Sectionals - South Jersey Highlights

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A quick look at the advancing teams and athletes as well as a recap of the title winning performances. 

Fastest times of the meet

Boys
Luke Petela of Haddon Twp won the Group 1 race with a meet leading time of 15:29.

Girls
Epiphany Grisbaum of Ocean City won the Group 3 race with a meet leading time of 18:00. 

Boys Team Average
The Cherry Hill East boys ran an average of 16:04 to win the Group 4 Section with 41 points.

Girls Team Average
The Shawnee girls ran an average of 19:31 to win the Group 4 Section with 52 points. 


Luke Petela kicking in the fastest time of the meet. / Photo by RunningWorksPics

Boys

Luke Petela of Haddon Twp wins his second straight Group 1 South Section title with a time of 15:29! He keeps the streak going for Haddon Twp individual titles dating back to 2009 when Jacob Walter won with a 16:51, six straight years! That's not the only streak either, Haddon Twp won this meet with 28 points their 7th straight sectional team title and 8th overall! 

Top 5 Teams Advancing

Place Team Points Scorers Times
1 Haddon Twp HS 28 1+2+5+7+13 (34+51) 1:37 1-5 Split | 16:24 Avg
2 A P Schalick HS 71 6+9+12+17+27 (29+41) 0:51 1-5 Split | 17:03 Avg
3 Pennsville HS 84 11+16+18+19+20 (30+48) 0:24 1-5 Split | 17:11 Avg
4 Haddon Hts. HS 118 3+22+24+25+44 (60+64) 2:15 1-5 Split | 17:31 Avg
5 Maple Shade HS 156 4+14+39+45+54 (56+57) 2:30 1-5 Split | 18:02 Avg
 

Top 10 Individuals Advancing

 
Place Athlete   Team Result Points
1 Petela, Luke 12 Haddon Twp HS 15:29.80 1
2 Long, Owen 11 Haddon Twp HS 15:58.98 2
3 Gandolfo-Lucia, Chris 12 Haddon Hts. HS 16:27.61 3
4 Young, Matthew 12 Maple Shade HS 16:39.19 4
5 Tanier, Mikey 12 Haddon Twp HS 16:39.50 5
6 Mercoli, Samuel 12 A P Schalick HS 16:43.11 6
7 Ladd, Randy 11 Haddon Twp HS 16:45.75 7
8 Ungvarsky, Michael 10 Cinnaminson HS 16:47.56 8
9 Pirozzi, Cosmo 11 A P Schalick HS 16:49.55 9
10 Gentek, Trevor 12 Wildwood HS 16:51.87 10


Annika Merkh winning the South Group 1 Race. / Photo by RunningWorksPics

Girls

Annika Merkh of Haddon Twp improves upon her 2013 fourth place performance by becoming her section's individual champion! She ran a time of 19:53 and led her team to their ninth sectional title and fourth in the last eight years, Pitman who took second has the other four!  

Top 5 Teams Advancing

Place Team Points Scorers Times
1 Haddon Twp HS 44 1+4+12+13+14 (16+18) 1:58 1-5 Split | 21:07 Avg
2 Pitman HS 51 2+7+8+10+24 (29+40) 3:07 1-5 Split | 21:20 Avg
3 Cinnaminson HS 61 3+9+11+17+21 (22+26) 2:43 1-5 Split | 21:35 Avg
4 Woodstown HS 121 6+25+27+30+33 (49+50) 3:24 1-5 Split | 23:09 Avg
5 Maple Shade HS 134 15+19+20+39+41 3:01 1-5 Split | 23:19 Avg

Top 10 Individuals Advancing

Place Athlete   Team Result Points
1 Merkh, Annika 10 Haddon Twp HS 19:53.66 1
2 Vendetta, Hannah 12 Pitman HS 19:55.98 2
3 Adams, Haley 9 Cinnaminson HS 19:56.81 3
4 Grimm, Nora 10 Haddon Twp HS 20:10.17 4
5 Gerstenbacher, Olivia 10 A P Schalick HS 20:41.23 5
6 Gallatig, Isabel 10 Woodstown HS 20:45.83 6
7 Meighan, Sarah 12 Pitman HS 20:46.45 7
8 Catlin, Courtney 11 Pennsville HS 20:48.55 --
9 Davenport, Elise 10 Salem HS 20:51.06 --
10 Sanders, Alyssa 10 Pitman HS 21:15.04 8
 


Sean MacPherson winning South Group 2. / Photo by RunningWorksPics

Boys

Sean MacPherson won his second straight Group 2 South title with a time of 15:44, way ahead of the rest of the field. He is the third straight individual title winner for Sterling, Jimmy Daniels won in 2012 with a time of 15:37. 

