Sectional Rewind

Boys XC 2011 SJ GR 2 Sectional winners

On a spectacular day this past Saturday, the Dawgs made history.  They narrowly defeated Highland 50-56 to capture the South Jersey Group 2 sectional.  In doing so they broke a state record of 31 Sectional titles by a program. Going into Saturday, the Dawgs were tied with  Bernards who  had won 30 sectional titles. 
There might have been closer titles over the years, but not with in the last 10 years.  The Dawgs showed tremendous courage and heart as the top two Dawgs were not 100%. 
Junior Rob Spaeth stepped up in a big way by finishing 15th overall and 9 places better than Highland's 5th man. 
Only two of the seven that raced on Saturday had ever run in a sectional final.  Junior Greg Halla & Sophmore Alex Gigliotti.  They were racing against a Highland team that was dropping down from Group 3, and  made up of mostly seniors.  Highland is also coached by one of South Jersey better coaches in Bobby Wagner. To win was a remarkable accomplishment. Congrats!!

Girls Race:
The girls dominated on Saturday by putting 5 runners in the top 10.  Led by the best one- two punch in the State, Meghan Malloy & Shelby Cain, the lady Dawgs easily won 24-90.  This Saturday also marked the Varsity debut of Junior Juliette Strasser.  Juliette placed 18th overall.



SJ Gr 2  girls Sectional winners





Special Guests:

Dr. Perry - Superintendent of Haddonfield Schools.
Mr. Michael Wilson - Principal of HMHS.
Mr. Lefty Banos - Athletic Director  of HMHS.

The support from the administration is second to none compared to other programs.  Thank you for making the effort to support the boys & girls XC teams this past Saturday.

Next up:
The State group meet Saturday 12th.  Jim Lambert of the Star Ledger "The best day of the year is this Saturday.  The Group 2 race is going to be crazy!  Could be the best race of the day"  Jim, I couldn't agree more.

Look for my state preview later this week.

See you on the course.

Sectional Preview



Greg Halla at lasts year Sectional

 With conference and league titles having ended last week we now enter what coaches call the “Championship” season.  The first leg of the XC Triple Crown starts this Saturday @ Delsea high school with the South Jersey Sectionals.  Winning states is ultimately almost every teams goal. The dream starts when spring tracks ends and the hot summer of base building begins.  The dedication of logging endless miles, running twice a day and attending XC camp is all necessary to help fulfill their team and individual dreams, in November, by winning a state championship.  Well, it all gets under way this Saturday. So how does it all work you ask?

 According to NJSIAA:

"The first five (5) teams plus the first ten (10) place runners in each Group in each Section will

qualify for the State Group Championships."
The Teams:

 

Barnegat

Bridgeton

Buena

Burlington C.I.T. Medford

Camden

Camden C VT Pennsauken

Cinnaminson

Collingswood

Deptford

Gateway/Woodbury

Gloucester Cty VT

Haddonfield

Highland Regional

Lower Cape May

Middle Township

Overbrook

Pleasantville

Sterling

West Deptford

Woodstown

Group 2- Defending team Haddonfield

The Dawgs have won 14 of the last 15 sectional title according to there teams web site.  They missed out in 2003.  They have 30 sectional titles dating back to 1967.  Make 2011 number 31!  Jim Lambert of the Newark Star Ledger reports, "If the Dawgs win the sectional title they will break the state record currently held by Bernards."   According to NJ Runners,  Boo Vitez, in 2009 set the  course record at Delsea with a time of 15:24.  Boo's time is the fastest ever run at Delsea  for all groups.  Ben Potts ran 15:55 last year  to win Group 2.   Other teams that could advance to next weeks group state championship are;  Highland Regional, West Deptford, Barnegat, & Plesantville.

Individuals in no particular order that could be in the top 5 are:

• Matt Nelson - Barnegat
• Greg Halla -HMHS
• Miles Devine- HMHS
• Jimmy Daniels- Sterling
• Steve Maine-Highland
• Jacob Clark- Pleasantville
• Isaac Clark-Pleasantville

The Course is flat and fast with a finish on the track. Link below is a map of the course.

  http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=85773

See you on the course