Haddonfield Girls, Boys Cross Country Teams Triumph at South Jersey Championships

Haddonfield, NJ -- Outstanding performances by their lead runners followed by strong efforts from a tightly knit pack led to historic wins by both the Haddonfield boys and girls teams at the South Jersey Sectional Cross Country Championships held at Delsea Regional High School on Saturday.

The boys were led by sophomore Derek Gess' third place finish in the outstanding time of 15:54 on the 5000 meter course, trailing winner Devin Hart of Point Pleasant Boro by nine seconds and nearly running down second place Michael Ungvarsky of Cinnaminson.

Bulldawgs Greg Eisenhower and Griffin Weiner also turned in top ten finishes. The rest of the squad, Brandon Quanci, Ethan Spellmeyer, Richie Glennon and Sean Campiglia, all finished in the top 22 to lead Haddonfield to a convincing 41-64 win over second place Sterling and the other 13 teams in the Group 2 competition.

It was the 13th consecutive sectional win for the Haddonfield squad, and their 21st of the last 22. It also extended their state record for sectional championships to 34.

Leading the Haddonfield girls was senior Briana Gess, Derek's sister, who became one of a very select group of runners to win four consecutive sectional titles. Briana was also supported by a close pack of teammates as Lauren Lynch, Lilly Sirover and Lilly Minor took places six through eight with Izzy Miller and Alexa Gostovich in tenth and eleventh and Meg Schroeter not far behind.

The strong team effort was needed from everyone, as the Bulldawgs hung on for a narrow 31-38 victory over Point Pleasant Boro. The girls' victory was their seventh consecutive and their 24th overall, passing Ridgewood for the most sectional titles by any girls team in the state.

Briana Gess' individual win also marked the 15th consecutive victory by a Haddonfield girl in their sectional meet and 19th in the last 20 years, a streak that began with Olympian Erin Donohue's first of four sectional victories back in 1997.

Other area teams also turned in outstanding performances at the meet, as the Haddon Heights boys and Haddon Township girls won the Group 1 titles, and the Haddon Township boys took second. The top five teams from each section will move on to the New Jersey Group State Championships to be held on Saturday, November 12 at Holmdel Park.

(photos courtesy of Lisa Brandinelli-Quanci)