From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Rowan senior Joshua Cason from Camden County Vo-Tech at Sicklerville, became the 24th South Jersey runner to win the New Jersey Athletic Conference cross country title on Saturday, leading the Profs to their 3rd straight conference title and 26th overall.

Cason ran 25:11 on the new 8,000-meter course at Green Lane Fields in Ewing, edging defending champion Erik Ackerman, a Stockton senior, by 40 meters. Ackerman was 2nd in 25:18.

The NJAC title is Cason’s 3rd. He won the 3,000 last February at the indoor championships at Ocean Breeze and the 5,000 at the outdoor meet at Stockton.

Cason is a transfer from Camden County College, where he was a three-time track All-America but didn’t run cross country. At Sicklerville Tech, he ran 4:31.02 for 1,600 meters at the 2021 Camden County meet at Haddon Township and 10:04.42 at the Cherokee Night of 3200s. On Saturday, he ran faster per mile for five miles than he did in high school for two.

Rowan outscored host TCNJ 25-55, with Stockton 3rd with 88 points.

Four of the Profs’ five scorers are from South Jersey: Junior Scott Hubbard from Audubon placed 4th in 25:35, sophomore Colin Patterson from Haddon Heights was 5th in 25:35 and senior Caleb Clevenger from Haddonfield was 8th in 25:46.

Rowan’s one non-South Jersey scorer was grad student Miles Voenell from Pacific Collegiate in Santa Cruz, Calif., 8th in 25:46. He’s a transfer from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Ore.

Rowan’s 6th man, senior Matt Conway from Haddon Heights, was 9th in 25:46, giving the Profs six of the first nine finishers.

From Hubbard through Conway, Rowan had five finishers in the span of 11 seconds. They had a 35-second gap from 1 through 5.

Among the others racing for the Profs were junior Cole Mylan from Timber Creek [16th in 16:21], junior Sean Hice from Washington Township [18th in 26:33], sophomore Aidan Brad from Williamstown [21st in 26:51], senior Tyler Greene from Ocean City [25th in 27:02], freshman Reid Gervasi from Haddonfield [32nd in 27:15], senior Cameron DiTtroia from Ocean City [33rd in 27:16], grad student Ian Mc Cauley from Haddon Township [38th in 27:26] and junior Anthony Faust from Bishop Eustace [39th in 27:27].

Also in the top 20 were Haddon Township graduate Jacob Dinerman, a Rutgers-Camden sophomore, 6th in 25:41, and Delran grad Anthony Guarino, a TCNJ junior, 19th in 26:39.

Stockton junior Daniel Culleny from Cedar Creek ran 27:25 for 37th, TCNJ junior Nate Kidwell, a junior from Washington Township, placed 45th in 27:45, and Stockton sophomore Patrick Storti from Cinnaminson and Stockton junior Tyler Wells from from Audubon were next, 46th in 27:48 and 47th in 28:03. Stockton also had seniors Dan Rodriguez from Egg Harbor Township [49th in 28:14] and Joseph Debeaumont from Highland [50th in 28:15] in the top 50.

Rowan was ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division 3 Metro Region going into this weekend’s meets after passing Haverford. Moravian was No. 1 in the region and scored a perfect 15 points to win the Landmark Conference meet at Union Canal Tunnel Park in North Lebanon Township, Pa.

The Profs will race in the NCAA Division 3 Metro Region Championships on Nov. 16 at Stockton University in Galloway Township.

The course was designed by The College of New Jersey assistant coach Mike Walker, a Rancocas Valley graduate. It was first used last fall for the Herb Lorenz Invitational, and this is the first time the NJAC meet has been held there.

Rowan – then Glassboro State – won the first three conference titles from 1961 through 1963, then won 17 in a row from 1974 through 1990. The Profs won their first two as Rowan in 1992 and 1993 and also won in 2017 before the current three-year streak.

In all, Rowan has won 26 conference titles and TCNJ has won 31. Those two programs have won the conference meet 57 of the 64 years, including 50 of the last 51.

