. 19 Notre Dame and No. 9 Wisconsin. Notre Dame won with 70 points, Wisconsin scored 82 and Butler 104, beating Michigan State on a 6th-runner tiebreaker.

Gabay was in 23rd place at 7K in 20:47.9, so he covered the last 3K in 8:40.4.

Gabay ran 29:28.3 on the 10,000-meter course at Silver Creek Metro Park in Norton, Ohio, about 35 miles south of Cleveland.

Gabay’s previous 10K PR was 29:58.4 last year at the Southeast Regional in Spartanburg, S.C., competing for Duke.

Most college races are held at 8K, and Gabay’s 8,000 PR is 23:36.6 from a meet last month in Chicago. He ran a faster pace Friday for an extra 1.24 miles. He probably came through 8,000 meters in 23:50 or so before running the final 1,000 in about 2:38.

The top two teams in each of nine regions automatically qualify for NCAA Championships Nov. 23 at the Thomas Zimmer Course at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Thirteen other schools will receive at-large bid to nationals.

Rancocas Valley and Holy Cross placed 4th and 5th at the very first girls Meet of Champions, held at Holmdel County Park 52 years ago.

Red Bank Catholic [53], Franklin [128] and Hunterdon Cental [129] took the top three spots at the 1972 MoC, with R.V. 4th at 152 and Holy Cross 5th with 162 points. Haddon Township also raced as a team that day, placing 12th with 349 points.

R.V. was led by Cathy Young in 5th place with a 13:21 over two miles, teammate Cathy Christman was 7th in 13:37 and Patti Barnes took 22nd for the Red Devils.

Holy Cross had Sharon Fitzpatrick in 6th in 13:24, Millie Hunt 27th and then Cathy Devlin, Jean Jackson and Joanne McEntee 38th, 41th and 50th.

This year’s Meet of Champions on Saturday will feature three South Jersey teams – Cherokee, Paul VI and Ocean City.

This will be Cherokee’s 5th trip to MoC. Cherokee first qualified for the MoC in 2004, when the Chiefs placed 8th. They were 6th in 2010, then won it in 2021 and placed 9th last year.

Paul VI will be racing as a team at a Meet of Champions for the 17th time overall but first time since 2003, when they placed 12th. But PVI made 16 trips from 1982 through 2003 – 3rd in 1983, 8th in 1993, 3rd in 1984, 6th in 1985, 5th in 1986, 3rd in 1989, 2nd in 1990, 5th in 1991, 3rd in 1992, 5th in 1993, 7th in 1949, 8th in 1995, 7th in 1996, 12th in 1997, 13th in 2001 and 12th in 2003.

And Ocean City will be competing as a full team for the XXth time after placing 9th in 1986, 4th in 1987, 4th in 1988, 8th in 1990, 7th in 1993, 14th in 1994, 9th in 1995, 5th in 2003 and 14th in 2012.

Here’s a look at every South Jersey school that’s competed at Meet of Champions as a full team:

2023
5. Haddonfield 166
9. Cherokee 211

2022
2. Haddonfield 88
9. Clearview 209

2021
1. Cherokee 117
5. Haddonfield 179
10. Cherry Hill East 267

2020 [Holmdel Invitational exhibition]
1. Haddonfield 52
2. Cherokee 144

2019
4. Haddonfield 172
7. Kingsway 210
18. Schalick 464

2018
15. Shawnee 331

2017
2. Kingsway 126
5. Shawnee 190
14. Haddonfield 353

2016
3. Kingsway 132
4. Shawnee 179
9. Haddonfield 249

2015
7. Seneca 204
12. Haddonfield 310

2014
13. Haddonfield 356

2013
5. Haddonfield 164
7. Shawnee 176
10. Seneca 216
14. Pitman 352

2012
12. Seneca 254
14. Ocean City 328
16. Pitman 376

2011
14. Delsea 360
16. Moorestown 377

2010
6. Cherokee 220
12. Bishop Eustace 291
14. Haddonfield 307
17. Moorestown 324

