Burlington: Cherokee Sweeps, Tindall, Gordon Make History


Results | Photos

Cherokee swept the team titles for the second straight year and Jack Tindall and Liliah Gordon make history at the 52nd Burlington County Open on Friday at Mill Creek Park in Willingboro.

TINDALL IGNITES CHEROKEE TO 12TH TITLE IN A ROW

Tindall, who eased off the gas in this one, became the first freshman to ever win the boys race by crossing the line in 16:35 on the 5K course that was altered (the big hill wasn't used) to spark Cherokee, ranked No. 5 in the state, to one of the greatest performances in meet history. Tindall, a very special talent, is carving out the greatest season in state history for a freshman. Earlier this month he destroyed the Holmdel Park course freshman record when he ran 15:55 at the Shore Coaches Invitational.    

Cherokee had a scoring combination of 1-3-4-5-6 for a score of 19 points, tied for the second lowest in meet history, had a a ridiculous spread of 12 seconds and averaged 16:43 as the Chiefs rolled to their 12th straight title and 26th overall. Cherokee's 19 points is second only to the perfect score of 15 they posted last year, 

The scorers for Cherokee were Tindall, sophomore Benjamin Realley, third in 16:41, junior Logan Bromley, fourth in 16:44,  senior Enzo Corona, fifth in 16:45, and  senior Liam Tindall, sixth in 16:48. Senior Benjamin Weiner (16:49) and sophomore Sean Sooy (16:52) finished 7-8 for Cherokee!!!

So that means that Cherokee's seven runners all finished in the top 8 and had a spilt of just 17 seconds! How often does that happen at a county championship meet?!!! That's simply amazing!!   


GORDON HITS THE TRIFECTA AND CHEROKEE REPEATS

The girls race saw more domination from Northern Burlington senior Liliah Gordon and the loaded Cherokee pack.

The Penn State-bound Gordon became only the second runner to win three straight titles, and No. 4 ranked Cherokee defeated No. 11 Moorestown to capture its second straight title and fifth in the last six years.

After placing second as a freshman in 2001, Gordon has owned this meet.  

Gordon finished off her three-peat with the biggest blowout n meet history as she burned a 17:56. Madeline Meder, a senior at Cherokee, was second in 19:18.     

Gordon, the State Group 3 champ the last two years, joined Shawnee's Liz Moore (1992, '93, and '94) as the only 3-time county champs. 

In the team competition, Cherokee got its five scoring runners across the line ahead of Moorestown's No. 4 runner to secure a 31-49 victory.

Cherokee, which has now won nine county titles (all since 2004), went 2-3-7-8-11 and averaged 19:53 with a spread of 1:12. Moorestown countered with a 4-6-10-12-17, averaged 20:23 and had a 1-5 split of 53 seconds.     

Cherokee's top five were Meder, second in 19:18, Megan Niglio of Cherokee, third in 19:18, freshman Erin Healy, eighth in 20:14, junior Maya Kumar, ninth in 20:17, and senior Grace Wojciechowski, 12th in 20:30.