Other schools that have won: Montclair State [1964, 1966, 1971, 1972], William Paterson [1970, 1973] and Ramapo [2019]

Here’s a look at all the NJAC winners over the years from South Jersey:

1962: Don Lang, Glasssboro State [Paulsboro]
1967: Dean Shonts, Trenton State [Northern Burlington]
1976: Jack Kruse, Glassboro State [Cherry Hill West]
1978: Jack Kruse, Glassboro State [Cherry Hill West]
1979: Jack Kruse, Glassboro State [Cherry Hill West]
1983: Bob Rimkis, Glassboro State [Washington Twp.]
1984: Ron Deckert, Glassboro State [Oakcrest]
1987: Rich Bostwick, Glassboro State [Vineland]
1988: Rich Bostwick, Glassboro State [Vineland]
1989: Rich Bostwick, Glassboro State [Vineland]
1990: Rex Myers, Glassboro State [Delran]
1991: John Schilling, Glassboro State [Pitman]
1992: Matt Martin, Rowan [Haddon Twp.]
1993: Rob Black, Rowan [Pitman]
1994: Jason Capelli, The College of New Jersey [Rancocas Valley]
1998: Mike Walker, The College of New Jersey [Rancocas Valley]
1999: Mike Walker, The College of New Jersey [Rancocas Valley]
2011: Robert Rawls, Rowan [Triton]
2013: Robert Rawls, Rowan [Triton]
2010: Abad Akhtar, Stockton [Atlantic City]
2018: Dan “Fitch” Henry, Rowan [Clearview]
2019: Robert Abrams, The College of New Jersey [Cherry Hill West]
2022: Justin Kelly, Rowan [Cherokee]
2024: Joshua Cason, Rowan [Camden County Vo-Tech / Sicklerville]

Here’s a look at the top-50 times from DREAM Park Saturday, including the four sectional races as well as the Bob Kiessling Invitational race.

Twenty of the 50 times come from Ocean City (6), Cherokee (5), Moorestown (5) and Paul VI (4).

The number in brackets on the far right is where the time ranks in the updated all-time DREAM Park top 50.

18:07.68 … *Madeline Meder [Cherokee], 1st, Group 4 [6th]
18:10.38 … *Macy Huber [Paul VI], 1st, Bob Kiessling [10th]
18:13.50 … *Riley Austin [Haddonfield], 1st, Group 2 [14th]
18:16.69 … Maeve Smith [Ocean City], 1st, Group 3 [17th]
18:20.25 … Megan Niglio [Cherokee], 2nd, Group 4 [21st]
18:21.46 … **Grace Gutowski [Paul VI], 2nd, Bob Kiessling [22nd]
18:22.47 … Sofia Day [Mainland Reg.], 2nd, Group 3 [23rd]
18:24.84 … *Laura Sallade [Wilberforce School], 3rd, Bob Kiessling [30th]
18:26.91 … Chloe Care [Ocean City], 3rd, Group 3 [35th]
18:34.89 … **Theresa Albertson [Eastern], 3rd, Group 4 [43rd]
18:35.08 … Kaysie Luna [Sterling], 2nd, Group 2 [44th]
18:37.89 … **Carly Godfrey [Ocean City], 4th, Group 3 [50th]
18:38.27 … Macie McCracken [Wildwood], 1st, Group 1
18:38.91 … ***Riley Tolson [Ocean City], 5th, Group 3
18:39.49 … *Julia Flanagan [Holy Cross], 4th, Bob Kiessling
18:42.46 … Nilaa Ponnappan [Camden Catholic], 5th, Bob Kiessling
18:43.86 … Jonalee Adames [Sterling], 3rd, Group 2
18:49.86 … *Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 4th, Group 4
18:52.48 … Gabrielle DeJoseph [Moorestown], 6th, Group 3
18:54.75 … Jordan Hadfield [Schalick], 2nd, Group 1
19:01.04 … **Ryleigh Budsock [Cherry Hill East], 5th, Group 4
19:03.10 … *Sophia Aldridge [Williamstown], 6th, Group 4
19:06.71 … ***Peyton Blake [Paul VI], 6th, Bob Kiessling
19:09.43 … Kaylee Russen [Washington Twp.], 7th, Group 4
19:12.29 … *Lilliana Stack Maya [Moorestown], 7th, Group 3
19:12.86 … Casey Collins [Southern Reg.], 8th, Group 4
19:13.18 … Juliana Sieminski [Delsea], 8th, Group 3
19:13.66 … *Paige Pacquing [Egg Harbor Twp.], 9th, Group 4
19:14.36 … Natalie Clauhs [Hammonton], 9th, Group 3
19:19.09 … Gabrielle Brown [Vineland], 10th, Group 4
19:19.57 … **Aubrey Bishop [Kingsway], 11th, Group 4
19:20.30 … Noelia Reyes [Moorestown], 10th, Group 3
19:21.07 … ***Hope Edwards [Moorestown], 11th, Group 3
19:22.40 … Cate Feudtner [Cherry Hill East], 12th, Group 4
19:22.89 … ***Erin Healy [Cherokee], 13th, Group 4
19:23.22 … *Maya Kumar [Cherokee], 14th, Group 4
19:23.90 … **Cecilia Foreman [Mainland Reg.], 12th, Group 3
19:25.84 … Adeline Edwards [The Wilberforce School], 7th, Bob Kiessling
19:27.38 … Grace Wojciechowski [Cherokee], 15th, Group 4
19:27.43 … Ava Millner [Winslow Twp.], 13th, Group 3
19:28.31 … **Audrey McCorkle [Lenape], 16th, Group 4
19:28.74 … Zoe Zammit [Ocean City], 14th, Group 3
19:29.15 … ***Morgan Kuzma [Paul VI], 8th, Bob Kiessling
19:29.19 … **Olivia Masucci [Vineland], 17th, Group 4
19:29.99 … *Devyn Per [Egg Harbor Twp.], 18th, Group 4
19:32.00 … Paige Cline [Shawn ee], 15th, Group 3
19:34.64 … ***Makayla Zell [Moorestown], 16th, Group 3
19:37.48 … Audrey Musmeci [Highland], 17th, Group 3
19:37.85 … **Lillian Flora [Ocean City], 18th, Group 3
19:38.78 … **Madison Kelsey [Haddonfield], 4th, Group 2