2009
8. Delsea 222
11. Haddonfield 260
14. Seneca 309
20. Wildwood Catholic 500

2008
12. Haddonfield 314
15. Shawnee 358

2007
8. Haddonfield 221
10. Lenape 264
17. Haddon Township 460
18. Our Lady of Mercy 467

2006
7. Cherry Hill East 188
8. Lenape 190
10. Haddonfield 222
17. Wildwood Catholic 408

2005
6. Haddonfield 162
13. Moorestown 303
18. Bishop Eustace 588

2004
8. Cherokee 241

2003
1. Shawnee 119
5. Ocean City 178
12. Paul VI 309
16. Haddonfield 362
19. Gloucester City 439

2002
1. Shawnee 69
4. Moorestown 155
11. Paul VI 259
18. Bishop Eustace 477
20. Schalick 535

2001
1. Moorestown 88
3. Shawnee 142
13. Paul VI 330
19. Bishop Eustace 449
20. Schalick 564

2000
3. Moorestown 116
6. Shawnee 174
12. Bishop Eustace 300
19. Haddon Township 505
20. Gloucester City 540

1999
2. Moorestown 132
4. Shawnee 164
13. Woodrow Wilson 262

1998
4. Shawnee 164
7. Moorestown 211
16. Haddonfield 343

1997
1. Shawnee 99
12. Paul VI 264

1996
2. Shawnee 93
4. Bishop Eustace 138
7. Paul VI 208
11. Egg Harbor Township 245
16. Schalick 477

1995
2. Bishop Eustace 77
3. Shawnee 87
8. Paul VI 236
9. Ocean City 256
13. Haddonfield 333
17. Schalick 482
18. Maple Shade 517

1994
2. Bishop Eustace 77
5. Shawnee 108
7. Paul VI 208
13. Camden Catholic 341
14. Ocean City 363
15. Haddonfield 377

1993
4. Shawnee 125
5. Paul VI 157
7. Ocean City 210
9. Bishop Eustace 229
14. Haddonfield 350

1992
3. Paul VI 141
4. Bishop Eustace 142
6. Shawnee 159
11. Kingsway 267
14. Haddonfield 324

1991
1. Shawnee 99
5. Paul VI 138
8. Cinnaminson 195
11. Haddonfield 291

1990
2. Paul VI 136
5. Shawnee 165
8. Ocean City 189
9. Kingsway 194
10. Bishop Eustace 210
13. Haddonfield 361
16. Sacred Heart 382

1989
3. Paul VI 84
10. Kingsway 250
12. Bishop Eustace 261

1988
4. Ocean City 115
10. Bishop Eustace 232

1987
4. Ocean City 125
10. Kingsway 227
12. Bishop Eustace 269

1986
5. Paul VI 133
9. Ocean City 227

1985
6. Paul VI 192
11. Holy Cross 293
17. Gloucester Catholic 514

1984
3. Paul VI 107

1983
7. Shawnee 255
8. Paul VI 288
12. Holy Cross 324
22. Haddonfield 500

1982
3. Paul VI 169
14. Haddonfield 321

1981
None

1980
7. Holy Cross 170

1979
None

1978
None

1977
None

1976
None

1975
13. Rancocas Valley 399
17. Mainland Regional 420

1974
None

1973
4. Rancocas Valley 269
9. Gateway 349
16. Holy Cross 522

1972
4. Rancocas Valley 152
5. Holy Cross 162
12. Haddon Township 349

Northern Burlington’s Liliah Gordon on Saturday will try to become the 11th South Jersey girl to win a cross country Meet of Champions and only the 3rd to place in the top 10 four years in a row.

