Last high school laps for Haddonfield’s Hall

Marielle Hall can run anything. She can race across those wide open cross-country courses in the fall, make those tight turns on indoor tracks in the winter, and compete in multiple events in outdoor track in the spring.

But the Haddonfield senior has her favorite distance: the mile.

"It's the perfect combination of speed and strength," Hall said.

Hall might have been talking about herself. She won two more state titles this past weekend at the Group 2 competition at Egg Harbor Township, capturing the 1,600 meters in a group-record time of four minutes, 48.73 seconds on Friday night and cruising to victory in the 800 meters in two minutes, 11.73 seconds on Saturday.

Hall, who lives in Mt. Laurel, will be among the favorites in both events if she decides to double in Thursday's Meet of Champions at South Plainfield.

The event will be Hall's last race as a Haddonfield athlete. She will attend the University of Texas on a track scholarship.

Question: Why Texas?

Answer: I really like the coaches, but it was everything about the school. I loved it there. I thought it was the perfect place for me to grow.

Q: Did you attend a football game during your recruiting visit?

A: I did. That was something completely different for me. It was very exciting.

Q: What made you decide to attend Haddonfield as a tuition student?

A: My grammar school (Moorestown Friends) was small, with something like 40 kids in my class. I wanted to go to a small school and Haddonfield had a great reputation in academics and sports.

Q: What makes you most proud about your career at Haddonfield?

A: Team championships. We won team titles in cross-country and that was so exciting to be part of that.

Q: Are you sad to be finishing your high school career?

A: I am, but I'm also excited to be moving on, hoping to continue to improve. I like challenges.

Q: Do you know what you want to study at Texas?

A: I'm not sure. I'm thinking business, but I haven't made up my mind yet.

Q: Do you have a favorite subject in school?

A: I'm more of an English person than a math-science person. I like to read mystery stories.

Q: What kind of music do you listen to?

A: A little of everything. I'm big on oldies like New Edition.

Q: Who has been the biggest influence on your athletic career?

A: My parents. My mom [Racquel] really pushed me and inspired me, and my dad [Clifton] has been to every meet I've ever run.

Q: Got a favorite meal?

A: My mom's chicken and dumplings.

Q: Do you see yourself competing at the Olympic level in a few years?

A: That's something that I aspire to do. I know it will take a lot of work and I have to really push myself, but I want to try to keep improving and see where that takes me.

Three stars from last week

1. Sean Nolan hit a solo homer, drove in another run with a sacrifice fly, and singled in Washington Township's 7-4 victory over Lenape in the South Jersey Group 4 title game in baseball.

2. Eric Zaun had 19 kills in Cherry Hill East's 2-1 loss to Southern Regional in the South Jersey title match in boys' volleyball.

3. Brianna Crofton won the 100 and 400 and was third in the 200 to power Delsea to the Group 2 state title in girls' track.

Three tips on this week

1. Bishop Eustace visits St. Joseph's of Metuchen in the Non-Public A title game and Gloucester Catholic hosts St. Rose in the Non-Public B title game in sectional baseball on Tuesday.

2. Top-seeded Sacred Heart plays second-seeded Gloucester Catholic in the Non-Public B sectional title game in softball on Tuesday at Sterling.

3. The state's top track athletes converge on South Plainfield for the Meet of Champions on Thursday evening.

Super seven power rankings

The top teams in South Jersey, regardless of sport:

1. Moorestown girls' lacrosse (22-1): Yes, the Quakers lost to Shawnee by a 7-6 score in the South Jersey Group 3 final. Their body of work still makes them the best team in South Jersey.

2. St. Augustine boys' lacrosse (19-3): The Hermits will miss Navy-bound midfielder Gabe Voumard and other members of a talented senior class.

3. Timber Creek boys' track (5-0): The big-time football powers that are recruiting junior Damiere Byrd will note the speedster's terrific performance at this past weekend's Group 3 state championships.

4. Bishop Eustace baseball (22-7): Maybe a road game in Tuesday's sectional finals will be better luck for the Crusaders than the last two South Jersey title games at neutral sites.

5. Gloucester Catholic baseball (22-7): The Rams pounded out 17 hits in a 15-2 win over Sacred Heart in sectional semifinals.

6. Cherry Hill East boys' volleyball (23-3): The Cougars gave top-seeded Southern all it could handle in 2-1 loss in sectional finals.

7. Shawnee girls' lacrosse (20-2): The Renegades sprung the upset of the season in the sectional finals against Moorestown.

Under consideration: Seneca girls' track, Haddonfield boys' track, Delsea girls' track, Moorestown boys' tennis, Lenape boys' tennis, Sacred Heart softball, Lenape baseball.