A look at what teams and individuals to watch for at Saturday’s sectional championships
South sectional at Delsea High School
Central sectional at Thompson Park in Jamesburg
By Kevin Cranston
Runningco.com Writer
South Group 4
Southern and Toms River North will challenge Lenape in this one, but the Indians have too strong of a pack to be denied their first-ever sectional title. In their last two meets alone – the Burlington County Open and the Olympic Conference Championships – the Indians have featured a five-girl spread of 41 and 67 seconds, respectively.
Lenape, ranked No. 1 in runningco.com’s Top 20, has raced both Southern and Toms River North head-to-head this season and has beaten them both. Early in the season at the Shore Coaches Invitational, the Indians defeated Southern 97-156 to win the Varsity A title. And at the South Jersey Open, Lenape beat TRN 85-97 to capture the Division 3 title.
The five that have been getting it done for the Indians all season long and will get it done once again this Saturday include seniors Erika Griffith, Moira Cunningham and Miya Johnson, junior Alivia Royds and sophomore Caitlin Orr.
After Lenape, Southern and TRN, the final two spots should be taken by No. 4 Cherry Hill East, led by senior Melissa Showers, and No. 5 Millville, led by juniors Lindsay Bertulis and Britney Kott. Millville, though, is not a lock to qualify for states. The Thunderbolts have a very strong top four, but at times, their fifth girl has been well over a minute behind their No. 4 girl. A gap like that could kill them in such a deep field. You can count on Millville’s top four to be at the front of the race, but not too much time can elapse before their fifth comes in.
Two other teams that could grab one of the final spots include No. 8 Williamstown, led by junior Maria Ruiz, and No. 9 Cherokee, led by seniors Alison and Angela Weeks.
The individual race will be won by Southern junior Jillian Smith. Smith, a soccer transfer in her first season of cross country, has only been getting better and better as she has gained more experience racing over the 5K distance. At Holmdel recently, she won the Shore Conference individual title in 18:15 – the fastest time on Holmdel this season. Put her on Delsea’s flat, fast course and she’ll have this one wrapped up early.
Individual winner: Smith
Top 5 teams (in order): 1. Lenape, 2. Southern, 3. Toms River North, 4. Cherry Hill East, 5. Millville
South Group 3
In what should be a nice team race between No. 6 Shawnee and No. 7 Timber Creek, I’m going to give the nod to the Renegades to win the title. Shawnee raced well at both the Burlington County Open and the Olympic Conference Championships, where it beat the Chargers pretty comfortably. I think the team will be able to put together another fine effort on Saturday as they go after their second straight sectional title.
At the front of the Renegades’ pack will be freshman Casey Doyle, the Olympic Conference champion who has really been racing well the last couple weeks. Beyond Doyle, Shawnee will also need strong races from freshman Marina Mestres and senior Melissa White.
Timber Creek, led by juniors Megan Arnold and Megan Short, should be able to give Shawnee a race, but the Renegades will just be too tough over the final mile.
For who’s going to win the individual title, you really only have to worry about one name: Chelsea Ley. When it comes to the Kingsway super sophomore this season, it hasn’t been a question as to whether or not she won the race, but more a question of how much she won the race by. Ley has been putting up impressive times and winning races by ridiculous margins all season. She doesn’t need to win Saturday’s race by 40 seconds, but she probably will anyway. She’s just at a whole different level than anyone else in South Jersey Group 3.
Individual winner: Ley
Top 5 teams (in order): 1. Shawnee, 2. Timber Creek, 3. Seneca, 4. Kingsway, 5. Delsea
South Group 2
At sectionals in 2006, Haddonfield scored a mere 21 points to easily win the Group 2 title. With the lineup the No. 2 Bulldawgs have heading into Saturday’s sectional race, they have a legitimate shot to post a similar, or even lower, score. While West Deptford and Buena have pretty competitive teams, neither will be able to match up with mighty Haddonfield. A victory Saturday would give the Bulldawgs their fourth sectional title in the last five years.
For Haddonfield, sophomore Marielle Hall has been the team’s top girl all season and the same will be true on Saturday as she’ll earn her second consecutive sectional title without too much of a challenge.
Following Hall for the Bulldawgs – in no particular order – will be freshman Mia Spinelli and juniors Jackie and Lizzy Sikkema and Monica Ramstad.
Individual winner: Hall
Top 5 teams (in order): 1. Haddonfield, 2. West Deptford, 3. Buena, 4. Delran, 5. Manchester Township
South Group 1
With its move down to Group 1 this season, No. 19 Haddon Township should have no trouble winning this group. Led by freshman Holly Gallagher, the Hawks’ top five has been running well as of late. Haddon Township’s last sectional title came in 2004.
And just as her team should comfortably win the team title, Gallagher shouldn’t be pressed too much en route to winning the individual title. Maple Shade’s Victoria Freels may be able to hang with Gallagher for the first mile or so, but not much more than that.
Individual winner: Gallagher
Top 5 teams (in order): 1. Haddon Township, 2. Haddon Heights, 3. Maple Shade, 4. Schalick, 5. Pitman
Central Sectional
No. 10 Moorestown has been dealing with a lot of injuries lately, but the Quakers should still have enough to grab a top-five finish in the Group 3 race. The team will have to work for it because Group 3 has several quality teams.
Hopewell Valley, the defending sectional champion, is the favorite. Other teams that will be in contention for top-five spots include Princeton, Ocean Township and Red Bank Regional.
With the way Quakers senior Brianna Rogers has been running this season, she should be second or third in this race. Hopewell Valley’s Clare Buck is the best runner heading into the race and will be super tough for anyone to hang with.