Gordon goes into noon race at Holmdel County Park as a close No. 2 seed after winning the state Group 3 title in 17:58 last weekend. The top seed – one second faster – is Union Catholic’s Paige Sheppard, who attended middle school in Hillsborough, Somerset County, 21 miles from Union Catholic, which is in Union County.

Gordon placed 8th as a freshman in 18:29, 7th in 2022 in 19:05 and 5th last year in 18:19. Her 17:58 puts her 8th in South Jersey history at Holmdel County Park and 2nd among Burlington County runners behind Cherokee’s Megan Lacy, who ran 17:55 at the 2010 state Group 4 meet.

Sheppard and Gordon were the only girls to run faster than 18:24 in the six state meets last weekend.

The only South Jersey girls to place in the top four straight years are Erin Donohue of Haddonfield, who was 10th in 1997 and 2nd in 1998 before winning in 1999 and 2000 and Mainland’s Alyssa Aldridge, who was 2nd in 2014, won in both 2015 and 2016 and placed 2nd again in 2017.

The last girl from Northern to place in the top 10 before Gordon was Colleen Sunderland, who was 6th in the 1994 race.

Mainland senior Sofia Day, Ocean City senior Maeve Smith, Cherokee senior Megan Niglio and Schalick senior Jordan Hadfield, who all placed in the top 25 last year, also return for the 2024 race.

After Gordon, South Jersey’s fastest qualifiers for Saturday are Haddonfield junior Riley Austin [19:07], Paul VI junior Macy Huber [19:16], Cherokee junior Madeline Meder [19:23], Hadfield [19:25], Cherokee’s Niglio [19:27], Ocean City senior Chloe Care [19:37], Paul VI sophomore Grace Gutowski [19:38], Sterling senior Jonalee Adames [19:41], Mainland’s Day [19:42], Eastern sophomore Theresa Albertson [19:52], Wildwood senior Macie McCracken [19:53], Ocean City freshman Riley Tolson [19:55], Williamstown junior Sophia Aldridge [19:59] and Cherry Hill East sophomore Ryleigh Budsock [19:59].

Here are the top 10 all-time South Jersey performers at Holmdel County Park followed by a look at every South Jersey girl that’s ever placed in the top 25 at a Meet of Champions.

17:27.83 … Megan Venables [Highland Reg.], 2010
17:40 … Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1982
17:44 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2008
17:45 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2013
17:55 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2010
17:55 … Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland], 2016
18:08 … Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace], 2010
17:58 … Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 2024
18:12 … Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City], 2004
18:16 … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2009

2023
5. *Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington] 18:19
7. *Sofia Day [Mainland Reg.] 18:34
9. Maeve Smith [Ocean City] 18:42
10. Kerry O’Day [Cherokee] 18:44
11. Shaelan McNally [Paul VI] 18:51
22. *Megan Niglio [Cherokee] 19:17
25. *Jordan Hadfield [Schalick] 19:25

2022
7. **Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington] 19:05
11. **Sofia Day [Mainland Regional] 19:22
13. Abigail Waddington [Clearview] 19:24
15. *Michaela Schlemo [Egg Harbor Township] 19:26
16. Ava Thomas [Haddonfield] 19:27
17. Lillie Widmer [Delsea] 19:31
18. *Gillian Lovett [Mainland Regional] 19:31
21. *Riley Slootsky [Haddonfield] 19:40
25. ***Riley Austin [Haddonfield] 19:45

2021
8. ***Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington] 18:29
11. Nicole Clifford [Cherokee] 18:43
13. *Grace Wassell [Highland] 18:48
15. ***Sofia Day [Mainland Regional] 18:49
25. *Shaelan McNally [Paul VI] 19:06

2020
Not held

2019
6. Olivia Schaefer [Egg Harbor Twp.] 18:49
13. Kate Rathman [Cherokee] 19:02
15. Sarah Naticchia [Haddonfield] 19:03
25. *Payton Weiner [Haddonfield] 19:13

