Ten Things to Watch at the Meet of Champions


In no order here are ten things to look forward to while you take in the Meet of Champions on Saturday.
This article written by Jim Lambert. 

RED HOT RIVERA

Old Bridge's Rey Rivera will take a shot at history in the 2-lapper as he aims for the meet record (1:48.53 by Ishmael Muhammad  of Oakcrest in 2014) and state record (1:48.44 by John Marshall of Plainfield). 

The Georgetown-bound Rivera ran a NJ #6 all-time 1:49.59 to win the Group 4 title last week. If Rivera wins he'd join Marshall as the only boys in state history to win three straight outdoor Meet of Champions titles. 

OH, BROTHER

There has only been one brother combination in state history to win outdoor Meet of Champions titles, Kevin and Glenn DiGiorgio of Bayonne. But Nick Mirabelli of Rancocas Valley has a great chance to change that in the javelin. 

Mirabelli, a junior, has the top throw in the state this season of 213-5. If he wins he'll join his brother Chris as an outdoor M of C winner.  Chris Mirabelli, now starring at Rutgers, won the M of C javelin as a junior in 2013. 


HISTORIC SPRINTS

Sophomore Mario Heslop of Franklin will attempt to become the first boy on state history to win both the 100 and 400 at the same M of C.

Heslop is the No. 1 seed in the 100 with his NJ #1 10.44 and is NJ #2 in the 400 at 46.84. Brandon Outlaw of Moorestown is NJ #1 with a 46.82.

Heslop may also run the 4x100 and 4x400. No boy has ever won 4 gold medals at the same M of C.


FRESHMAN PHENOM VS DEFENDING CHAMP

The girls 800 is shaping up to be a. Style between defending champion Lexi Del Gizzo of Tenafly, Victoria Vanriele of Gov. Livingston, and Brooke Fazio of Ridge.

Vanriele is coming off a freshman state record 2:08.71 to win the Group 2 title last week. Del Gizzo won the Group 3 800 and owns a PR of 2:10.17, and Group 4 winner Fazio has run 2:10.32.

Vanriele is seeking to join all-time great Joetta Clark of Columbia as he only freshman to win the 800. Clark won her first of four straight in 1977.


TRIPLE SPLASH

Cory Poole of East Orange will try to join Reuben McCoy of Winslow, Jermaine Collier of Trenton and Fabian Santiago of Oakcrest as the only boys to win 3 golds at the same M of C.

Poole is the defending champion in the 110 and 400 hurdles and will run on EO's NJ #1 4x400 (3:13.05)

Poole will also take aim at the meet records of 51.14 in the IH and 13.52 in the HH. His PR's are 50.71 and 13.46. The state IH record of 50.20 by Taylor McLaughlin of Union Catholic is also in Poole's sights.

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