Collingswood Girls Win First, Willingboro Repeats in Group 1


Boys ResultsGirls Results Videos / Photos

The Willingboro boys added to its rich tradition of excellence by winning its second straight title and 13th overall, the Collingswood girls made history by capturing its first championship, and Thomas Hampton of Clayton crushed a meet record at Friday's NJSIAA Group 1 Championships at the Bennett Center in Toms River.

In the boys competition, Willingboro rolled up 56 points to outscore runner-up Mountain Lakes by 36 points and notch its 13th state indoor title. The 13 state indoor titles by coach Martin Booker's Willingboro boys is tied for the third most in state history behind CBA's 23 and Asbury Park's 15. They matched St. Benedict's with 13 overall. 

Jayaire King had a big meet for the Chimeras.

He won the 400 in 51.19,  placed third in the hurdles in 7.65, and ran on the winning 4x400 team (3:32.85).

Willingboro also scored well in the high jump as Nate Robertson (6-4) and Kameron Smith (6-2) went 2-3.

Also for Willingboro, Deonte Allen was second in the shot put (42-5 3/4), Jason Dingle was fourth in the pole vault (12-0), and Kevin Peterson was fourth in the high hurdles at 8.12;.


On the girls side, Collingswood defeated runner-up Highland Park, 39-24, to capture its first title.

Collingswood took command of the meet when sophomore Sophie Steidle placed second in the 3,200 in 11:46.45, and then Collingswood secured the team title when the 4x400 team crossed first in 4:11.76.

Emily Wallace had a huge meet for Collingswood. 

The junior won the 55 dash with a huge PR of 7.29 as she beat defending champion Rebecca Kneppel of Butler (7.41), placed fourth in the 400 (1:00.33), and ran on the victorious 4x400 relay.  

Also for Collingswood, senior Samantha Hamrick placed fourth in the 800 (2:28.11) and ran on the winning relay, which also included Madison Verdone , and Dash Cruz. Quinn Basewitz placed fifth for Collingswood in the 1,600 in 5:24.21.

In other highlights -

Thomas Hampton of Clayton shredded the boys Group 1 55 dash record with a NJ#4 6.44. The former record of 6.54 was set last year by Demetrius Lassiter of People's Prep.

Jared Cooper produced all 20 points for Mountain Lakes by winning the 1600 in 4:19.82 and the 3200 in 9:37.93.

Highland Park junior Rebecca Ochan ran a NJ#6 57.68 to win the girls 400.

Henry Hudson junior Corina Vidal, the state Group 1 XC champ this past fall, won the 1,600 with a PR and NJ#10 time of 5:04.62

Junior Cydney Thomas of Haddon Heights, the state leader in the girls shot put at 46-1, unloaded a 44-3 to win the shot.