2018
13. Katy Storti [Bishop Eustace] 19:10
16. *Isabella Turner [Shawnee] 19:13
25. Sarah Pierce [Cherry Hill East] 19:27

2017
2. Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.] 18:18
13. Madison Coppolino [Sterling] 18:54
19. Alexis Mullarkey [Kingsway] 19:09
24. **Isabella Turner [Shawnee] 19:20

2016
1. *Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.] 17:55
2. Briana Gess [Haddonfield] 18:35
3. Rachel Vick [Kingsway] 18:41
8. Alyssa Condell [Timber Creek] 18:59
21. ***Grace Yoon [Cherry Hill East] 19:27
22. **Sarah Pierce [Cherry Hill East] 19:33

2015
1. **Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.] 18:07
3. *Briana Gess [Haddonfield] 18:25
15. **Alexis Mullarkey [Kingsway] 19:02
23. **Alexis Weber [Ocean City] 19:21

2014
1. Devin Grisbaum [Ocean City] 18:19
2. ***Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.] 18:21

2013
1. ***Briana Gess [Haddonfield] 17:44
12. Mara Schiffhauer [Seneca] 18:48
22. Julia DeSpirito [Shawnee] 19:02

2012
23. Meghan Malloy [Haddonfield] 19:04

2011
1. Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace] 18:12
7. Megan Lacy [Cherokee] 18:29
15. *Meghan Malloy [Haddonfield] 18:49
18. Shelby Cain [Haddonfield] 19:07
25. Paige Senatore [Delsea] 19:20

2010
1. Megan Venables [Highland] 17:45
2. *Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace] 18:08
4. *Megan Lacy [Cherokee] 18:12

2009
1. Chelsea Ley [Kingsway] 17:55
2. *Megan Venables [Highland] 18:00
3. Marielle Hall [Haddonfield] 18:16
7. **Megan Lacy [Cherokee] 18:47
12. Caitlin Orr [Lenape] 19:00
13. **Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace] 19:00
20. ***Natalia Ocasio [Lenape] 19:16

2008
2. *Chelsea Ley [Kingsway] 18:01
5. **Megan Venables [Highland] 18:38
13. Meghan McGlinchey [West Deptford] 19:02
14. *Caitlin Orr [Lenape] 19:02
17. Jenn Rawls [Highland] 19:13
21. Maria Ruiz [Williamstown] 19:16

2007
3. **Chelsea Ley [Kingsway] 18:07
6. ***Casey Doyle [Kingsway] 18:38
13. ***Megan Venables [Highland] 18:59
21. Jena Peacock [Our Lady of Mercy Academy] 19:10
23. *Missy Showers [Cherry Hill East] 19:17

2006
3. Theresa Cattuna [Cherry Hill East] 18:18
11. Amanda Goetschius [Delsea] 18:51

2005
4. Vanessa Wright [Haddonfield] 18:23
9. *Theresa Cattuna [Cherry Hill East] 18:46
12. Renee Tomlin [Ocean City] 18:52

2004
1. *Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City] 18:11
2. *Vanessa Wright [Haddonfield] 18:21
9. *Lisa Burkholder [Cherokee] 18:52
12. Katie Van Horn [Triton] 19:00

2003
1. **Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City] 18:42
2. *Arianna McKinney [Highland] 18:58
8. **Lisa Burkholder [Cherokee] 19:23
9. Kim Bonner [Shawnee] 19:24
15. Robin McDowell [Shawnee] 19:33

2002
5. ***Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City] 18:43
10. *Kim Bonner [Shawnee] 19:43
11. Jackie Dunn [Rancocas Valley] 19:43
13. Malia Lyles [Cherokee] 19:48
25. *Caroline Hipple [Moorestown] 20:10

2001
10. *Meghan Hughes [Moorestown] 19:31
16. Brittany McCann [Delsea] 19:47
22. Kelsey Rinehart [Moorestown] 19:55
25. **Kim Bonner [Shawnee] 19:58

