UC and East Orange ready to drop some hot times at Bullis

NNew Jersey powerhouses Union Catholic and East Orange were looking for a meet loaded with talent that provided some different competition than they are used to battling against in the Garden State.

The Jersey juggernauts found what they were looking for at today's Bullis Bulldog Invitational in Potomac, Maryland. They aren't the only NJ teams at this high powered meet as Columbia , West Side and Deptford are also competing. And look out for Nick Parisi of Seton Hall Prep in the 200 and 400.

Coach Mike McCabe's Union Catholic girls, the top squad in Jersey for the last few years, is coming off a sizzling performance at the Metuchen Relays week when it threw down four NJ #1 performanaces-Jerika Lufrano (meet and school record 17:45.79 5K), Brianna Ewing (PR of 14.87 HH ), Zamira Ysaac (1:06.00 400H) and the 4x200 (1:44.60).

UC has entered sevveral athletes in individual events and will also run some relays.

Among some of the top entries fro UC-Lufrano is the top seed in both the 1,600 and 3,200,
Leena Morant is in the 800, Khamil Evans in the 400, Ysaac (400 H), Ewing (HH). The the Vikings might also run a hot 4x400. It ran 3:56.38 indoors, but is capable of a sub 3:50. With Olympian Sydney McLaughlin on the anchor last year, UC ran a US #2 3:38.92. 

On the boys side, East Orange coach Lance Wigfall said his team wants to burn up the track in the 4x400 and SMR, and senior star Akeem Lindo, who recenlty singled with North Carolina A&T, will be seeking to blast a fast time in the 300 hurdles.

Could EO throw down some US #1 times? It's possible.


EO was second in both the 4x400 and SMR at the New Balance Indoor Nationals last month and ran US #2 times in both events indoors (3:16.60 in the 4x400 and 3:28.99 in the SMR).  

As for Lindo, he'll be running a 200 leg on the SMR, a leg on the 4x400, and run the 300 hurdles, a race that NJ doesn't offer (NJ runs the 400 H). Lindo, who has run 37.34 this season, will be seeking to go under 37.00, something only have guys have done in the U.S. this season. He could challange the  US #1 time of 36.56 run by Thomas Burns of Miami Northwestern. 

The UC boys could also burn a fast 4x400, led by sophomore star Elijah Brown, who split 48 point last week. The Vikings ran 3:20.16 indoors and are capable of shedding a few seconds off that. Brown is also entered in the open 400.

In adddition to Brown, UC has some other highly seeded boys entered. Brandon Patterson is the top seed in shot put and No. 2 in the discus, and Ryan McLaughlin (HH), Krishna White (jumps), and Justin Cadas in the 800 all have a shot to medal.