Summer and Cross Country, 2024

-- For years, on July 4th, the current team and quite a few Alums raced the traditional Marlton Fourth of July 5K (now called the Marlton Mayor's Cup 5K and generally dominated the race. Indeed, over the past 11 years or so, Cherokee's athletes won at least 11 of the races, taking 1st and 2nd in the bargain! Last year, Alums Mike Zurzolo '17, now coaching at Highland High School, finished in 1st; Ethan Wechsler '19, took 2nd; Mike Iannotta '17, now at Grad School at Drexel and an accomplished marathoner, took 3rd; and Brandon Marks '17 took 4th! Alum Jack Shea '17, now in grad school at St. Joseph's and race course record holder, chose to race the Haddon Heights FireCracker 5K because they award real cash at the finish line! ; < ) (FYI, Jack won the FireCracker and took home the cash with a smile!)

-- On July 4th, 2024, Marlton sponsored their annual 4th of July 5K and an unusually small group of Cherokee Alums -- probably because it was so darn hot! -- showed up for the race! Typically, a Cherokee Alum won the race but, this year, "an outsider," long-ago Moorestown graduate, Kevin McDonneld, (14:47, 4:43 pace) now coached by Cherokee's Steve Shaklee, took 1st; followed by Cherokee's Mike Zurzolo '17 in 2nd (15:47, 5.05 pace), now coaching at Highland H.S,; Conor Jacob '23 of Monmouth University in 5th (17:07, 5:32 pace); Marc Pelerin '02 in 9th (18:34, 6:00 pace); Josh Pawlik '22 in 14th (20:06, 6:30 pace); Joe Hough '23 in 17th (20:24, 6:37 pace); Evan Pawlik '22 in 21st (21:00, 6:47 pace); and Chris Zurzolo in 179th (31:18, 10:06). Details at: Results and excellent finish line video. On June 30th, our photographer fell from his bike and seriously damaged his ribs. As a result, he was unavailable to shoot the race. Sorry.

~~~ Almost a year ago, Bill Shea, father of Cherokee Alums, Jack '17 and Brett '21, outstanding Coach at the Marlton Recreation Council, and the "Running Father" of many of you, suffered a massive stroke. He fought the after-effects of the stroke, and others since then and, just last week, died from his injuries! Say a prayer and pass a kind word to the family when you see them. ~~~

-- On July 18, 2024, our recovering photographer dropped by the team's morning practice and found several Alums doing their own training and stepping into a number of tempo drills with the team. Conor Jacob '23 and Nick Kuenkle '24 both of Monmouth University, took advantage of a bit cooler morning to train and say "hello!" Also, Jack Shea '17, in a grad program at St Joe's University, is volunteering to help coach the team. BYW, Nick's glasses routine was a reminder of a habit we laughed about for years. Competition pic is from Indoor Track!

In mid-August, two Alums, Kevin Cuneo '04 and Kevin Schickling '08, and a wanna-be Alum, Tim Callinan, now Directors of the RunningWorks CC Camp in the Poconos, ably aided by Alums Jack Shea '17, and Mike Zurzolo '17, among others, ran a very successful camp this summer. Traditionally, the temperature at the camp is 10 degrees lower than at home in Marlton but this year, for only the second time in 24 years, the temperature went into the 40's for several nights for a nice change from this summer's hellishly hot temps at home! Congratulations!

After 23 years, our regular photographer was unavailable and these are part of Seawon Park's work at camp.

Also in mid-August, Kevin and Colleen Cuneo had a surprise early visitor, their first child! Reportedly, a tiny little kid, she spent her early days in the hospital's ICU but is said to be looking quite well! Congratulations!

On August 29th, 2024, Alum Mike Zurzolo '17, now coaching at Highland H.S., traveled to CBA for the Monmouth Mile. Running unattached, Mike raced the Mixed 1 Mile Run Community and finished 1st in 4:23.57! Also racing unattached was Alum Jack Shea '17 in the Mile Elite Class where he finished 14th in 4:20.88. Details including vedeos at: NJ.MileSplit

On August 30th, 2024, Alums Nico Grilli '21, and Conor Jacob '23 of Monmouth University, ran their first college races this season at the 6K Temple Owl Invitational in Ambler, PA. Nico placed 12th/40 overall in 19:45.2 (5:17 pace) while Conor placed 23rd/40 overall in 20:42.3 (5:33 pace). Both were their first recorded 6K's. Details at: TFRRS. Nick Kuenkle '24, also at Monmouth University, is scheduled to race in The Jersey Jam next weekend at Princeton! (Picture from Monmouth U.)

On August 30th, 2024, Alum Silas Matteson '24 OF TCNJ, was introduced to college competition at home in their Blue and Gold Invitational, largely an intra-squad 8K Cross Country meet. Silas finished the course in 17th/40 overall, clocking 17:32.8 (5:38 pace). GO SILAS! Details at: TFRRS.

On September 6th, 2024, Alum Nick Kuenkel '24 of Monmouth University and Bobby Poplau '24 of Rutgers University, opened their college running careers at Princeton University's The Jersey Jam, competing on their 5600m course. Nick raced the course in 17:22.4, finishing 3rd for his team and 18th/78 overall. Bobby covered the course in 18:40.4, finishing in 60th. Details at: Leone.

On September 6th, 2024, Alum Silas Matteson '24 of TCNJ, traveled to Union Square H.S. for West Chester University's WCU Season Opener. Silas raced the 6K in 20:42.3 (5:33.2) and finished 14th/42 overall. Details at: TFRRS<.

On September 13th, 2024, Alum Ethan Wechsler '19 of Syracuse University, traveled to Penn State University for the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational. Ethan raced the 5.2 mile course in 25:35.4 (pace 4:55.3) and finished in 23rd/209 overall! Ethan ran the course many times in the past and clocked between 25:53 and 25:29! Details at: TFRRS.

On September 13th, 2024, Alums Nico Grilli '21, and Conor Jacob '23 of Monmouth University, traveled to Penn State University for the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational. Nico covered the 5.2 mile course in 26:56.1 (pace 5:10.8) and finished in 131st/209 overall. Conor was timed in 27:40.2 (pace 5.19.3) and finished in 163rd/209 overall. Details at: TFRRS.

On September 27th, 2024, Alum Ethan Wechsler '19 of Syracuse University, traveled to the University of Wisconsin in Madison for the Nuttycombe Invitational. There he raced the 8K course in 24:45.9 (5:48.9 pace) and finished in 109th/186 overall. Details at: TFRRS.

