HMHS XC Blog: 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: