Schalick senior getting back on track after stretch of illness slowed her down, now turns her attention to sectionals, state
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
SEABROOK – Jordan Hadfield is starting to feel like her old self again – just in time for the biggest races of the year.
The Schalick senior had been fighting through an illness she knows not what that combined with a heavy race schedule impacted her from being in top form.
She was still feeling some of it Wednesday at the Tri-County Conference Showcase, but felt a lot closer to being back, winning the girls race for the second year in a row. She covered the Cumberland Regional course in 18:57.51.
“I’m definitely a little bit more happy about where we’re heading toward sectionals,” she said. “Just from getting over being sick it’s hard to get back into it, so running high 18s just for getting back is not bad.
“With the sectionals coming up (at Dream Park) I have a week and a half to get myself together. I’ll definitely have to focus in training. Now that I feel better we’ll definitely do better.”
Race followers sensed something was wrong at the Salem County Championship when Hadfield ran a 19:15.79 to win the race and was physically upset about it. It was part of a grueling stretch of three races in eight days.
It was such a grind she sat out last week’s TCC Batch Meet in which the Cougars clinched their division championship in order to be ready for Wednesday and the rest of the season.
“I typically am not like the person to be sick all the time, I kind of get lucky with that stuff, and this part of the season is not a good time to get sick,” she said. “I’m so thankful it was not during sectionals and things.
“Today’s race was just about seeing where we are after you’re being sick and just getting back into it, and running somewhat close to what you used to be able to so that this week and a half will be just refining that.”
Hadfield went out in Wednesday’s race “a little slower than I would’ve preferred,” but still at a pace she felt comfortable. The contenders ran together for about the first two miles, then she picked up the pace because she didn’t want it to come down to a big push at the end and led the rest of the race.
She beat runner-up Sophia Aldridge of Williamston to the wire by nine seconds. Wildwood’s Macie McCracken was third, another 16 seconds back.
The next fastest Salem County finisher after Hadfield was Woodstown’s Abby Marino, who finished 11th (20:31.07). Salem Tech’s Sarah Seiden was 21st (21:21.04).
Schalick finished sixth as a team. Delsea won the girls team title, squeezing all its counters in a tight 78-second pack between sixth and 15th.
Glassboro’s Ty Blackman won the boys race in 15:49.74. Highland Regional won the team title, placing four of its five counters among the top 13.
Woodstown’s Cole Lucas and county champion Karson Chew finished 11th and 17th, respectively, to help the Wolverines to a fifth-place team finish. Schalick was 11th, Salem Tech 14th and Salem 16th.
Hadfield is still trying to decide her college future, but her choice appears to be coming down between St. Joe’s and the University of Rhode Island.
Tri-County Showcase
BOYS TEAM SCORES: Highland 63, Williamstown 89, Kingsway 96, Glassboro 119, Woodstown 159, Delsea 167, Clearview 172, Washington Twp. 176, Timber Creek 186, GCIT 205, Schalick 306, Pitman 350, Deptford 360, Salem Tech 406, Cumberland 412, Salem 438, Clayton 505.
GIRLS TEAM SCORES: Delsea 57, Williamstown 71, Washington Twp. 74, Kingsway 78, Clearview 79, Schalick 156, Pitman 197, GCIT 204, Cumberland 256.
| BOYS TOP 15 | TIME | GIRLS TOP 15 | TIME |
| Ty Blackman, Glassboro | 15:49.74 | Jordan Hadfield, Schalick | 18:57.71 |
| Matthew Littlehales, Delsea | 16:00.24 | Sophia Aldridge, Williamstown | 19:06.74 |
| Ryan Duffy, Kingsway | 16:17.03 | Macie McCracken, Wildwood | 19:22.13 |
| Mason Wassell, Highland | 16:26.16 | Kaylee Russen, Wash Twp. | 19:34.49 |
| Dominic Burgio, Williamstown | 16:29.94 | Rachael Wilson, Wash Twp. | 19:50.63 |
| Ethan Worst, Clearview | 16:33.71 | Aubrey Bishop, Kingsway | 19::59.63 |
| Hunter Bostwick, Wash Twp | 16:36.96 | Lyana Gutierrez, Highland | 20:03.21 |
| Dylan Saber, Williamstown | 16:40.63 | Juliana Sieminski, Delsea | 20:11.15 |
| Andrew Dopkin, Highland | 16:49.61 | Delaney Harbison, Williamstown | 20:14.38 |
| Logan Pavelik, Williamstown | 16:52.78 | Alaina Zabielski, Kingsway | 20:20.04 |
| Cole Lucas, Woodstown | 16:54.94 | Abby Marino, Woodstown | 20:31.07 |
| Andrew Kellem, Highland | 17:10.19 | Laney Vecchio, Delsea | 20:34.33 |
| Colin Roznowski, Highland | 17:10.57 | Lilla Porter, Clearview | 20:46.91 |
| Ryne Handley, Clearview | 17:15.45 | Julia Burgio, Williamstown | 20:52.87 |
| Jaeden Wesley, Glassboro | 17:18.16 | Emily Luther, Triton | 20:57.50 |
Girls tennis
WOODSTOWN 5, GLASSBORO 0
Gabby Kurpis (Wo) def. Ella Killelea, 6-0, 6-1
Camille Osborn (Wo) def. Kaylee Johnson, 6-1, 6-1
Aubrie Rennie (Wo) def. Halle Lazarus, 6-0, 6-0
Leah Waterman-Julianna Lindenmuth (Wo) def. Alana Killelea-Taylor Adcock, 6-1, 6-0
Melissa Hassler-EvaLouisa Thomsen (Wo) def. Virginia Tarasevich-Alice Dinzeo, 6-0, 6-1
Records: Woodstown 15-5, Glassboro 5-10
Riverview Sports News 