End of Season Girls Recap
Plus Alumni Party Details
Hello all!
Before we get into the end of year wrap up from Coach Jarvis, I want to thank you all for reading our recent posts, especially about our Alumni Get-Together. As you might have started planning to attend, please note that we had to change the date to December 27th instead of the 26th.
📅 When: Friday, December 27, 2024
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
📍 Where: Maple Shade VFW
914 E Main St, Maple Shade, NJ 08052
We hope you’ll join us!
Please let us know whether you can make it and of course, spouses/partners are welcome!
And now, on to the girls’ recap!
November 2nd: South Jersey Group IV Sectionals
On November 2nd, the South Jersey Group IV Sectional Championship returned to Dream Park under near-perfect conditions: sunny skies, temperatures in the low 60s, and a dry, fast course. As the last race of the day, the girls aimed to build on their strong performance at the conference championship and defend their sectional title against a competitive field, including top contenders Cherry Hill East.
The race began at a blistering pace, with Eastern’s top runner taking an early lead, building a 30-40 meter gap. Maddie Meder and Megan Niglio quickly positioned themselves at the front of the chase pack, crossing the first mile in 5:45. Close behind, Erin Healy (5:56), Maya Kumar (6:00), and Grace Wojciechowski (6:06) ran in tight formation, while Genisa John and Emily Butler worked together through the mile in 6:22.
Through the second mile, Maddie and Megan began to close the gap on the leader, with Maddie clocking a 5:52 split and Megan a 5:53. Meanwhile, Maya, Grace, and Erin tightened their pack, separated by just seven seconds. Genisa and Emily continued pushing each other further back in the race.
In the final mile, the Cherokee girls truly shined. Maddie surged past the leader just after the two-mile mark, clocking a 6:04 split to finish in 18:08, winning her first sectional title. Her time was the fastest ever by a Cherokee girl at Dream Park, the fastest of the day across all races, and the 6th-fastest in course history. Megan followed closely, finishing 2nd in 18:20, setting a new senior record and posting the 2nd-fastest time in Cherokee history.
Erin crossed next in 19:23, setting a new Dream Park freshman record and ranking #8 all-time at the course. Maya finished on Erin’s heels with an identical time, earning the #9 spot all-time and #6 on the junior list. Grace completed the top five in 19:27, claiming #10 all-time and the 5th-fastest senior time at Dream Park. Genisa (20:21, PR) and Emily (20:38) rounded out the team with strong performances, both achieving personal bests.
All seven girls recorded their fastest-ever times at Dream Park and personal bests for 5K. Their team average ranked 5th in course history, earning them their 4th sectional title in five years.
November 9th: State Group IV Championship
A week later, the girls competed in the Group IV State Championship at Holmdel. The race was expected to be highly competitive, with outcomes ranging from a state title to a 6th-place finish. Princeton entered as the favorites.
The race started conservatively, prompting Megan to push the pace and take the lead through the first mile. Both Maddie and Megan secured top-10 finishes, with Maddie clocking 19:23 for 7th place and Megan finishing 9th in 19:27. Erin continued her impressive freshman season, running 20:18 to place 27th and setting a new personal record for Holmdel. Maya (20:49, 44th) and Grace (20:55, 48th) rounded out the scoring five, while Genisa (21:37, 68th) and Emily (22:31, 87th) provided solid support.
The team finished 3rd overall—just the second time in school history they’ve achieved this mark—while also becoming only the second Cherokee team to have their top five runners all under 21 minutes at Holmdel. Maddie’s 19:23 ranks 9th all-time for Cherokee and 5th-fastest by a junior at Holmdel. The team earned a wildcard spot for the Meet of Champions, marking the 5th time they advanced to this prestigious meet.
November 16th: Meet of Champions
Returning to Holmdel for the Meet of Champions (MOC), the team entered ranked 7th in the full merge from all state championships. This marked their fourth consecutive high-stakes meet, and for four of the girls, it was their first MOC experience.
The race unfolded at a fast pace, challenging the team to rise to the occasion. Megan earned her first individual MOC medal, placing 17th with a lifetime best of 19:10. Maddie followed closely, finishing 28th in 19:32. Erin set another Holmdel personal best (20:14, 71st), and Grace (20:57, 115th) came just four seconds shy of her PR. Maya (21:27, 127th) completed the scoring five.
The team finished 6th overall, the top South Jersey team, and earned a spot on the podium for only the third time in school history.
November 23rd: Nike Northeast Regionals
The season concluded at the Nike Northeast Regionals (NXR), where the team competed alongside a larger group of Cherokee athletes. Pre-meet conditions were wet, but spirits were high as the team prepared for the challenge.
Three athletes—Gaby Urban, Sofia Recinto, and Chloe Burdette—competed in the Open race, with Gaby setting a lifetime best and Sofia and Chloe running strong races. In the Championship race, the team faced a field of 28 teams and 229 athletes on the challenging Bowdoin course
.
Megan led the team once again, placing 26th with a lifetime best of 19:27. Maddie followed closely in 28th, running 19:34. Erin continued her stellar freshman season, breaking the Bowdoin course record for freshmen with a time of 20:01 (53rd). Maya (20:59) and Grace (21:23) both achieved personal bests at Bowdoin, while Genisa (21:33) and Emily (22:55) completed the team’s effort. The girls finished 9th overall, marking the second consecutive year as a top-10 team and the top team from South Jersey.
Final Thoughts
Coming into the season, I knew the team had potential, but their accomplishments exceeded every expectation. From the last girls’ team standing to making memories that will last a lifetime, this season was unforgettable. While it’s bittersweet to see some athletes race their final meet in a Cherokee uniform, it’s comforting to reflect on the remarkable journey we shared.
Cross country teaches two invaluable lessons: how to navigate adversity and the importance of teamwork. These girls showed up day after day with dedication and a positive attitude, and their collective effort led to this year’s incredible success. From double threshold workouts and spirit weeks to pasta parties and costumes, this team embodied what it means to be a family.
To the athletes, parents, and coaches: thank you for another amazing season.
~ Coach Jarvis