You’ll see an awful lot of Cherokee, Ocean City and Cherry Hill East on this list of the 50-fastest times from the five boys races held at DREAM Park in Logan Township Saturday.

Of these 50 times – including the four sectional races and the Bob Kiessling Invitational for parochial schools – 24 come from the Group 4 race, 16 from Group 3, six from Group 2, one from Group 1 and three from the former Knights of Columbus race.

You’ll find seven runners each from Cherokee, Ocean City and Cherry Hill East in here, which means those three schools accounted for 42 percent of the top 50 times on DREAM Park’s 5K course Saturday.

Haddonfield has four and Shawnee and Williamstown three apiece.

The number at the far right in brackets is where a mark lands in the updated DREAM Park all-time top 50.

15:26.54 … ***Jack Tindall [Cherokee]. 1st. Group 4 [11th]
15:27.94 … *Eric Preisner [Ocean City], 1st, Group 3 [12th]
15:30.18 … Brody Bogos [Cherry Hill East], 2nd, Group 4 [16th]
15:33.51 … Ethan Buck [Ocean City], 2nd, Group 3 [19th]
15:35.01 … **Keenan Neuman [Ocean City], 3rd, Group 3 [20th]
15:36.44 … Brandon Lyons [Cherry Hill East], 3rd, Group 4 [25th]
15:38.17 … *Ryan Gibson [Haddonfield], 1st, Group 2 [28th]
15:39.82 … Taysaun Wilson [Toms River North], 4th, Group 4 [31st]
15:40.28 … Liam Tindall [Cherokee], 5th, Group 4 [32nd]
15:41.58 … **Benjamin Realley [Cherokee], 6th, Group 4 [36th]
15:42.62 … Ty Blackman [Glassboro], 1st, Group 1 [39th]
15:43.37 … Kyle Robert Skiendzielewski [Southern Reg.], 7th, Group 4 [40th]
15:43.96 … Enzo Corona [Cherokee], 8th, Group 4 [42nd]
15:46.93 … Noah Stapleton [Shawnee], 4th, Group 3 [49th]
15:47.16 … *Benjamin Andrus [Haddonfield], 2nd, Group 2 [50th]
15:47.85 … Ryan Macom [Toms River East], 5th, Group 3
15:48.97 … Arjun Patel [Millville], 9th, Group 4
15:50.54 … *Matthew Littlehales [Delsea], 6th, Group 3
15:50.54 … *Will Nelson [Cherry Hill East], 10th, Group 4
15:51.80 … Mason Wassell [Highland], 7th, Group 3
15:51.98 … Alvin Lin [Cherry Hill East], 11th, Group 4
15:58.13 … Simon Bernhardt [Shawnee], 8th, Group 3
15:58.40 … Benjamin Weiner [Cherokee], 12th, Group 4
15:59.01 … Ethan Worst [Clearview], 9th, Group 3
15:59.03 … *Rex Takakjy [Cherry Hill West], 10th, Group 3
15:59.06 … **Nathan Aschmann [Ocean City], 11th, Group 3
15:59.88 … **Ryan Duffy [Kingsway], 13th, Group 4
16:01.03 … Sean Alemi [Paul VI], 1st, Bob Kiessling
16:01.21 … **Sean Sooy [Cherokee], 14th, Group 4
16:01.91 … *Dominic Burgio [Williamstown], 15th, Group 4
16:04.45 … **Michael Romano [Ocean Cxity], 12th, Group 3
16:05.06 … *Andrew Dopkin [Highland], 13th, Group 3
16:05.69 … *Sean Martino [Cedar Creek], 3rd, Group 2
16:05.93 … **Cian Sherlock [Cherry Hill East], 16th, Group 4
16:08.24 … **Aaron David Wyrsch [Southern Reg.], 17th, Group 4
16:08.71 … Zach Hutchinson [Ocean City], 14th, Group 3
16:09.69 … *Colin Moore [Cherry Hill East], 18th, Group 4
16:10.41 … Reggie Hernandez [Haddon Heights], 4th, Group 2
16:10.86 … Julian Rich [Sicklerville Tech], 15th, Group 3
16:13.47 … Case Hurly [Haddonfield], 5th, Group 2
16:16.69 … Dylan Saber [Williamstown], 19th, Group 4
16:18.29 … Melvin Lewis [Pleasantville], 6th, Group 2
16:22.19 … Garren Koovits [Toms River North], 20th, Group 4
16:23.71 … *Milo Poerner [Cherry Hill East], 2st, Group 4
16:23.85 … Caden Briggs [Paul VI], 2nd, Bob Kiessling
16:24.14 … *Logan Pavelik [Williamstown], 22nd, Group 4
16:25.36 … *Logan Bromley [Cherokee], 23rd, Group 4
16:25.37 … Connor Auge [Gloucester County Tech], 24th, Group 4
16:28.04 … *Yanni Ekatomatis [Shawnee], 16th, Group 3
16:28.59 … Isaac Linden [Moorestown Friends], 3rd, Bob Kiessling

