By Kevin Cranston
Runningco.com Writer

The Haddonfield High School boys’ cross country team, ranked No. 2 in Runningco.com’s Top 20, defeated No. 5 Haddon Heights 25-30, Sterling 15-50 and Gateway/Woodbury 15-50 on Tuesday at Pennypacker Park as the Bulldawgs won their 100th, 101st and 102nd consecutive dual meet.

In the process of extending its unbeaten dual-meet streak, Haddonfield won the Colonial Conference title for the 10th straight year. The last time the Bulldawgs lost a dual meet was 1997 against Haddon Township.

“It’s always nice to do something like that (extend the unbeaten streak) in the context of winning a conference championship,” coach Nick Baker said over the phone on Tuesday night.

In the anticipated matchup of two of the top teams in South Jersey, the Bulldawgs took places 2-3-5-7-8, while Heights grabbed spots 1-4-6-9-10.

Haddonfield was led by sophomore Boo Vitez, who covered Pennypacker’s 3.1-mile course in 15:55. He was followed by senior Dan Carreon (15:58) and sophomores Ray Schlitt (16:33), David Twitchell (16:43) and Colin Baker (16:44).

For Heights, junior Josh Black put together a real nice effort to win the race in 15:47. After him were senior Mickey Borsellino (16:00), senior Andrew Whitman (16:34), junior Colin Lynch (16:54) and senior Colin Cole (17:17).

“We knew Heights would come after us and they ran well,” Baker said. “When we got to the 2-mile mark, the race was in doubt. Heights put themselves in position with a mile to go. Carreon was able to pick off Mickey in the last quarter-mile and Schlitt got passed Whitman only about 10 yards before the finish.”

Said Heights coach Matt Martin: “The guys went out there and got after them. I was thrilled with the way they ran. The kids got a lot of confidence from this race.”

Colin Baker Injured Again?

Haddonfield sophomore Colin Baker, who missed most his freshman cross country season due to injury, ran in the team’s dual meet on Tuesday, but isn’t completely healthy, coach Nick Baker said. According to Nick Baker, his son is experiencing shin splints in both legs. Nick Baker said the shins started to become a concern the day after the Bulldawgs’ dual meet on Sept. 18.

As for Saturday’s Shore Coaches Invitational at Holmdel Park, Nick Baker didn’t say yes or no as to whether or not Colin would race.

“He’s not a definite for Shore Coaches right now,” Nick Baker said as of Tuesday night. “We’ll know more in the next couple days.”

Colin Baker began the season by placing third in the sophomore race at the Cherokee Challenge with the seventh-fastest time out of all four class races.

-Oct. 2

Addition info:

Video of the race

Dave Welsh's notes from the meet: "Black and Borsellino from HH and Vitez from HF took out the pace and went through the mile in 5:00. The three were still together at 2 miles in 10:10. Black then opened a lead and crusised to victory. Vitez was second. Carreon caught Borsellino in the final stretch making the score. 5 to 5 after 2 runners. Schlitt caught Whitman for 5th and gave HF a one point edge through 3 runners. Backer and Twitchell sealed the deal with a 7-8 finish "

Cherokee Challenge: Haddonfield vs Haddon Heights scored as a dual meet
1 HF Vitez 
2 HH Black 
3 HF Baker 
4 HH Borsellino 
5 HF Carreon 
6 HF Schlitt 
7 HH Whitman 
8 HF Twitchell 
9 HH Lynch 
10 HF Quanci 
11 HF Potts 
12 HH Cole 
Score HF- 23 HH- 34  

Yesterday's dual meet
1 HH Black 
2 HF Vitez 
3 HF Carreon 
4 HH Borsellino 
5 HF Schlitt 
6 HH Whitman 
7 HF Baker 
8 HF Twitchell 
9 HH 
10 HH  
Haddonfield 25 Haddon Heights 30