They've been waiting a long time for this.

As in years.

Cherokee's boys last night qualified for the Penn Relays for the first time in four years by running 8:00.8 to win the 3,200-meter relay at the Haddonfield Last Chance Meet.

"It feels amazing to finally do it," said junior James Maneval, who anchored in 1:58.8. "We've been waiting more than a year to run like this. It just didn't happen last year. For whatever reason, we weren't able to put one together.

"But we just went out and did it today. Getting our 4-by-8 into Penn has been one of our goals for a long time."

Cherokee has been one of New Jersey's top distance powerhouses for years, but this was Cherokee's fastest time since 2000, when the Chiefs ran 7:49.34 to place fifth at the adidas nationals in Raleigh.

Yesterday's time ranks 11th in county history.

Senior Mike Candy led off with a 2:01.8 and junior Will Andes, the county champ at 800 meters last spring, cruised into the lead with a 1:57.4 carry.

Senior Tom Yersak, moving down from 3,200 meters, split 2:02.7 to hold the lead and Maneval coasted home 20 meters ahead of second-place Triton.

"I'm really happy with the way they ran," coach Steve Shaklee said. "I can't honestly say I expected us to run eight-flat. I was thinking more in the 8:05 to 8:08 range would be good for us. But they all just went out and did their jobs.

"Mike did a good job getting us into the race and staying up there with the pack, then Will got us the lead and Tom and James both went out aggressively, which is what you're supposed to do with the lead. Tom went out in 57 and his 400 PR is 56.7, but he was able to finish strong off that."

The 112th annual Penn Relays is scheduled for April 28-30 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

"It's still early and we're still working on our fitness," Maneval said. "I think by Penn we'll definitely be ready to go 7:55 or under."

With All-America Rob Novak splitting 1:52.9, Bordentown ran a Penn Relays small-school qualifier of 8:09.3, a school record by 17 seconds and good for fourth behind Cherokee, Triton (8:03.7) and Highland (8:07.6).

This will be Bordentown's first appearance in a Penn Relays invitational relay.

Fred Mendenhall opened with 2:01.8 and soph Steve Turgyan and junior Mike Steffen followed to set up Novak.

"It's really, really exciting to get to Penn as a team," said Novak, sixth in the adidas nationals at 800 meters last spring. "It's a real energy boost.

"I know how big the Penn Relays is, but the other guys don't really know, so I got them all pumped up for it and they ran great."

In the boys 3,200-meter run, Cinnaminson junior Steve Grabowski ran a personal-best 9:44.6 to place second, just behind Chris Pisano of Toms River North (9:43.7). Grabowski closed in 67 to move from fourth to second.

Grabowski's previous personal best was 9:50.78, set when he placed third in the County Open last spring.