Senior Sean Alemi and sophomore Caden Briggs finished 1-2 and Paul VI recorded the lowest winning score in 23 years Saturday at the Bob Kiessling Invitational at DREAM Park in Logan Township, formerly the Knights of Columbus Invitational.

Paul VI went 1-2-5-7-8 for 23 points, the lowest winning score since PVI scored 22 points in 2001. PVI set the meet record with a perfect 15 points in the initial meet in 1970 and again in 1987.

Paul VI has won the KoC / Kiessling race 24 times since the meet’s inception in 1970. There were several years in the 1990s where team scoring was not kept and other years where the meet wasn’t held.

Alemi won the race in 16:01 and Briggs ran 16:23 for 2nd. Sophomore Chase Cooley was 5th in 16:41, senior Christian Napoli 7th in 16:55 and freshman Trevor Del Borrello 8th in 17:06.

PVI won 23-53 over Camden Catholic, with Moorestown Friends edging Bishop Eustace 101-103 for 3rd place.

Moorestown Friends senior Isaac Linden ran 16:28 for 3rd place, Bishop Eustace senior Ethan Caprarola was 4th in 16:32, Camden Catholic senior Eric Lopez 6th in 16:44, Camden Catholic sophomore Brayden Magee 9th in 17:11 and Camden Catholic senior Sean Leahy 10th in 17:16.

Others who ran under 17:30: Paul VI sophomore Chris Monaghan [11th in 17:17], Paul VI senior Nick Salamone [12th in 17:18], Camden Catholic freshman Declan Walsh [13th in 17:19] and Bishop Eustace senior Desmond Carey [14th in 17:26].

The meet does not serve as a qualifier for states. Parochial Schools qualify automatically for the state Parochial A and B meets next weekend at Holmdel.

Junior Riley Austin won her 2nd straight individual title and sophomore Madison Kelsey and senior Katherine Asher also placed in the top 5, and the Haddonfield girls won their 32nd sectional title and 15th in a row Saturday at DREAM Park in Logan Township.

Despite not using several of its top runners, Haddonfield went 1-4-5-7-10-14-15 and outscored 2nd-place Sterling 26-55, with Seneca 3rd with 128 points.

Austin ran 18:13, Kelsey placed 4th in 19:37 and Asher 5th in 19:52. Elizabeth Pappas was 7th in 20:00 and Edith Green 10th in 20:21. Haddonfield’s 6th and 7th runners weren’t far behind, Caroline Barker 14th in 20:35 and Lauren Hamblin 15th in 20:44.

Haddonfield has swept the Group 2 individual and team titles 19 times in the last 26 years.

Sterling went 2-3 with seniors Kaysie Luna 2nd in 18:35 and Jonalee Adames 3rd in 18:43, and Gloucester senior Dejia Roberts [6th in 20:00], Collingswood junior Macie Straight [8th in 20:07], West Deptford sophomore Taylor Sierzega [12th in 20:28] and Sterling senior Isabella Patruno [13th in 20:30] were all also in the top 15.

