No. 6 runner Christine Hecker gives Golden Eagles the sectional title

By Kevin Cranston
Runningco.com Writer

Pictures

FRANKLIN TWP.

Christine Hecker is certainly part of the Seneca High School girls’ cross country team. But on most Saturdays, Hecker isn’t with her teammates at meets. Instead, the freshman spends most of her weekends playing the violin for the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra.

According to Golden Eagles coach Jennifer Denn, Hecker is only allowed to miss two Saturdays with the orchestra during cross country season.

And luckily for Denn and the rest of the Seneca team, Saturday’s sectional race was one of the days Hecker could run because the team certainly needed her.

Even though Hecker finished as the Golden Eagles’ No. 6 runner, it was her finishing in 37th ahead of Shawnee’s sixth runner in 40th  that broke a 92-92 tie and gave the Golden Eagles, ranked No. 11 in runningco.com’s Top 20, the Group 3 sectional title over No. 6 Shawnee on a cool, windy day at Delsea.

“At the trees (with about 1,000 meters left on the 5,000-meter course), I was telling her that the race could be up to her,” said Denn, referring to what she told Hecker at the end of the race. “It was just that close.

“She usually misses every Saturday meet. This was a good Saturday for her to be with us.”

And while it was Hecker who actually broke the tie to give Seneca the title, the Golden Eagles would have never been in the position to win if it weren’t for the team’s top-five girls.

First in for Seneca was sophomore Lyndsy Horn, who was eighth in 19:44. In after her were sophomore Austin Powell (11th, 19:51), junior Lauren Holt (18th, 20:21), junior Alexis Peoples (23rd, 20:47) and senior Sarah Abrams (32nd, 21:08).

For Shawnee, freshman Casey Doyle (second, 18:48), freshman Marina Mestres (ninth, 19:44), sophomore Kim Barr (26th, 20:58), senior Melissa White (27th, 20:58) and sophomore Sarah Sharpe (28th, 21:00) made up the team’s top five.

In the individual race, Kingsway sophomore Chelsea Ley was untouchable once again as she cruised around Delsea’s course to win the Group 3 title in 17:57, six seconds off the course record set by Southern’s Danielle Tauro last year.

Ley won her race by 51 seconds over Doyle and had the fastest time of the day by three seconds.

“I’m happy with the race,” Ley said. “I wanted to break 18 (minutes).

“I took it out hard the first two miles and then stayed relaxed for the last mile.”

But before the win was even 10 minutes old, Ley’s focus was already on next Saturday, when she’ll be up at Holmdel Park for the Group 3 state meet.

“I’m a little nervous to be honest,” Ley said. “Next week will be really the first time all season I’ll have competition. I think it will be a great race, though. I want to try for 18-flat.”     

Group 4

No. 1 Lenape didn’t get out aggressively. And the Indians’ pack never really made any strong moves throughout the race. In contrast, Toms River North did get out well, and the Mariners’ top five maintained their positions.

As a result, Lenape, which was seeking its first-ever sectional title, had to settle for a second-place finish to TRN in the Group 4 race. The Mariners defeated the Indians 71-95. Southern took third with 101.

The victory gave Toms River North its first sectional title since 2004 and the program’s fourth overall.

The Mariners’ top finisher was junior Angela Rugino, who was sixth in 19:00.

Lenape’s lead runner was sophomore Caitlin Orr, who took eighth with a time of 19:12. After her, the Indians’ pack was made up of senior Miya Johnson (19th, 19:42), senior Moira Cunningham (20th, 19:42), senior Erika Griffith (24th, 19:47) and junior Alivia Royds (26th, 19:52).

Winning the individual title by 27 seconds over Williamstown junior Maria Ruiz was Southern junior Jillian Smith, who clocked a fast 18:00 – the second-best time of the day. Cherry Hill East senior Missy Showers was third in 18:42.

Smith looked in complete control the entire race as she held an 11-second lead after two miles and increased that over the final 1.1.

Group 2

Haddonfield’s performance in the Group 2 race was about as dominant as you can get. The No. 2 Bulldawgs were extremely impressive as they took places 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 en route to a 16-point showing. Even Haddonfield’s No. 6 and 7 runners finished in the top 10.

Barnegat was second with 80, while Buena was third with 81.

The 16 points are the second-lowest total ever scored at South Jersey sectionals. Haddonfield in 2005 and Moorestown in 2001 both scored 15 to win Group 2 titles.

Saturday’s win gave Haddonfield its third straight South Jersey Group 2 title, as well as the program’s 16th overall.

And even though the Bulldawgs were unchallenged in this one, the team’s entire lineup ran fast. Haddonfield’s team average of 19:21.8 was the top average of the day.

Once again leading the Haddonfield charge was sophomore Marielle Hall, who claimed her second straight sectional title with a time of 18:25.

Hall wasted no time jumping to the front of the race. She held an 8-second advantage over the field after the first 1,000 meters as she went on to win by 1:01 over junior teammate Lizzy Sikkema (19:26).

After those two, freshman Mia Spinelli (19:33), junior Monica Ramstad (19:36) and senior Alyssa D’Orazio (19:49) rounded out the team’s top five. Not far behind the team’s fifth runner were junior Jackie Sikkema (seventh, 19:51) and sophomore Becky Barber (10th, 20:11).

Group 1

There was no surprise in this one as pre-race favorite and No. 19 Haddon Township placed five girls in the top nine on its way to 27 points and the Group 1 title over Haddon Heights (78) and Maple Shade (118). It’s the Hawks’ first sectional title since 2004.

Haddon Township freshman Holly Gallagher had little trouble taking the individual title. Separating herself from Heights sophomore Lisa Borsellino at around the 1-mile mark, Gallagher went on to win by 23 seconds in 19:37.

“After that first mile I wanted to break away so I had some room,” Gallagher said.

Following Gallagher for the Hawks were senior Eileen O’Mara (third, 20:38, senior Marisa Baumann (sixth, 21:20), junior Courtney McGee (eighth, 21:42) and sophomore Kathry Mulholland (ninth, 21:45).

“The team and I worked hard for this race,” Gallagher said. “It feels good to know we accomplished our goals.”

South Jersey Parochial Championships

Our Lady of Mercy Academy senior Jena Peacock went unchallenged as she wrapped up the South Jersey Parochial title in 19:02, 45 seconds better than Wildwood Catholic’s Tara Wuko.

By taking places 4, 5, 6, 9 and 14, No. 3 Paul VI easily won the team title with 38 points over No. 17 OLMA (76).

Top finisher for the Eagles was Deidre MacFarlane, who ran 19:58.