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Petela, Haddon Township roll at South Jersey Track & Field Championships

Luke Petela was more than 2,500 meters into his 3,200-meter race Saturday when he looked over his right shoulder. The Haddon Township senior wasn't checking to see how far the nearest competitor was behind him. He already knew.

Luke Petela was more than 2,500 meters into his 3,200-meter race Saturday when he looked over his right shoulder.

The Haddon Township senior wasn't checking to see how far the nearest competitor was behind him. He already knew.

Petela turned to teammate Owen Long, who had stayed within a stride of him from the start. The two confirmed they would flip spots to take the wind off Petela.

Long eventually told Petela to take the win, his third South Jersey Group 1 victory of the weekend at Egg Harbor Township.

Petela finished in 9 minutes, 29.52 seconds, less than two hundredths of a second ahead of Long.

"We were cruising together," said Petela, a Penn recruit. "It was just like a workout for us. "We work really well together."

Another teammate, Joe Domanico, finished third.

Petela also won the 1,600 (4:11.78) on Friday and the 800 on Saturday morning (1:55.02). Petela earned three sectional titles in a weekend for the first time, but he was more excited that Haddon Township won its second sectional team title and first since 2012.

"I'll care more about the placement at Meet of Champs, individually," Petela said. "For the state meets, we'll go for the team win, and I think that's more important at this point."

Lenape three-peats

Carly Pettipaw was able to sleep easy when she got home Friday night. She won the Group 4 400 meters and the 400 hurdles to pick up her first two outdoor sectional titles.

With the pressure off, the Lenape senior added to her collection Saturday by winning the 800 in 2:14.27.

"The two (wins) yesterday definitely took some pressure off for the 800 today," Pettipaw said. "I think it calmed my nerves and gave me some confidence knowing that I could do it."

Pettipaw, a Delaware recruit, savored the opportunity to show what she could do individually.

"We definitely get a lot of attention for our relays," Pettipaw said. "This is really exciting to have some individual thing where I can shine and show my talents and show off all the hard work I've put in throughout the season."

Her teammate, Jasmine Staten, was second by .17 seconds in the 400. Staten, a sophomore, won the long jump (18 feet, four inches), the 100 hurdles (14.82) and the 200 (24.81). She set school records in the long jump and 200.

"Ever since I was a freshman, I was like, 'I'm going to be on the wall, I'm going to break those records,' " Staten said. "I did it and I'm happy."

Lenape won its second team title.

Now you know

Annika Merkh was teased about it all afternoon.

Her first name, which is properly pronounced with an emphasis on the 'A,' was said over the public address with an emphasis on the 'I' when she won the Group 1 800 meters in 2:24.73. After the weekend Merkh had, though, the Haddon Township sophomore shouldn't have an issue with people not knowing her name.

Merkh also won the 1,600 on Friday (5:17.28) and the 3,200 on Saturday (11:27.68).

ncarroll@phillynews.com