Others under 22 minutes: Middle Township junior Olivia Orton [17th in 21:00], Salem County Vo-Tech senior Sarah Seiden [18th in 21:01], Cedar Creek senior Leah Denmead [19th in 21:14], Sterling senior Amber Wilsey [20th in 21:16], Gloucester senior Cameron Harris [21st in 21:24], Seneca junior Catherine Hodges [22nd in 21:30], Sterling freshman Riley Sharp [23rd in 21:32] and Haddon Heights senior Grace Duffy [24th in 21:43].

No school in New Jersey has won as many sectional titles as Haddonfield. Ridgewood is 2nd with 28.

Thomas became the seventh Haddonfield girl to win at least two consecutive South Jersey titles. Olympian Erin Donohue won four straight from 1997 through 2000 (the first two in Group 1, the second two in Group 2), Vanessa Wright won four straight from 2002 through 2005 and Olympian Marielle Hall followed with another four straight. Meghan Malloy won back-to-back races in 2011 and 2012 and Briana Gess won four in a row from 2013 through 2016. Finally, Sarah Natacchia won two in a row in 2019 and 2020.

Anna Earp won Group 2 in 2021, Ava Thomas in 2022 and Austin in 2023 and 2024, so that’s four straight for Haddonfield and 23 of the last 26 going back to 1999.

Haddonfield won its first sectional title in Group 1 in 1982 and also won Group 1 in 1985, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997 and 1998 and has won Group 2 in 1994, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

The Bulldogs swept the individual and team titles in 1999, 2003, 2005 through 2008, 2010 through 2016 and 2019 through 2024.

Junior Erik Preisner, senior Ethan Buck and sophomore Keenan Neuman swept the top three spots, all between 15:27 and 15:35, and Ocean City coasted to its 9th sectional title Saturday in Logan Township.

Preisner ran 15:27, Buck 15:33 and Neuman 15:35 and the Red Raiders coasted to a 29-72 win over Shawnee in the South Jersey Group 3 meet at DREAM Park.

This is the first time three runners from the same school have run 15:35 or faster in the same race at DREAM Park.

Ocean City, ranked 11th in New Jersey, became the first school in the meet’s 59-year history to record a 1-2-3 sweep in South Jersey Group 3.

The last 1-2-3 finish in any group at South Jersey sectionals was in 2013, when Haddon Township’s Luke Petela, Owen Long and Andrew Shaw took the top three spots in the Group 1 race at Delsea.

Sophomores Nathan Aschmann and Michael Romano placed 11th and 12th for the Red Raiders. Aschmann in 15:59 and Romano in 16:04.

Ocean City averaged 15:43.99, 2nd-fastest in course history behind the 15:42.17 that Cherokee recorded in the Group 4 race earlier in the day.

The four-fastest single-race team averages in course history were all recorded Saturday.

15:42.17 … Cherokee, 2024 South Jersey Group 4
15:43.99 … Ocean City, 2024 South Jersey Group 3
15:44.60 … Cherokee, 2024 Olympic Conference
15:47.01 … Cherry Hill East, 2024 South Jersey Group 4
15:48.06 … Cherokee, 2022 Group 4 Sectionals
15:52.43 … Haddonfield, 2021 Group 2 Sectionals
15:52.70 … Haddonfield, 2022 Group 2 Sectionals
15:54.96 … Cherokee, 2023 Group 4 Sectionals

Ocean City’s 6th runner, senior Zach Hutchinson, placed 14th in 16:08 and finished ahead of the 3rd runner from all 16 other schools (and ahead of the 2nd runner from 13 schools). Nevin Millstein ran 17:14 and was the top freshman in the race.

Top non-Ocean City runner was Shawnee senior Noah Stapleton, who ran 15:46 and placed 4th.

Also in the top 15 and locking up individual qualifiers for states were Delsea junior Matthew Littlehales [6th in 15:50], senior Highland Mason Wassell [7th in 15:51], Shawnee senior Simon Bernhardt [8th in 15:58], Clearview senior Ethan Worst [9th in 15:59], Cherry Hill West junior Rex Takakjy [10th in 15:59], Highland junior Andrew Dopkin [13th in 16:05] and Sicklerville Tech senior Julian Rich [15th in 16:10].

