Haddonfield Memorial and Christian Brothers Academy, two of the most storied XC programs in NJ history, added to their rich legacy of unmatched dominance when the perennial powerhouses opened their seasons in historic fashion by extending their remarkable dual meet winning streaks on Tuesday.
Nick Baker, Haddonfield's iconic coach since 1982, led his pack of Dawgs to 4 wins at a Colonial Conference batch match meet at Pennypacker Park in Haddonfield to raise Haddonfield's dual meet streak to 245 in a row! That broke the South Jersey boys XC record of 244 that Paul VI of Haddonfield built from 1980-2007.
Haddonfield, which began its streak in 1997, defeated Gateway, Collingswood, Lindenwold, and West Deptford as Baker improved his dual meet record to an astounding 369-16.
Senior Liam Dougherty led the charge for Haddonfield with a winning time of 16:51 as the Dawgs had 15 of the top 19 finishers and posted a 5-man average of 16:59. Full results are here.
Haddonfield's 245 straight dual wins moves the Dawgs up to No. 2 on NJ's all-time boys XC dual meet winning streak list and No. 6 in U.S. history.
"There is a lot of pride in our kids, coaches, administration and my family for their expanded roles in our town's running success,'' said Baker.
The only NJ team with more consecutive dual meet victories is of course CBA, who stretched its national XC dual meet record streak to 393 on Tuesday with runaway wins over Middletown South and Middletown North at Holmdel Park. CBA hasn't lost a dual meet in nearly 50 years. It's last loss came on October 20, 1973!!
CBA's 393 straight wins is also the fifth longest streak in U.S. high school history when you combine every sport.
During CBA's epic streak, legendary coach Tom Heath was at the helm for the first 343 consecutive wins, and Sean McCafferty, who took over the reigns in 2016, has led the Colts to their last 50 wins.
CBA, which has five more scheduled duals this fall, is seeking to pick up two more duals this season so it can hit 400.
Here is a deep dive into CBA's amazing run of success over the last five decades
CBA has held the national record since it won its 266th in a row in 2004 to snap the record of 265 that Blackstone-Millville of Blackstone, Mass. set in 1993. Fredonia of New York (250), Addison of New York (247), and Bishop Hendricken of Warwick, RI (247) are currently No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 on the all-time boys XC dual winning streak list. Bishop Hendricken's streak is the only one still active among those ahead of Haddonfield.
Haddonfield has six more duals this season, so if they win out and stretch their streak to 251, they could move up to the No. 3 on the U.S. all-time streak list.
CBA, ranked NJ No. 1 and US No. 10, took the first 11 places in its victories of Middletown North and South. CBA was led by junior Joe Barrett, who crossed first in 16:14 to ignite CBA to a 5-man average of 16:36.
Here are CBA's results from wins 392 and 393 in a row!!
Let's look a look at CBA's streak.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Oct. 20, 1973 - CBA lost to Raritan, which was led by long time Shore Regional coach Mel Ullmeyer, 15-49. It hasn't lost since.
- Sept. 19, 1974 - CBA's dual meet streak begins with a 15-50 victory over Marist.
- Oct. 20, 1981 - CBA wins thrilling sixth-runner tiebreaker over St. John Vianney (coached by current Colts Neck coach Jim Schlentz) to extend the streak to 94.
- Sept. 28, 2004 - CBA defeats Marlboro, 20-43, to tie Blackstone-Millville of Massachusetts for the national record for consecutive dual meet wins with 265.
- Sept. 30, 2004 - CBA scores a 15-50 win over Middletown North to break the national record with its 266th victory in a row. Blackstone-Millville set the record in 1992.
- Oct. 3, 2006 - CBA overcomes a 1-2 finish by Colts Neck (featuring All-American Craig Forys) to win its 281st in a row, 25-36.
- Sept. 21, 2009 - CBA defeates Colts Neck, 20-43, and Manalapan, 15-50 to make it 300 in a row .
- December of 2015: CBA coach Tom Heath retires from coaching after a legendary 45 year career. He finished with a dual meet record of 374-7 including 343 in a row, 21 Meet of Champions titles, and a National XC Title (2011)
- Sept. 13, 2016, CBA, under first-year head coach Sean McCafferty, edged Colts Neck, 27-32, and defeated Manalapan 15-50 while averaging a course record 14:50.6 in Lincroft to extend its national record to 345 in a row.
- Oct. 13, 2016 - CBA concludes its season with a 23-34 victory over Howell at the Manasquan Reservior to raise its winning streak to 350 straight.
- Sept. 12, 2023 - CBA opens season taking the top 11 spots and defeating Middletown North and Middletwon South at Holmdel Park to extend its national dual meet streak to 393 in a row.