Haddonfield Memorial stole the show in the team standings with a 26 point win and a 16:19 average! This is the 11th straight sectional title for the haddonfield boys and their 21st overall! They have won 15 of the last 16 sectional titles dating back to 1999!! 

Top 5 Teams Advancing

Place Team Points Scorers Times
1 Haddonfield Mem. HS 26 2+3+4+6+11 (12) 0:43 1-5 Split | 16:19 Avg
2 Middle Twp. HS 79 5+13+14+21+26 (39+65) 1:21 1-5 Split | 17:05 Avg
3 Pleasantville HS 103 10+17+19+20+37 (57) 1:20 1-5 Split | 17:18 Avg
4 West Deptford HS 123 9+15+18+40+41 (47+75) 1:33 1-5 Split | 17:32 Avg
5 Sterling HS 131 1+24+28+36+42 (54+67) 2:37 1-5 Split | 17:31 Avg

Top 10 Individuals Advancing

Place Athlete   Team Result Points
1 Macpherson, Sean 12 Sterling HS 15:44.17 1
2 Evans, Chad 12 Haddonfield Mem. HS 16:07.46 2
3 Pelose, Greg 11 Haddonfield Mem. HS 16:07.90 3
4 Brennan, Danny 12 Haddonfield Mem. HS 16:11.66 4
5 Herlihy, Ryan 12 Middle Twp. HS 16:19.85 5
6 Goings, Chris 12 Haddonfield Mem. HS 16:20.11 6
7 Sennett, Andrew 12 Gateway/Woodbury 16:39.37 7
8 Rivera, Nicholas 12 Camden HS 16:44.50 8
9 Wileczek, Mitchel 11 West Deptford HS 16:47.54 9
10 Aracena, Giovanni   Pleasantville HS 16:48.99 10


Briana Gess winning the South Group 2 Race. / Photo by RunningWorksPics

Girls

Briana Gess posted an 18:06 for her second straight sectional title, she ran 18:05 last year. All alone as well finishing a whole minute and 13 seconds ahead of the rest of the field! In 2013 she went undefeated straight through MOCs and she is looking like she is in prime condition to attempt the feat again, we'll find out as the competition becomes tougher each weekend from here on to the finish!

She received the one card for a Haddonfield squad who has now won five straight sectional titles with the 2014 title coming in the form of 34 points and a 19:36 average! Their 10th in the last 12 years and 21st overall.  

Top 5 Teams Advancing

Place Team Points Scorers Times
1 Haddonfield Mem. HS 34 1+3+9+10+11 (12+20) 2:05 1-5 Split | 19:36 Avg
2 Pinelands Reg. HS 92 2+7+8+15+60 (61+74) 7:11 1-5 Split | 21:22 Avg
3 Buena Reg. HS 98 5+14+24+27+28 (42+52) 3:33 1-5 Split | 22:04 Avg
4 Delran HS 100 4+13+21+25+37 (38+47) 4:08 1-5 Split | 22:01 Avg
5 Deptford HS 114 16+17+18+30+33 (68) 1:54 1-5 Split | 22:28 Avg

Top 10 Individuals Advancing

Place Athlete   Team Result Points
1 Gess, Briana 10 Haddonfield Mem. HS 18:06.21 1
2 Zodl, Lauren 12 Pinelands Reg. HS 19:19.20 2
3 Gostovich, Alexa 10 Haddonfield Mem. HS 19:35.48 3
4 Tattory, Maddy 12 Delran HS 19:38.00 4
5 Siegle, Kristin 11 Buena Reg. HS 19:42.12 5
6 Coppolino, Madison   Sterling HS 19:47.97 6
7 Schriever, Gillian 12 Pinelands Reg. HS 19:49.58 7
8 Chinery, Katherine 11 Manchester Twp HS 19:50.38 --
9 Roth, Emily 10 Pinelands Reg. HS 19:53.19 8
10 Peifer, Olivia 12 Haddonfield Mem. HS 19:58.20 9


Dominick Munson winning the Group 3 South Sectional. / Photo by RunningWorksPics

Boys

Dominick Munson brings Timber Creek their first Group 3 South Sectional individual title! He won with a 15:55, his best ever finish at the meet!

