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FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP - Miles Schoedler lived up to the pressures of being the top runner on the Ocean City High School boys cross country team Saturday.

Schoedler won the South Jersey Group III race and led the Red Raiders to the team title. The junior covered the 3.1-mile course at Delsea Regional in 15 minutes, 59 seconds. Phil Wood of Lacey Township ran 16:14 to finish second.

An Ocean City boy has won the S.J. Group III race three straight times and six times since 2001. The Red Raiders have won three straight team titles. Ocean City outscored second-place Lacey Township 60-71.

"Miles is carrying on the tradition of competitive running up front," Ocean City coach Matt Purdue said. "He's a lot more confident. Last year was his first season of cross country. The whole experience was new to him last year. He knows the sport now."

The top 10 individual finishers and the top five teams in each enrollment group qualified for the state group championships at Holmdel Park (Monmouth County) next Saturday.

Phil Fanz of St. Augustine Prep, Matthew Nelson of Barnegat and the Southern Regional boys and girls also excelled in Saturday's races.

Schoedler's season got off to a slow start. He struggled at first with being the leader of Ocean City's pack. Schoedler was the Red Raiders' No. 2 runner last season behind Brett Johnson, who won the South Jersey Group III title in 2007-08. Johnson is now a University of Virginia freshman.

"It was a huge difference without Brett being there," Schoedler said. "A lot of the kids don't realize how big a responsibility it is (to be the team's top runner). It's hard to get everyone going. It's a huge adjustment, but I'm getting used to it now."

Schoedler was just off the lead for the first two miles. Wood was in front. Schoedler took the lead on a hill at the 2-mile mark.

"My plan was to sit and kick," Schoedler said. "I'm really good with hills. I knew if I was in the lead after that, I could just hammer it in."

Purdue expected this to be a rebuilding year.

"Of 18 guys on the team, 11 were new," the coach said. "We graduated six seniors."

On Saturday, the Red Raiders got key performances from several other runners. Sophomore Erik Johnson, Brett's brother, was fifth in 16:32. Senior Michael Hagen ran 16:58 to finish 11th. Andrew DeMaria (16th in 17:04) and Daniel Murray (27th in 17:25) rounded out Ocean City's top five.

"Mike Hagen has been a stalwart of the team for four years," Purdue said. "He never gets the headlines, but he's consistent. Erik is a big-time racer. He always steps it up."

***

The Southern Regional boys beat their nemesis by one point.

But the Rams lost out on a championship by the same margin.

Shawnee outscored Southern 84-85 to win the S.J. Group IV title.

Southern outscored third-place Toms River North 85-86. North had beaten Southern earlier this season in a dual meet and at the Ocean County championships. Cherokee finished fourth Saturday with 89 points.

Southern's Matt Valeriani finished second in 15:46 - the day's fastest time by a Press-area boy. Joe Kotran of Toms River North won in 15:25.

Valeriani moved into second place at the 2-mile mark but could not chase down Kotran.

"You knew it was going to be a four-dog race," Southern coach Scott Baker said. "It happens. You're excited you beat North, then Shawnee comes and slips you up. You can't knock the boys. We ran pretty bad last week (at the Shore Conference Championships). We ran pretty well this week. You keep moving forward."

***

Haddonfield posed for a team picture after winning the S.J. Group II title.

Matthew Nelson of Barnegat should have been right in the middle of the photo. That's where he was during the race.

Four of the top five runners were from Haddonfield. Nelson finished third in 16:05. Haddonfield's Jonathan Vitez won in 15:24.

The race continued a stellar freshman season for Nelson. He was undefeated in dual meets and finished fourth at the Shore Conference Championship last weekend.

Nelson's performance helped Barnegat finish third with 90 points. Pleasantville was fourth with 102. Haddonfield won with 21. Pleasantville senior Larry Ramirez ran 17:20 to finish 13th.

In other groups, Bobby Kole of Cape May Tech qualified in Group I, finishing fifth in 17:31.

***

Corrie Gethard of Southern Regional went slower at the start to go faster at the finish.

The senior finished third in the South Jersey Group IV girls race in 18:44 - the day's fastest time by a Press-area girl. Natalia Ocasio of Lenape won in 18:24.

"This is the best I felt all season," Gethard said. "I felt really good. I had been going out too fast in my races. I just paced myself more in the first mile, and I felt great after that."