~~~ On October 1, 2024, Frank Medvec, the father of Alums Andrew Medvec '03 and Mike Medvec '06 died from cancer. Usually, we mention the deaths of only extraordinary parents in the Alums section and Mr. Medvec qualifies as he continued to participate in Cherokee Track and Field l ong after his sons graduated. As both a high school and college official (always at the Penn Relays), he worked mostly in the Field and routinely asked for jobs at Cherokee to stay in touch through the Indoor and Spring Seasons! Say a prayer and pass a kind word to the family when you see them. ~~~

On October 5th, 2024, Alums Nico Grilli '21,; Conor Jacob '23 and Nick Kuenkel '24 of Monmouth University, traveled to Lehigh University for the highly competitive Paul Short Run. In the College Gold 8K, Nick set the standard for our Cherokee Alums, clocking 25:24.7 (5:06.7 pace) and finishing 200th/394 overall and 167th/298 team competitors; and Nico followed in 26:09.8 (5:15.8 pace) finishing 291st/394 overall and 253/298 team competitors. In the Men's Open Race, Conor clocked 26:54.0 (5:24.7 pace), finishing 212th/632 overall and 135th/352 team competitor. Details at: TFRRS.

On October 5th, 2024, Alum Bobby Poplau '24 of Rutgers University, traveled to Lehigh University's Paul Short Run and competed as an individual in the Men's Open Race where he clocked 27:04.8 (5:26.8 pace) and finished 234th/632 overall. Details at: TFRRS.

On October 12th, 2024, Alum Silas Matteson '24 of TCNJ, traveled to the New Jersey Institute of Technology for their Highlander XC Challenge. Silas clocked 28:09.0 (5:39.8 pace) and finished 52nd/297 overall, 4th on his team that also finished 4th/31 teams! Details at: TFRRS.Alert to everything around them TCNJ's team stands ready at the starting line!

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