3200m Rematch, on the biggest stage of the season Liam Murphy and Devin Hart will meet once again after an instant classic at the Meet of Champions where they ran the second and third fastest times in NJ state history. Murphy with the upset at 8:54.22 and Devin Hart second at 8:54.45. Those are the top two times in the country this season. More fireworks on the way?
Ridge's 4x800m girls squad is looking to make it three straight Indoor National titles in a row and they have a shot to do it. They won the NJSIAA meet of Champions Showcase and currently rank US#8 at 9:15.07.
But don't forget about Union Catholic, they were US#1 for a time and still hold at US#2 with their 9:07.44 from the Millrose Games. They didn't run their full squad at MOCs so we could have another potential NJ winner from there as well.
If a NJ girls squad wins the 4x8 it would be the sixth winner from our state in the past 11 years.
Athing Mu is back to defend her title in the 800m. Currently leads the country with her 2:03.98 from early February, recently ran an American Records 1:23.57 in the 600m. Is also eyeing up that 2:01.78 National high school record in the 800m.
NJ comes into Friday's distance medley relays with the US #1 times in both the boys and girls races. The Union Catholic girls own the US#1 time of 11:59.38, which it ran to win the Eastern States title last month. UC will clash with a loaded field that features North Rockland, N.Y, which will be anchored by the great Katelyn Tuohy. North Rockland ran a US#2 12:00.05 at the Varsity Classic. In the boys DMR, Christian Brothers Academy ran the US#1 boys time of 10:12.18 to finish first at Easterns, but won't be competing in the event. CBA is loading up the 4xmile.
Mu and Victoria Vanriele were the US#1 and US#3 returners from last season, they return along with second place Nikki Merrill of Rhode Island to take a shot at the title once again.
Boys 800m is a crowded race for NJ, the US#1 is NJ's Alfred Chawonza of St. Benedict's Prep he blasted a 1:50.57 at the end of February to put his name in contention for a National title. Then there is Luis Peralta who didn't run this year's NJSIAA state season to prep for fast times elsewhere and is among the US elite. He was third out of the unseeded heat last year. They are both scheduled for the final seeded heat.
Out of the second to last 800m heat Elijah Brown and Jackson Burnett will look to follow in Peralta and Sean Dolan's footsteps from last year and become All-Americans from a quality early heat run.
Sean Dolan, another one of the country's elite in the 800m/mile unfortunately had to cut his season short due to injury and is getting healthy for outdoors, where he is the defending mile champ at Nationals.
Abby Loveys and Julia Trethaway run out of the second to last heat in the girls Championship two mile looking for a chance at All-American status if the cards fall right.
St. Benedict's Prep has three boys in the top 20 US 800m rankings, and their US#1 ranked 4x800m team is a strong favorite to win the title. St. Peter's Prep vying for All-American status.
In the 4xMile, CBA, Haddonfield, Mendham all have strong cases for glory in the relay, don't miss that race. Colts Neck girls also going for All-American status out of the seeded heat. CBA the US#1 DMR team this season at 10:12 from their win at Eastern States.
Mainland Regional's Kevin Antczakmade his way into the seeded 5K Championship heat and will attempt All-American status.
New Jersey could have some players in the race walk! Samuel Allen of Kingsway and Christopher Renn both look strong entering the event with credentials of their own merrit. Renn is a USATF JR National Age Group Champ. Allen put down a US#1 1 mile race walk in January at 7:02 and was an All-American Outdoors in the 3000m race walk placing fifth at 15:33.41.