2000
1. Erin Donohue [Haddonfield] 18:27
12. *Kelsey Rinehart [Moorestown] 19:44
22. **Taneshia Pittman [Woodrow Wilson] 20:00
25. *Brittany McCann [Delsea] 20:05

1999
1. *Erin Donohue [Haddonfield] 18:44
7. Claudine Evangelista [Triton] 19:31
12. Robin Van Auken [Highland] 19:45
15. ***Taneshia Pittman [Woodrow Wilson] 19:56
17. *Dana Palumbo [Shawnee] 20:01
20. *Jenna Darcy [Shawnee] 20:16

1998
2. **Erin Donohue [Haddonfield] 18:27
11. **Jenna Darcy [Shawnee] 19:49
15. Kathleen Porter [Holy Cross] 19:53
16. Julia Kuder [Moorestown] 19:55
21. Leyna Williams [Triton] 19:59
31. Claudine Evangelista [Triton] 20:17
34. Tara Loescher [Williamstown] 20:23
40. Dana Palumbo [Shawnee] 20:34
45. Allison Venuto [Cherry Hill East] 20:40

1997
10. ***Erin Donohue [Haddonfield] 19:44
17. *Taylor Van Acker [Shawnee] 19:59
20. ***Jenna Darcy [Shawnee] 20:03

1996
2. Abbey Hartman [Ocean City] 18:58
10. Nikki Theimann [Shawnee] 19:28
11. Lisa Setter [Shawnee] 19:32
14. Ann Klocke [Bishop Eustace] 19:47
18. Amanda Eltringham [Bishop Eustace] 19:52
19. Adrianne DelSol [Bishop Eustace] 19:53

1995
9. *Ann Klocke [Bishop Eustace] 19:25
14. *Adrianne DelSol [Bishop Eustace] 19:31
19. Andrea Dippolito [Holy Cross] 19:46
23. Kacy Corbett [Camden Catholic] 19:56

1994
1. Jaime Weisgerber [Woodstown] 18:51
6. Colleen Sunderland [Northern Burlington] 19:26
8. Roxanne Hughes [Bishop Eustace] 19:33
9. *Kacy Corbett [Camden Catholic] 19:36
10. Kathleen Linck [Bishop Eustace] 19:41
11. **Adrianne DelSol [Bishop Eustace] 19:46
13. Liz Moore [Shawnee] 19:50
18. Kari Vigerstol [Holy Cross] 19:57
24. Missy Whitaker [Shawnee] 20:14

1993
2. Liz Moore [Shawnee] 19:29
4. Karen O’Neil [Shawnee] 19:39
8. Cathy McGuigen [Bridgeton] 19:57
12. *Colleen Sunderland [Northern Burlington] 20:01
14. Megan Hartman [Ocean City] 20:05
15. Julie Schick [Mainland] 20:05
18. Jen Rafferty [Riverside] 20:11
21. *Kathleen Linck [Bishop Eustace] 20:19

1992
2. *Kari Vigerstol [Holy Cross] 19:22
4. *Megan Hartman [Ocean City] 19:34
5. *Liz Moore [Shawnee] 19:34
7. Erica More [Kingsway] 19:52
12. Jennifer Harris [Paul VI] 20:07
13. *Cathy McGuigan [Bridgeton] 20:13
14. *Karen O’Neil [Shawnee] 20:14
24. *Julie Schick [Mainland Reg.] 20:33

1991
6. **Liz Moore [Shawnee] 19:46
8. ***Becky Leon [Cinnaminson] 19:51
11. Janet Rue [Pitman] 19:55
13. *Ynnette Feliciano [Paul VI] 20:08 ???
14. *Erica More [Kingsway] 20:15
21. Danielle Rollick [Paul VI] 20:25
25. Catherine Kinsley [West Deptford] 20:32

