Preview | Five Things to Keep an Eye on During Each Group Championship

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

Group 4

NP A

NP B

5. Group 4 is jam packed with talent! Too much to keep in 5 bullet points. Along with the highlights below keep names like Ciara Roche and Christina Rancan in your head for girls distance, both are known sub-five minute 1600 meter runners. Rey Rivera of Old Bridge is always good for an impressive performance in the 800 meter. 

Hannah Taylor and Courtney Campbell are tied NJ#1 in the high jump at 5-8. Jordan Fields leads the state in the triple jump with a 40-6. 

4. Montclair's Jason Campbell leads the state in the discus with a mark of 189-6. He threw that standard at Essex County Championships. With the talent brewing in this event he'll have to keep pace with the like's of NJ#2 Jordan West (188-10) and NJ#3 Dan Gilligan (188-9) who compete in the Group 3 Championships this weekend. 

3. Bria Mack of Williamstown toyed with her Sectional meet last weekend winning three individual events and leading all of Group 4 in the 100 (11.68) and 200 meter (24.37). She came out 10th in the combined 400 meter merge with her 57.90 as well.  

She was second in the 100 meter dash last year at MOCs and returns a defending Group Champion. We could see some great times out of Mack on Friday and Saturday with the extra competition around this talented junior. 

2. Brandon Tubby has burst onto the 1600 meter title chase! At Sectionals last week Tubby ran 4:10.65 to win over a talented field including NJ#2 ranked Tim Bason, Tubby now finds himself with the fastest recorded time on the season, a time that hadn't been run since 2013 when West Windsor South's Dan Riff ran 4:10.28 at a Twilight meet! Expect a great Group 4 race with even more talent joining the fray. 

1. Corey Poole is back for redemption! After missing the indoor states with an unfortunate false start Poole is back where he belongs as the state's top hurdler battling with other talented athletes to be crowned champion. Only a junior he leads the state in both the 110 hurdles and 400 hurdles this season. 

He won his section in the 110 meter hurdles with a career best and state leading time of 13.85. He hasn't lost a race in this event since 2014 as a freshmen. And in the 400 meter hurdles Poole took first with a 53.27. He holds the state lead with a 51.91 from Essex County Championships. 

He also ranks NJ#7 in the 400 dash thanks to his 48.30 at sectionals. 

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