Girls Group 4 Recap | Bria Mack Under Seven Seconds, Rancocas Valley Wins State Title

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This meet was almost a showcase in itself both individually and in the exciting team race. 

The team title went to Rancocas Valley who won their second championship in school history and their first since all the way back in 1987. It came down to the 4x400 meter in exciting fashion as the Rancocas Valley girls weren't in the fastest seeded section and had to out run not only their heat but the one after. Taking off from heat three of four, and needing a second or higher finish overall to out score South Brunswick for the title, the Rancocas squad stepped up and ran the only sub-four minute time of 3:58.11 NJ#3. The final score, Rancocas Valley first with 29 and South Brunswick second at 26. 

The 4x400 meter anchor Aliyah Taylor was their only other gold medal finisher, she won the 400 meter dash with a 56.76 and ran an impressive 7.01 NJ#2 season best in the 55 meter dash for second. Another point was added in the high jump by Sydnee Nance at 5-2.  

As mentioned above Aliyah Taylor ran a very fast 7.01 in the 55 meter dash and somehow still finished second, that was because Williamstown's Bria Mack is now tied for 10th all-time in NJ history at 6.95 NJ#1 US#8 (watch here).  Mack joins just 13 other girls who have gone under an F.A.T. recorded seven seconds in the event. Looking forward to that match-up along with the addition of other talented sprinters outside this group as they prepare to face off at the Meet of Champions. 

Watch all the Races Here

Niamh Hayes of Howell HS was only a second off the Group 4 meet record when she finished first in the 3200 meter running 10:39.50 NJ#2 US#12. Kami Joi Hickson of Washington Twp became a state champ as a freshman in the 800 meter running 2:14.99 NJ#3. Kingsway's Rachel Vick ran the fastest 1600 meter of the championship weekend when she won Group 4 at 5:01.96 NJ#3. In the 55 meter hurdles Claudine Smith of Atlantic City posted an 8.43 to win which is NJ#8 this season.

Courteney Campbell was a big part of her South Brunswick team's second place finish winning the high jump at 5-06 NJ#1. Nicole Lester of Ridgewood vaulted to a height of 11-0 NJ#9 to take the pole vault championship.

Najeaya Singleton of Vineland closed out the shot put with a mark of 46-1.5 NJ#3 US#10 to win her second career state title, she won the outdoor discus event last spring throwing 137-1. There are now three girls from New Jersey ranked top ten nationally in the shot put between Singleton at US#10, Danielle Notarfrancesco at US#6, and Alyssa Wilson at US#1. 

Group 4 State Champions