Klanke Leads St. Peters, St. Dom Academy Wins At SDA Invite


Full Results | Team Results

Edwin Klanke, one of the top runners in the state, led a St. Peter's Prep pack that made a huge statement with a dominating performance at Saturday's St. Domimic Academy Invitational at Lincoln Park in Jersey City. 

The UPenn-bound Klanke, the Hudson County champ and State Non-Public A runner-up last year, crossed the line first in the boys race in 15:21 to spark a 1-2-3-4-7 finish for the NJ No. 5 ranked Marauders. St. Peter's averaged 15:48, and had a 1-5 split of 1:05 as they blitzed the competition with a 17-98 victory over runner-up St. Rose.

St. Peter's top five runners, all seniors, were Klanke, Rodolfo Sanchez, second in 15:29, Ethan Blackwelder, third in 15:37, Jack Sipperly, fourth in 16:11, and Jack Glynn, seventh in 16:23. 

Runner-up St. Rose received a sensational race from sophomore Brian Theobald, who ran 16:13 to grab fifth place.


Tilly O'Connor racing at Ocean County Park in 2019.

In the girls race, St. Dominic Academy repeated as team champion and sophomore star Tilly O'Connor of St. Rose ran away with the individual title in 18:28.

SDA averaged 20:33, and put six runners ahead of Governor Livingston's No. 3 runner, and its seven in front of GL's No. 4 to lock up a 31-64 victory. St. Dominic, which went 3-5-6-8-9, was led by defending individual champ Kayla Sullivan, third in 19:39, five seconds faster than her winning time a year ago.

The remainder of St. Dominic's top five were Milani Bethel, seventh in 20:15, Charlotte Hennessey, eighth in  in 20:25, Caroline O'Donnell, 10th in 21:08, and Tea Baramidze, 11th in 21:20.58.

Individually, O'Connor controlled the girls race as she finished more than a minute ahead of senior Caroline Mondelli of GL, second in 19:31. O'Connor is coming off a fantastic freshman campaign, highlighted by a  fifth-place finish at the Monmouth County Championships at Holmdel Park (19:18), and an eighth-place finish at the Shore Conference meet  at Ocean County Park (a PR of 18:20).

Another highlight was provided by promising freshman Samantha Richter of GL, who ran a strong fourth in 20:03.