Southern finished second in the team competition with 92 points. Toms River North won with 56 points.

In other groups, Meghan Borz of Buena Regional finished fourth in Group II in 19:34.

Christin Bettis of Hammonton grabbed the final individual spot in Group III. She ran 20:04 to finish 10th. The Ocean City girls finished third in the Group III team competition. Freshman Kayla Noll (15th in 20:43) was the first Red Raider to finish.

The Cape May Tech girls finished fifth in Group I to qualify. Rachel Zarycki (21st in 24:44) led the Hawks.

***

Phil Fanz used the biggest hill on the course to his advantage.

The St. Augustine Prep senior pulled away on a hill at the 2-mile mark and won the South Jersey Non-Public championship. Fanz ran 16:08. Michael Rankin of Paul VI was second in 16:24.

The non-public race is not a qualifier for the state group championships. Non-public schools automatically qualify for the group championships.

"I'm pretty happy with it," Fanz said. "We don't need to qualify for states, so I didn't want to go out and kill myself. I did what I needed to do to win."

Contact Michael McGarry:

609-272-7185

MMcGarry@pressofac.com

Group I boys

Individuals-1. Jacob Walter, Haddon Township 16:51; 2. James McCarville, Audubon 16:56; 3. Tyler Cummings, Pennsville 17:06; 4. Jonathan Scull, Salem 17:08; 5. Bobby Kole, Cape May Tech 17:31; 6. Brandon Dugan Schalick 17:32; 7. Sean Reader, Maple Shade 17:33; 8. Ben Moyer, Pennsville 17:34; 9. Luke Dickson, Pitman 17:36; 10. Tim Kenna, Haddon Township 17:38.

Teams-1. Haddon Township 55; 2. Pennsville 55; 3. Maple Shade 80; 4. Schalick 121; 5. Salem 138.

Group II boys

Individuals-1. Jonathan Vitez, Haddonfield 15:24; 2. Colin Baker, Haddonfield 16:02; 3. Matthew Nelson, Barnegat 16:05; 4. Matt Nussbaum, Haddonfield 16:08; 5. Ben Potts Haddonfield 16:10; 6. Brady Deckert, Delsea Regional 16:29; 7. Nick Costello, Delsea 16:56; 8. Teague Brody-Crane, Haddon Heights 16:57; 9. Tim Malloy, Haddonfield 16:58; 10. Ethan Quanci, Haddonfield 17:04.

Teams-1. Haddonfield 21; 2. Delsea 63; 3. Barnegat 90; 4. Pleasantville 102; 5. Haddon Heights 104.

Group III boys

Individuals-1. Miles Schoedler, Ocean City 15:59; 2. Phil Wood, Lacey Township 16:14; 3. Fahiym Starkey, Timber Creek 16:20; 4. Anthony Colasurdo, Lacey 16:23; 5. Erik Johnson, Ocean City 16:32; 6. Anthony Horten, Moorestown 16:41; 7. Brandon Greenwood, Moorestown 16:44; 8. Matt Brown, Manchester Township 16:49; 9. Noah Jacobs, Lacey 16:50; 10. Eric Charette, Lacey16:55.

Teams-1. Ocean City 60; 2. Lacey 71; 3. Moorestown 82; 4. Kingsway 125; 5. Cherry Hill West 135.

Group IV boys

Individuals-1. Joe Kotran, Toms River North 15:25; 2. Matt Valeriani, Southern Regional 15:46; 3. David Forward, Shawnee 15:48; 4. Aaron Leskow, Toms River North 15:50; 5. Paul Szulewski, Williamstown 15:53; 6. Connor Herr, Shawnee 15:55; 7. Steven Burkholder, Cherokee 16:00; 8. Eric Dragonetti, Southern 16:02; 9. Anthony Dentino, Washington Twp. 16:05; 10. Peter Murray, Shawnee 16:08.

Teams-1. Shawnee 84; 2. Southern 85; 3. Toms River North 86; 4. Cherokee 89; 5. Cherry Hill East 131.