Highland Regional won their second straight title with 43 points and an average of 16:40. They were led by Joshua Clark in second with 16:08. Their 7th all time team sectional title.

Top 5 Teams Advancing

Place Team Points Scorers Times
1 Highland Reg HS 43 2+4+9+11+17 (43+50) 0:58 1-5 Split | 16:40 Avg
2 Ocean City HS 61 5+12+13+15+16 (32+48) 0:39 1-5 Split | 16:55 Avg
3 Delsea Reg. HS 108 3+22+26+27+30 (38+58) 1:14 1-5 Split | 17:12 Avg
4 Moorestown HS 131 8+20+33+34+36 (70+92) 1:01 1-5 Split | 17:24 Avg
5 Mainland Reg.HS 146 6+24+28+39+49 (55+71) 1:36 1-5 Split | 17:31 Avg

Top 10 Individuals Advancing

Place Athlete   Team Result Points
1 Munson, Dominick 12 Timber Creek Reg. HS 15:55.91 1
2 Clark, Joshua 11 Highland Reg HS 16:08.79 2
3 Branco, Justin 12 Delsea Reg. HS 16:16.49 3
4 Carroll, Ryan 12 Highland Reg HS 16:27.55 4
5 Hadtke, Brandon 12 Ocean City HS 16:27.88 5
6 Heim, Earl Richard 11 Mainland Reg.HS 16:35.35 6
7 D'Amico, Joe 12 Central Reg HS 16:36.45 7
8 Fox, Kevin 10 Moorestown HS 16:42.77 8
9 Figueroa, Jose 11 Highland Reg HS 16:43.79 9
10 Sherry, Scott 11 Cherry Hill West HS 16:44.38 10


Epiphany Grisbaum of Ocean City ran the fastest time of the meet for girls at the South Sectionals. / Photo by RunningWorksPics

Girls

Epiphany Grisbaum of Ocean City, who is heading to Vanderbilt University next fall, won her first career cross country sectional title with a time of 18:00, 37 second faster than her 2013 performance! Her team would finish second and advances to Groups as well!

On the team side Seneca took their fifth all time team sectional title led by freshman Sydny Warner who placed 6th with a time of 19:21. The girls posted 51 points with a 53 second split between their one and five. Pack! Pack! Pack!

Top 5 Teams Advancing

Place Team Points Scorers Times
1 Seneca HS 51 5+8+10+13+15 (19+26) 0:53 1-5 Split | 19:51 Avg
2 Ocean City HS 78 1+11+16+22+28 (30+40) 3:10 1-5 Split | 20:04 Avg
3 Moorestown HS 87 4+9+17+21+36 (37+38) 2:32 1-5 Split | 20:23 Avg
4 Mainland Reg.HS 103 2+18+24+27+32 (48+49) 2:41 1-5 Split | 20:35 Avg
5 Lacey Twp. HS 132 3+23+29+34+43 (74) 3:10 1-5 Split | 21:02 Avg

Top 10 Individuals Advancing

Place Athlete   Team Result Points
1 Grisbaum, Epiphany 12 Ocean City HS 18:00.72 1
2 Aldridge, Alyssa 9 Mainland Reg.HS 18:48.46 2
3 Gauthier, Abby 12 Lacey Twp. HS 19:10.60 3
4 Vuocolo, Alexsus 11 Toms River South HS 19:15.70 --
5 Cickavage, Genevieve 11 Moorestown HS 19:17.97 4
6 Warner, Sydny 9 Seneca HS 19:21.03 5
7 Condell, Alyssa 10 Timber Creek Reg. HS 19:27.13 6
8 Rauscher, Katie 10 Delsea Reg. HS 19:27.52 7
9 Webb, Joey 11 Seneca HS 19:42.31 8
10 Thornton, Tara 9 Moorestown HS 19:43.57 9


Noah Culbreath leading the way. / Photo by RunningWorksPics

Boys

Noah Culbreath of Kingsway held off the talented Aaron Groff of Cherry Hill East to win his second straight sectional title running 15:41. Kingsway finished second as a team with 69 points. 

Cherry Hill East took first as a team lead by Aaron Groff's second place 15:42 run. Their second straight and 5th title overall!