Also running under 17 minutes: Winslow Township junior Vincent Perri [17th in 16:31], Winslow Township senior Dominic Bassey [18th in 16:35], Shawnee senior Elias Knoll [19th in 16:36], Clearview Ryne Handley [23rd in 16:51], Highland senior Andrew Kellem [24th in 16:53], Shawnee senior Jake Steelman [25th in 16:57] and Highland sophomore Liam Murphy [26th in 16:59].

Ocean City has won nine sectional titles in the last 21 years – 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2018, 2019, 2023 and 2024.

But Preisner is Ocean City’s first individual winner since Miles Schoedler won his 2nd in a row in 2010. Other Ocean City winners: John Richardson in 2001 and 2002, John Pennekohl in 2006 and Brett Johnson in 2007 and 2008.

Junior Madeline Meder and senior Megan Niglio delivered Cherokee’s first 1-2 finish ever and carried the Chiefs to their 5th sectional title and 4th in the last five years.

Meder won the race in 18:07.69 – fastest of the day and 6th-fastest in course history –Niglio was 2nd in 18:20 and Cherokee won 45-80 over 2nd-place Cherry Hill East in the South Jersey Group 4 meet at DREAM Park in Logan Township.

Cherokee is ranked No. 4 in New Jersey. Cherry Hill East is No. 18.

Meder’s 18:07.69 is the fastest time any South Jersey girl has run on any course this fall and it’s her all-course PR. She ran 18:15.37 on the same course when she won the Olympic Conference title last week.

The last South Jersey girl to run faster on any course was Cherry Hill East’s Sarah Pierce, who won the 2016 South Jersey Group 4 race at Delsea in a hand-timed 18:05.

The last Cherokee girl to run faster was Megan Lacy, who ran sub-18 several times with a lifetime best of 17:35 at the 2010 Olympic Conference Championships at Gloucester County College in Deptford.

Meder and Niglio are the first teammates to run 1-2 in a South Jersey Group 4 race since 2009 with Lenape’s Natalie Ocasio and Caitlin Orr at Delsea.

After Meder and Niglio, Cherokee had a mini-pack with freshman Erin Healy, junior Maya Kumar and senior Grace Wojciechowski in 13th, 14th and 15th in 19:22, 19:23 and 19:27.

Sophomore Ginisa John and senior Emily Butler also raced for Cherokee, John taking 31st in 20:21 and Butler 35th in 20:38.

All seven Cherokee runners posted lifetime bests on DREAM Park’s 5K course.

Cherokee’ top five averaged 18:56.29, 5th-fastest team average in course history and 2nd-fastest on Saturday, behind Ocean City’s 18:41.83 in Group 3.

18:19.90 … Haddonfield, 2022 South Jersey Group 2
18:41.83 … Ocean City, 2024 South Jersey Group 3
18:51.74 … Haddonfield, 2021 South Jersey Group 2
18:53.19 … Clearview, 2022 South Jersey Group 3
18:56.29 … Cherokee, 2024 South Jersey Group 4

Eastern runners placed 3rd and 4th, with sophomore Theresa Albertson running 18:34 and junior Natalie Dumas 18:49.

Cherry Hill East was paced by sophomore Ryleigh Budsock, 5th in 19:01, and senior Cate Feudtner, 12th in 19:22.

Also in the top 15, guaranteeing a spot at states: Williamstown junior Sophia Aldridge [7th in 19:03], Washington Township senior Kaylee Russen [7th in 19:09], Egg Harbor junior Paige Pacquing [9th in 19:13], Vineland senior Gabrielle Brown [10th in 19:19] and Kingsway sophomore Aubrey Bishop [11th in 19:19].

Others under 20 minutes: Lenape sophomore Audrey McCorkle [16th ion 19:28], Vineland sophomore Olivia Masucci [17th in 19:29], Egg Harbor junior Devyn Per [18th in 19:29], Cherry Hill East junior Ella Davidson [19th in 19:43], Vineland senior Kylee Black [20th in 19:49], Cherry Hill East sophomore Gabriella Pizzo [21st in 19:50], Kingsway senior Alaina Zabielski [22nd in 19:54] and Cherry Hill East freshman Emmie Wang [23rd in 19:56].

Cherokee won its first sectional title in 2003 and has won in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024.

Previous Cherokee individual winners at sectionals are Lisa Burkholder in 2003 and Lacy in 2010 and 2011.

Another year, another sectional title.

The Haddonfield boys, ranked 2nd in New Jersey, rolled to their 21st consecutive South Jersey Group 2 title Saturday and scored fewer than 30 points for the 13th time.

Ryan Gibson and Benjamin Andrus finished 1-2 – both under 15:50 – and Case Hurly and Michael Sinnes also placed in the top seven as Haddonfield scored 27 points at DREAM Park in Logan Township.

