McCracken 2nd as Wildwood teams qualify for states; Cura advances

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

LOGAN TOWNSHIP – A number of local high school cross country runners will be competing at this weekend’s state championship meets in Holmdel.

The full boys and girls team from Wildwood and Lower Cape May’s Jack Cura each qualified for the state championship meets by virtue of their performances at the sectional meets on Saturday at Dream Park.

Wildwood’s boys and girls teams each placed fifth in the South Jersey Group I race. And Lower’s Cura was 15th in the South Jersey Group II boys race.

The top five teams and the top 15 individuals in each sectional race qualify for the state meet.

Wildwood’s effort was highlighted by a second-place finish by Macie McCracken. The sophomore posted a time of 19 minutes, 12.14 seconds to finish just behind sectional champion Megan Lex of Haddon Township, who finished in 19:10.62. It is the second straight second-place finish for McCracken at the South Jersey meet.

McCracken’s teammate, Leah Pawlus, also cracked the top 10, placing sixth in 21:22.71.

Wildwood’s other scorers were Olivia Hunter (41st place, 25:34.45), Reagan Kobierowski (47th place, 26:11.62) and Monica Kobierowski (51st place, 26:34.69). The Lady Warriors finished fifth out of eight teams.

A total of 66 runners finished the Group I girls race.

Jorge Cruz Valle paced the Wildwood boys team’s showing in the Group I sectional. The junior placed sixth with a time of 16:58.37.

Other scorers for Wildwood include Luke Basile (26th, 18:49.05), Ahmed Djellal (28th, 18:51.28), Brian Cunniff (52nd, 20:19.10) and Alexis Huerta-Tapia (68th, 21:30.22). The Warriors finished fifth out of 17 teams.

A total of 108 runners completed the Group I boys race.

Cura, a senior, placed 15th in the Group II boys race in 16:33.66. Cura’s teammate, Aiden Formento, did not qualify for states but posted a good time of 18:32.53 to place 42nd.