Top 5 Teams Advancing

Place Team Points Scorers Times
1 Cherry Hill East HS 41 2+5+7+10+17 (23+29) 0:46 1-5 Split | 16:04 Avg
2 Kingsway HS 69 1+11+12+20+25 (26+43) 1:07 1-5 Split | 16:17 Avg
3 Cherokee HS 127 8+14+22+35+48 (76+77) 1:19 1-5 Split | 16:39 Avg
4 Eastern Reg. HS 165 6+21+36+37+65 (87+113) 1:45 1-5 Split | 16:55 Avg
5 Southern Reg. HS 188 27+30+39+42+50 (60+69) 0:29 1-5 Split | 17:09 Avg

Top 10 Individuals Advancing

Place Athlete   Team Result Points
1 Culbreath, Noah 12 Kingsway HS 15:41.90 1
2 Groff, Aaron 11 Cherry Hill East HS 15:42.69 2
3 Rafferty, Ryan 11 Jackson Memorial HS 15:53.52 3
4 Del Conte, Vincent 12 Egg Harbor Twp HS 15:55.66 4
5 Helfand, Dan 12 Cherry Hill East HS 15:59.27 5
6 Pschunder, Nicholas 11 Eastern Reg. HS 15:59.63 6
7 Mele, Christian 12 Cherry Hill East HS 16:00.00 7
8 Falk, Nick 10 Cherokee HS 16:00.41 8
9 Flavin, John 11 Toms River North HS 16:06.65 9
10 Dillon, Josh 10 Cherry Hill East HS 16:09.27 10


Nina Bendixen of Shawnee winning the South Group 4 Race. / Photo by RunningWorksPics

Girls

With the third fastest time of the meet at 18:45 Nina Bendixen of Shawnee won her first ever sectional title! Her victory was put to good use as well with the Shawnee girls winning their 16th all time sectional title! The girls posted 52 points with a 19:31 team average. This was also their second straight title, winning in 2013 with 47 points. 

Top 5 Teams Advancing

Place Team Points Scorers Times
1 Shawnee HS 52 1+5+10+14+22 (31+32) 1:38 1-5 Split | 19:31 Avg
2 Clearview Reg. HS 81 2+6+12+24+37 (47+51) 2:01 1-5 Split | 19:51 Avg
3 Toms River North HS 98 11+13+17+27+30 (36+46) 1:04 1-5 Split | 20:10 Avg
4 Southern Reg. HS 121 3+18+20+21+59 (63+68) 2:47 1-5 Split | 20:18 Avg
5 Jackson Memorial HS 144 4+29+33+35+43 (49+56) 2:14 1-5 Split | 20:31 Avg

Top 10 Individuals Advancing

Place Athlete   Team Result Points
1 Bendixen, Nina 12 Shawnee HS 18:45.13 1
2 Rothstein, Julia 9 Clearview Reg. HS 18:58.52 2
3 Mooney, Kaitlyn 11 Southern Reg. HS 18:58.75 3
4 O'Brien, Caitlin 11 Jackson Memorial HS 18:59.88 4
5 Arena, Morgan 12 Shawnee HS 19:02.46 5
6 Donahue, Kaitlin 10 Clearview Reg. HS 19:03.01 6
7 Lee, Monica 12 Cherry Hill East HS 19:12.03 7
8 Stanford, Destiny 10 Kingsway HS 19:19.84 8
9 Vick, Rachel 10 Kingsway HS 19:28.11 9
10 Bonner, Kara 10 Shawnee HS 19:32.94 10

Below are the performances entered for the meet that met the national silver standard.