1990
3. Miriam Pietersma [Ocean City] 19:46
5. *Janet Rue [Pitman] 19:48
6. **Erica More [Kingsway] 19:56
9. Lori Townsend [Kingsway] 20:08
10. Cheryl Keating [Sacred Heart] 20:11
14. *Julie Goldstein [Shawnee] 20:19
17. Jessica Smith [Bishop Eustace] 20:22
19. *Ynnette Feliciano [Paul VI] 20:27

1989
7. Sherry Jenkins [Camden Catholic] 20:06
9. Michele Owen [Clearview] 20:10
12. **Ynnette Feliciano [Paul VI] 20:21
13. *Lori Townsend [Kingsway] 20:24
14. **Tabitha Francks [Gloucester Catholic] 20:26
16. *Cheryl Keating [Sacred Heart] 20:31
25. Sandy Wright [Paul VI] 20:52

1988
8. *Sandy Wright [Paul VI] 19:36
10. Erin Carody [Paul VI] 19:44
11. Tabitha Francks [Gloucester Catholic] 19:45
14. Carrie Thompson [Clearview] 19:51
17. *Lori Townsend [Kingsway] 20:02
25. Dawn Pfeiffer [Bishop Eustace] 20:33

1987
9. Maryjo Dougherty [Ocean City] 20:01
18. Ann Wodarczyk [Gloucester Catholic] 20:26

1986
22. ***Michelle Owen [Clearview] 20:30
24. ***Sandy Wright [Paul VI] 20:31

1985
7. Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro] 19:33
10. Deanna Germano [Shawnee] 19:43
11. Mindy Rowand [Sterling] 19:53
14. Missy McNally [Paul VI] 20:02
18. Jennifer O’Donohue [Egg Harbor Twp.] 20:11

1984
3. Mindy Rowand [Sterling] 18:40
11. *Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro] 19:17
23. Danielle McManus [Paul VI] 19:50

1983
7. Lori Watson [Cherry Hill East] 18:57
13. Melody Sye [Ocean City] 19:22
14. *Mindy Rowand [Sterling] 19:22
18. Suyong Jenerette [Pemberton] 19:33
24. Michelle DiMuro [Shawnee] 19:45

1982
1. Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.] 17:40
5. Dawn Cody [Paul VI] 18:50
10. Wendy Westphal [Highland] 18:59

1981
5. *Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.] 18:36
11. *Dawn Cody [Paul VI] 19:39
12. *Wendy Westphal [Highland] 19:45
15. Kathy Ezell [Sterling] 19:55

1980
18. Karen Fileshifter [Holy Cross] 19:44
24. **Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.] 19:57

1979 [5K]
7. Renee DeFeo [Clayton] 19:40
25. Doreen Startare [Paul VI] 20:21

1978 [5K, Bowl run in reverse]
3. Eva Marie Berardi [Williamstown] 19:19
8. Monique Purcell [Holy Spirit] 19:51
18. Laura Mason [Northern Burlington] 20:31

1977 [three miles, Bowl run in reverse]
3. *Monique Purcell [Holy Spirit] 18:23
11. **Renee DeFeo [Clayton] 19:12

1976 [two miles]
5. Johanna Zarrillo [Mainland Reg.] 12:42

1975
None

1974
4. Kathy Christman [Rancocas Valley] 11:53
14. Sue Gehring [Woodbury] 12:19

1973
4. Cathy Young [Rancocas Valley] 12:59
16. *Kathy Christman [Rancocas Valley] NA
21. Carol Parson [Cherry Hill East] NA

1972
5. *Cathy Young [Rancocas Valley] 13:21
6. Sharon Fitzpatrick [Holy Cross] 13:24
7. **Kathy Christman [Rancocas Valley] 13:37
13. Cindy Cummings [Haddon Twp.] 13:54
22. Patti Barnes [Rancocas Valley] NA