Even with Luke Andresen, Bennett Wright and Peter Simpson sitting this one out, Haddonfield averaged 16:11.50 for its five scorers.

Haddonfield outscored 2nd-place Haddon Heights 27-80 with Cedar Creek a close 3rd with 86.

Gibson won the race in 15:38, becoming the Bulldogs’ 21st individual champion, and Andrus ran 15:47 for 2nd.

Hurly was 5th in 16:13, Sinnes 7th in 16:34 and Linus Kucer 12th in 16:44. They were backed up by Leonardo DiCello [14th in 16:47] and John Leibrandt [18th in 16:59].

Second-place Haddon Heights was led by Reggie Hernandez in 4th with a 16:10 and Zaccheaus Harrigan in 8th in 16:36.

Also in the top 15 and earning a trip to states (if their team doesn’t qualify): Cedar Creek Sean Martino [3rd in 16:05], Pleasantville Melvin Lewis [6th in 16:18], Cedar Creek Vincenzo Vecchio [9th in 16:36], Middle Township Jamar Mack [10th in 16:41], Cedar Creek Ryan McCann [11th in 16:43], West Depford Lane McClintock [13th in 16:46], Haddon Heights Owen James [15th in 16:49].

Others under 17:30 were Gloucester Marcus Flagg [16th in 16:53], Gloucester Vincent Kelly [17th in 16:55], Medford Tech Luke Damato [19th in 17:08], Collingswood Graham Reynolds [20th in 17:19], Seneca Dominic Lera [21st in 17:24] and West Deptford Gavin Yoder [22nd in 17:25].

Haddonfield won four straight titles from 1999 through 2002, then lost to the Jon Anderson-led Cinnaminson team in 2003 before now winning 21 straight.

In all, the Bulldogs have won a state-record 42 sectional titles – 1967 in Group 3, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1997 and 1998 in Group 1, then in Group 2, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and the current 21 in a row.

Other Haddonfield sectional champs: Bob Peterson in 1967, Jim Smith in 1977, 1978 and 1979, Eric Bonnette in 1995 and 1996, Chris Platt in 2000, 2001 and 2002, Mike Burke in 2004, Jonathan Vitez in 2007, 2008 and 2009, Ben Potts in 2010, Greg Pelose in 2015, Martin Riddell in 2017, 2018 and 2019, Seth Clevenger in 2021 and George Andrus in 2022.

Lowest scores in South Jersey sectional history
16 … Haddonfield, 2008 [Group 2]
17 … Haddon Township, 1971 [Group 2]
20 … Pennsville, 2006 [Group 1]
20 … Haddonfield, 2010 [Group 2]
20 … Haddonfield, 2018 [Group 2]
21 … Haddonfield, 2009 [Group 2]
21 … Haddon Township, 2011 [Group 1]
22 … Haddonfield, 2023 [Group 2]
23 … Highland, 1989 [Group 3]
23 … Haddonfield, 2013 [Group 2]
23 … Ocean City, 2018 [Group 3]
23 … Haddonfield, 2019 [Group 2]
25 … Mainland Regional, 2003 [Group 4]
25 … Ocean City, 2019 [Group 3]
26 … Clearview, 1965 [Group 2]
26 … Burlington Twp., 1966 [Group 1]
26 … Haddonfield, 2014 [Group 2]
26 … Kingsway, 2017 [Group 4]
27 … Burlington Twp., 1967 [Group 1]
27 … Overbrook, 1968 [Group 2]
27 … Haddon Township, 1988 [Group 1]
27 … Highland, 1988 [Group 3]
27 … Haddonfield, 2001 [Group 2]
27 … Haddonfield, 2015 [Group 2]
27 … Haddonfeld, 2024 [Group 2]
28 … Haddonfield, 2021 [Group 2]
28 … Haddon Township, 2010 [Group 1]
28 … Haddon Township, 2012 [Group 1]
28 … Haddon Township, 2014 [Group 1]
29 … Burlington Twp., 1967 [Group 1]
29 … Williamstown, 1971 [Group 1]
29 … Cinnaminson, 2003 [Group 2]

Freshman Jack Tindall ran the fastest time on any course by a New Jersey freshman in at least 25 years (and probably ever), and Cherokee won its 6th straight South Jersey Group 4 title and 14th overall Saturday with the fastest single-race time in DREAM Park history.

Tindall won the race in 15:26 and Cherokee topped Cherry Hill East 32-42 in a battle of New Jersey’s 5th- and 6th-ranked teams.