HS Girls
5,000 Meter Run 18:00.72 Epiphany Grisbaum Ocean City HS
5,000 Meter Run 18:06.21 Briana Gess Haddonfield Mem. HS
5,000 Meter Run 18:45.13 Nina Bendixen Shawnee HS
5,000 Meter Run 18:48.46 Alyssa Aldridge Mainland Reg.HS
5,000 Meter Run 18:58.52 Julia Rothstein Clearview Reg. HS
5,000 Meter Run 18:58.75 Kaitlyn Mooney Southern Reg. HS
5,000 Meter Run 18:59.88 Caitlin O'Brien Jackson Memorial HS
5,000 Meter Run 19:02.46 Morgan Arena Shawnee HS
5,000 Meter Run 19:03.01 Kaitlin Donahue Clearview Reg. HS
5,000 Meter Run 19:10.60 Abby Gauthier Lacey Twp. HS
5,000 Meter Run 19:12.03 Monica Lee Cherry Hill East HS
5,000 Meter Run 19:15.70 Alexsus Vuocolo Toms River South HS
5,000 Meter Run 19:17.97 Genevieve Cickavage Moorestown HS
5,000 Meter Run 19:19.20 Lauren Zodl Pinelands Reg. HS
5,000 Meter Run 19:19.84 Destiny Stanford Kingsway HS
5,000 Meter Run 19:21.03 Sydny Warner Seneca HS
5,000 Meter Run 19:27.13 Alyssa Condell Timber Creek Reg. HS
5,000 Meter Run 19:27.52 Katie Rauscher Delsea Reg. HS
5,000 Meter Run 19:28.11 Rachel Vick Kingsway HS
5,000 Meter Run 19:32.94 Kara Bonner Shawnee HS
5,000 Meter Run 19:35.48 Alexa Gostovich Haddonfield Mem. HS
5,000 Meter Run 19:38.00 Maddy Tattory Delran HS
5,000 Meter Run 19:38.07 Madyson Reilly Toms River North HS
5,000 Meter Run 19:40.51 Emily Schaeffer Clearview Reg. HS
5,000 Meter Run 19:42.12 Kristin Siegle Buena Reg. HS
5,000 Meter Run 19:42.31 Joey Webb Seneca HS
5,000 Meter Run 19:43.57 Tara Thornton Moorestown HS
5,000 Meter Run 19:44.84 Chelsea Smith Toms River South HS
HS Boys
5,000 Meter Run 15:29.80 Luke Petela Haddon Twp HS
5,000 Meter Run 15:41.90 Noah Culbreath Kingsway HS
5,000 Meter Run 15:42.69 Aaron Groff Cherry Hill East HS
5,000 Meter Run 15:44.17 Sean Macpherson Sterling HS
5,000 Meter Run 15:53.52 Ryan Rafferty Jackson Memorial HS
5,000 Meter Run 15:55.66 Vincent Del Conte Egg Harbor Twp HS
5,000 Meter Run 15:55.91 Dominick Munson Timber Creek Reg. HS
5,000 Meter Run 15:58.98 Owen Long Haddon Twp HS
5,000 Meter Run 15:59.27 Dan Helfand Cherry Hill East HS
5,000 Meter Run 15:59.63 Nicholas Pschunder Eastern Reg. HS
5,000 Meter Run 16:00.00 Christian Mele Cherry Hill East HS
5,000 Meter Run 16:00.41 Nick Falk Cherokee HS
5,000 Meter Run 16:06.65 John Flavin Toms River North HS
5,000 Meter Run 16:07.46 Chad Evans Haddonfield Mem. HS
5,000 Meter Run 16:07.90 Greg Pelose Haddonfield Mem. HS
5,000 Meter Run 16:08.79 Joshua Clark Highland Reg HS
5,000 Meter Run 16:09.27 Josh Dillon Cherry Hill East HS
5,000 Meter Run 16:10.07 Myles Boerlin Kingsway HS
5,000 Meter Run 16:11.20 Kyle Evernham Kingsway HS
5,000 Meter Run 16:11.66 Danny Brennan Haddonfield Mem. HS
5,000 Meter Run 16:11.95 Joshua Laprise Toms River East HS
5,000 Meter Run 16:13.65 Jack Shea Cherokee HS
5,000 Meter Run 16:16.49 Justin Branco Delsea Reg. HS
5,000 Meter Run 16:19.15 Nathan Shivers Clearview Reg. HS
5,000 Meter Run 16:19.85 Ryan Herlihy Middle Twp. HS
5,000 Meter Run 16:20.11 Chris Goings Haddonfield Mem. HS
5,000 Meter Run 16:27.43 Matt Zubrzycki Lenape Reg. HS
5,000 Meter Run 16:27.55 Ryan Carroll Highland Reg HS
5,000 Meter Run 16:27.61 Chris Gandolfo-Lucia Haddon Hts. HS
5,000 Meter Run 16:27.88 Brandon Hadtke Ocean City HS
5,000 Meter Run 16:28.91 Is Jean-baptiste Cherry Hill East HS

59 National Elites. 59 Elites.