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Conference Champions



The conditions at Dream park were near perfect. The temperature was in the upper 60's with a little bit of wind. The race looked to be a good one as four top 20 ranked teams in the state were ready to square off with one another. Cherokee(4), Paul VI(5), Moorestown(12) and Cherry Hill East(17). Aside from those you still had great runners from Eastern, Camden Catholic and Lenape. 14 teams and 103 runners all going at it on the same day same course. Going in the main goal was to win our division, icing on the cake would be to win the over all conference meet.


From the start of the gun, it looked as if the girls were ready to compete. There was a lead group of about 6 girls pushing the pace early. That group came through the mile in around 5:50. the next few groups were still pretty tight through a mile. It was after two miles that things started to get a little stretched out. Megan Niglio and Maddie Meder were up front running together. Erin Healy, Maya Kumar and Grace Wojciechowski were all pretty close together. Genisa John was a bit ahead of our 7-10 runners. In between the mile and two mile mark Maddie was apparently tripped up and took a little bit of a spill, but managed to get back up and still regroup with that front pack. The next time I saw them was probably with about a half mile to go. At that point Maddie and Megan were behind PVI's #1 runner Macy Huber. Erin and Maya were right behind PVI's 3rd runner and Grace was right behind PVI's 4th runner.





Maddie unleashed a wicked kick to go by Huber the last 200+ meters. She crossed the line running 18:15. That breaks Kate Rathman's course record of 18:23. It is also the 11th fastest time ever run at Dream Park. Megan finished 3rd running 18:24 which ties her for #3 All time with Nikki Clifford. Erin was next to cross the line in 11thstopping the clock at 19:25. This breaks Kerry O'Day's freshman record of 19:51. Maya was right on here heels running 19:28 to finish 12th and Grace crossed the line at 19:52 to place 18th. Genisa John was next in running 20:36(30th) followed by Emily Butler 20:53(36th), Sofia Recinto 21:31(42nd) and Gabby Urban 21:50(49th). Unfortunately Brooke Hibbs rolled her ankle during the race in between the 2 mile and 3 mile mark and was unable to finish.




We had 5 girls under 20 minutes for the first time ever at Dream Park. 8 of the girls ran lifetime bests for 5K on all courses.The entire top 5 are now top 10 all time at Dream Park for Cherokee. Maddie #1, Megan #3, Erin #8, Maya #9, Grace #10. Their 5 man average of 19:05 is #4 All time in Dream Park history for all schools and the fastest team average in a race other than sectionals. When the dust settled the girls scored 45 points ahead of Paul VI with 55 to claim the American Division and Olympic Conference Champions.









Earning first team all conference is Maddie Meder, Megan Niglio and Erin Healy. Second team all conference honors were earned by Maya Kumar and Grace Wojciechowski.


The JV race followed the varsity race and we were a little short numbered with a few people resting injuries or unable to make it. the four that did run made the most of it. Chloe Burdette(birthday girl) ran a lifetime best of 22:23 to place 8th, Grace Gorsline ran a season best time of 23:15 to place 12th. Alexa Butler ran a huge pr of 23:52 to place 19th. Kyla Petragnani ran a lifetime best of 25:22 to place 33rd and Joelle Barcenas ran 27:22 to place 43rd which was right off her personal best. In the end we had 11 lifetime bests, 1 season best out of the 14 girls that raced. Next up for the squad is the South Jersey Group IV Sectional meet back at Dream Park next Saturday.





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