Cherry Hill East went 2-3 with seniors Brody Bogos and Brandon Lyons, but Cherokee put its next three before East’s third runner – senior Liam Tindall [5th in 15:40], sophomore Benjamin Realley [6th in 15:41] and senior Enzo Corona [8th in 15:43]. Senior Benjamin Weiner and sophomore Sean Sooy placed 12th and 14th for the Chiefs in 15:58 and 16:01.

Cherokee averaged 15:42.17, breaking its own single-race course record of 15:44.60 that they set at the Olympic Conference Championships earlier this month.

For Cherry Hill East after Bogos and Lyons, junior Will Nelson placed 10th in 15:50, junior Alvin Lin 11th in 15:51 and sophomore Cian Sherlock 16th in 16:05.

Cherry Hill East averaged 15:47.01, 3rd-fastest in course history behind only Cherokee’s two performances this year.

Tindall broke his own freshman course record of 15:32.50 set at the Olympic Conference meet. His 15:26 is the fastest time by a New Jersey freshman on any course on record. The MileSplit database goes back to 2000.

Cherokee and Cherry Hill East runners took 14 of the first 23 spots in the race.

Also in the top 15 and headed to states are Millville senior Arjun Patel [9th in 15:48], Kingsway sophomore Ryan Duffy [13th in 15:59] and Williamstown junior Dominic Burgio [15th in 16:01].

Cherokee won its first sectional title in 1988 and has since won championships in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Cherokee’s six straight sectional titles is the 3rd-longest streak in South Jersey sectional history. Haddonfield has won 21 in a row in Group 2, and Haddon Township won seven straight in Group 1 from 2008 through 2015. Haddonfield also won six straight in Group 1 from 1982 through 1987.

Since 1997, Cherokee has won 13 of 28 Group 4 titles.

Ocean City senior Maeve Smith edged Mainland Regional senior Sofia Day for the 2nd straight year, and the Ocean City girls placed four runners in the top five to win their 13th sectional title at the Group 3 sectionals at DREAM Park in Logan Township.

Smith ran 18:16 and Day 18:22 in the latest showdown between two of New Jersey’s top runners.

Smith becomes Ocean City’s first repeat champion since Brittany Sedberry won three straight from 2002 through 2004.

Ocean City – ranked 2nd in New Jersey and 1st among public schools – had four runners under 18:40 and averaged 18:41.83, 2nd-fastest in course history behind Haddonfield’s 18:19.90 at 2022 Group 2 sectionals. Haddonfield has yet to race Saturday.

Senior Chloe Care placed 3rd in 18:26, sophomore Carly Godfrey 4th in 18:37, freshman Riley Tolson 5th in 18:38 and senior Zoe Zammit 14th in 19:28 for the Red Raiders.

Care, Godfrey, Tolson and Zammit all ran lifetime 5K all-course bests.

Ocean City scored 27 points, and Moorestown packed five in 34 seconds and took 2nd with 50 points.

Senior Gabrielle DeJoseph and junior Lilliana Stack Maya placed 6th and 7th for the Quakers in 18:52 and 19:12.

Also in the top 15 and advancing to states (if their teams don’t qualify) are Delsea senior Juliana Sieminski [8th in 19:13], senior Hammonton Natalie Clauhs [9th in 19:14], Moorestown senior Noelia Reyes [10th in 19:20], Moorestown freshman Hope Edwards [11th in 19:21], Mainland sophomore Ceclia Foreman [12th in 19:23], Winslow senior Ava Millner [13th in 19:27] and Shawnee senior Paige Cline [15th in 19:32].

Others under 20 minutes: Moorestown freshman Makayla Zell [16th in 19:34], Highland senior Audrey Musmeci [17th in 19:37], Ocean City sophomore Lillian Flora [18th in 19:37], Clearview senior Lilla Porter [19th in 19:39], Highland junior Lyana Gutierrez [20th in 19:47], Moorestown junior Celia Frederico [21st in 19:50] and Delsea senior Laney Vecchio [22nd in 19:55].

Ocean City also won South Jersey Group 3 titles in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 2003, 2004, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2023.

The only New Jersey schools with more sectional championships are Ridgewood [28], Northern Highlands [16], Haddonfield [23] and Shawnee [15].

Previous Ocean City individual winners include Melody Sye in 1982, Mary Jo Dougherty in 1986 and 1987, Kelly Dougherty in 1988, Megan Hartman in 1992 and 1993, Abbey Hartman in 1995, Sedberry from 2002 through 2004, Bridget Flynn in 2013, Devin Grisbaum in 2014 and Alexa Palmieri in 2018.