Even if Haddonfield High School was having itself a day, the Penn Relays reminded the team how great the competition can be.Third through fifth place - Concord-Carlisle (Mass.), River Dell Regional, and Haddonfield - in the distance medley Championship of America race was decided by fractions of a second - 10 minutes, 10.33 seconds, 10:10.36 and 10:10.62.

It was even closer for winner Loudon Valley (Va.), in 10:00.003, and runner-up La Salle Academy (R.I.), in 10:00.004.

The difference between those two groups was much larger.

"It's crazy watching those teams. We're running a great race, and they're 10 seconds ahead of us," said Austin Stoner, who ran the 800-meter leg for Haddonfield in 1:55.59. "It's pretty crazy just to be a part of a relay with that kind of finish that fast."

To Haddonfield's credit, its time was impressive, too. The group, which also included Derek Gess (3:10.84 for 1,200 meters), Luke Colehower (50.06 for 400), and Greg Pelose (4:14.13 for 1,600), finished just one second off the school record.

The Bulldawgs learned from what they called a lackluster showing at last year's Relays. This year, they remained composed, especially during a frantic first leg that featured runners stumbling over one another.

Stoner, a senior, also overcame the fact that he had been racing for only a week since returning from an injury.

"It's great to have him back on the squad. He came back really strong," Pelose said. "It's nice to get a little redemption from last year."