For the first time in 25 years, Cadwalader Park in Trenton welcomed high school cross-country competitions, including standout performances from Hopewell Valley Central High School athletes during the Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) race on September 4. The event marked the park’s return as a key venue for high school running, drawing teams from across the region, including Hopewell Valley, Trenton Central, and West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North.
Recent work to design and build a cross-country course at Cadwalader Park, featuring soft surfaces and two distinct 5K race layouts, has made it possible for the city to host interscholastic running again. Cadwalader Park is one of six CVC racing venues for the 15-member high schools designated for 2024. The new course, a collaborative effort led by the Trenton Department of Recreation, Natural Resources and Culture, the Trenton Central High School Athletic Department, and the Cadwalader Park Alliance, replaces a previous one that fell into disuse some years ago.
Cadwalader Park has a long history of cross country, dating back to the 1900s. Starting in the 1920s, the NJSIAA initiated on-site high school running races. In 1963, the park hosted Mercer County’s Inaugural Cross Country Championship, co-organized by the Trenton Central High School Athletic Department. Cadwalader Park’s last high school race was in 1999.
Hopewell Valley athletes made a strong showing at the meet. Claire Dumont of Hopewell Valley Central High School won the girls’ race, setting a competitive tone for the season ahead. The September 4 event was hosted by the Trenton Cross Country team, which led the efforts to design and build the park’s new course.
CVC Cross Country Results
September 4, 2024
Cadwalader Park, Trenton
West Windsor-Plainsboro North vs. Hopewell Valley vs. Trenton
Girls
Team Scores: West Windsor-Plainsboro North 20, Hopewell Valley 39; West Windsor-Plainsboro North 15, Trenton 50 (forfeit); Hopewell Valley 15, Trenton 50 (forfeit)
Top 10 Finishers (39 overall): Claire Dumont (HV) 20:19.8, Sara Secora (WWPN) 20:41.4, Zui Chinchalkar (WWPN) 20:43.1, Prakavi Kumaran (WWPN) 22:05.2, Allison Lee (WWPN) 22:13.8, Juliette Halpin (WWPN) 22:15.5, Anna Wilson (HV) 22:20.9, Fatima Arastu (WWPN) 22:28.6, Elsie Rey-de-Castro (HV) 22:46.5, Maggie Maclean (HV) 22:48.2
Boys
Team Scores: West Windsor-Plainsboro North 15, Hopewell Valley 49; West Windsor-Plainsboro North 15, Trenton 50; Hopewell Valley 18, Trenton 45
Top 10 Finishers (66 overall): Luke Ferrer (WWPN) 17:17.6, Veejhay Roy (WWPN) 17:20.7, Subomi Allison (WWPN) 17:30.7, Agrim Jha (WWPN) 17:38.0, Krrish Sheth (WWPN) 17:56.2, Vibhav Kumar (WWPN) 17:59.5, Silas Allevik (HV) 19:59.7, Jordan Andrade (WWPN) 18:00.6, Soham Shah (WWPN) 18:03.1, Paul Wittenberg (WWPN) 18:23.6
Hopewell Valley’s cross-country program will continue its season at various CVC venues, including a return to Cadwalader Park on September 10. The upcoming race will feature Trenton Central High School, Allentown High School, Ewing High School, and Notre Dame. Both the September 4 and September 10 races start and finish at Cadwalader Park’s Gully Field, near the corner of Cadwalader Drive and Stuyvesant Avenue, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with the first race kicking off at 4 p.m.
The revival of cross country at Cadwalader Park not only enriches the Trenton running community but also provides new opportunities for young athletes from surrounding areas like Hopewell Valley. As the season progresses, local runners will continue to benefit from this historic and revitalized course, adding to the depth of cross-country competition in the region.
A makeup date of October 1 is planned for any rain dates or cancellations.
Special thanks to Jordan Antebi for the tip and photos!