Non-public boys

Individuals-1. Phil Fanz, Prep 16:08; 2. Michael Rankin, Paul VI 16:24; 3. Ryan Mathews, St. Augustine Prep 16:26; 4. Tony Krez, Holy Spirit 16:28; 5. Walter Cantwell, Camden Catholic 16:29; 6. Bob Engel, Moorestown Friends 16:38; 7. Brian Walter, Paul VI 16:46; 8. Thomas Hoban, Paul VI 16:50; 9. Richard McKean, Paul VI 17:05; 10. Luke Mazzochette, Bishop Eustace Prep 17:21.

Teams-1. Paul VI 47; 2. St. Augustine Prep 51; 3. Camden Catholic 75; 4. Bishop Eustance Prep 108; 5. Holy Spirit 120.

Group I girls

Individuals-1. Shona Potruski, Pitman 20:29; 2. Kaley Moyer, Maple Shade 21:54; 3. Emily Fee, Schalick 21:56; 4. Rachel Greenberg, Pitman 22:21; 5. Mary Kate Breslin, Palmyra 23:02; 6. Carlee Boston, Schalick 23:03; 7. Jordan Damminger, Pitman 23:18; 8. Emily Greenberg, Pitman 23:25; 9. Emily Vendetta, Pitman 23:29; 10. Anna Choi, Maple Shade 23:31.

Group I Teams-1. Pitman 26; 2. Pennsville 63; 3. Maple Shade 84; 4. Schalick 97; 5. Cape May Tech 107.

Group II girls

Individuals-1. Marielle Hall, Haddonfield 19:18; 2. Felicia O'Donnell, Delsea Regional 19:18; 3. Ashley Deckert, Delsea 19:21; 4. Meghan Borz, Buena Regional 19:34; 5. Rachel Quinn, Haddon Heights 19:52; 6. Dominique Hassinger, Delsea 19:54; 7. Paige Senatore, Delsea 19:57; 8. Mia Spinelli, Haddonfield 20:02; 9. Madeline McAdams, Haddonfield 20:19; 10. Colleen Shea, Haddonfield 20:20.

Teams-1. Delsea 33; 2. Haddonfield 41; 3. Haddon Heights 72; 4. Sterling 122; 5. Buena 122.

Group III girls

Individuals-1. Chelsea Ley, Kingsway Regional 17:33; 2. Megan Venables, Highland Regional 17:43; 3. Lyndsy Horn, Seneca 19:06; 4. Brooke Dovell, Timber Creek, 19:14; 5. Amanda Kerno, Timber Creek, 19:38; 6. Gabrielle Prenderg, Highland 19:42; 7. Nicole McGrainer, Seneca 19:53; 8. Austin Powell, Seneca 19:57; 9. Liz Locke, Kingsway, 20:04; 10. Christine Bettis, Hammonton 20:01.

Teams-1. Seneca 53; 2. Kingsway 84; 3. Ocean City108; 4. Highland 121; 5. Moorestown 152.

Group IV girls

Individuals-1. Natalie Ocasio, Lenape 18:24; 2. Caitlin Orr, Lenape 18:43; 3. Corrie Gethard, Southern Reg. 18:44; 4. Megan Lacy, Washington Twp. 19:16; 5. Dina Iancone, Washington Twp. 19:16; 6. Michelle Hess, Eastern 19:23; 7. Karah O'Halloran, Toms River North 19:24; 8. Maureen Macintosh, Toms River South 19:29; 9. Jacqui Kemmer, Toms River North 19:36; 10. Amanda Restivo, Lenape 19:36.

Teams-1. Toms River North 56; 2. Southern Regional 92; 3. Lenape 94; 4. Cherokee 115; 5. Williamstown 138.

Non-public girls

Individuals-1. Holly Bischof, Bishop Eustace Prep 18:43; 2. Emily Casey, Holy Spirit 19:04; 3. Tara Wuko, Wildwood Catholic 19:36; 4. Mo DiPietrantonio, Bishop Eustace Prep 19:52; 5. Kelly Malloy, Bishop Eustace Prep 19:59; 6. Catherine Nolan, Holy Spirit 20:10; 7. Courtney Kelly, Bishop Eustace Prep 20:33; 8. Chrissy Casiello, Wildwood Catholic 20:46; 9. Angel Bongiovanni, Holy Spirit 21:03; 10. Grace Lederer, Wildwood Catholic 21:23.

Teams-1. Bishop Eustace Prep 32; 2. Holy Spirit 43; 3. Wildwood Catholic 52; 4. Paul VI 115; 5. Moorestown Friends 141.

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