Westley Runs 17:01 5K, Plenty Impress at Metuchen Relays


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What a meet at Metuchen on Saturday! It was filled with impressive performances, not only for opening day but for season long marks. 

Before the sun came out the start of the meet had some cloudy, wet, cool weather which was great for the 5K and we definitely saw some hot times there. One of the biggest performances of the day was Alexa Westley's 17:01.82 run in the 5K, despite how early we are in the spring this was already faster than her previous PR of 17:03 which earned a third place All-American finish at New Balance Nationals Outdoor last spring. Claire Chapeau of McNair Academic second at 18:13. 

Watch the Race Videos Here

While the early morning weather was perfect for the distance race, it was less than optimal for the 400m hurdles but that didn't stop Liam O'Hara of Christian Brothers Academy who hit a major PR of 54.85 to lead the event and the state through week 1.  His teammate Rafael Coppola won the 400m dash as well running 51.25 NJ#1.

The girls 400m saw a defending Meet of Champions winner open her season, Kaira Brown of Kent Place posted an early 56.85 NJ#1. A full second ahead of the rest of the state right now. 

Another early season mark that really impressed was put forth by Bridgewater-Raritan freshman Marco Langon who won the 1600m with a 4:21.71. Langon is coming off a Freshman Mile win at New Balance Nationals Indoor, a performance that convinced him that track is where he belongs and was enough to switch from lacrosse to running in the spring. 

While we are only a week in there were quite a few NJ#1 performances.

Including those mentioned above. Jaheem Hayles of Roselle won the 110 meter hurdles with a 14.59. The boys 5K went to Bridgewater Raritan's Foster Boone. In the boys field Chris Salkowski of Watchung Hills won the javelin at 175-04, Michael Whitehead of Colts Neck the triple jump with 43-11. Hamilton West leads the 4x200m at 1:30.47, they also sit NJ#2 in the 4x100m with their 42.95 victory. 

For the girls Carly Tarentino of A. L. Johnson is in a three-way tie for the state lead thanks to her 5-04 clearance. Jamie Tomassetti of Watchung Hills won the 1600m running 5:19.42. 


Other winners and notables: Uchenna Duru of Union Catholic led both the boys shot put and discus with marks of 52-11.75 and 153-02, Adonis McGee of St. Peter's Prep won the high jump clearing 6-02 and his teammates won the DMR at 10:41.12, Rahway won the 800m SMR with a 1:35.82, the Sayreville boys took home gold in the 4x400m with 3:29.17 and 1600m SMR at 3:37.23, Juwon Jackson took home the long jump at 21-01.5. 

Metuchen swept the 4x800m on their home turf winning the boys race with a 8:28.11 and the girls 9:35.62. 

Girls winners not mentioned as of yet, Piscataway won the 4x100m and 4x200m at 49.80 and 1:43.80, Alexus Smith of Rahway led the 100H with a 15.21, Kailah Turner the discus at 105-09, and their teammates also won the 800m SMR 1:51.41, Watchung Hills found gold in the 4x400m running 4:08.94 and Mahogany Jenkins led both the long jump and triple jump at 17-06 and 36-03, the DMR was won by Voorhees at 13:09.22, Adelaide Asante of North Brunswick the 400H at 1:07.22, Sayreville's Adijah Simmon led the javelin at 109-10 and Samantha Kamara the shot put at 35-05.5.  

Plenty of great stuff from Metuchen Relays, check out all the National Elite Standard performances below. 

National Elite Performances

39 performances met the MileSplit US Second Team standard.

Girls Elites

400 Meter Dash Finals56.85Kaira BrownKent Place School
4x800 Meter Relay Finals9:35.62Relay TeamMetuchen HS
5000 Meter Run Finals17:01.82Alexa WestleyWarren Hills HS
5000 Meter Run Finals18:13.68Claire ChapeauMcNair Academic HS
5000 Meter Run Finals18:52.65Yashika ChidiralaSouth Brunswick HS
5000 Meter Run Finals19:09.65Lia AcostaBishop Ahr HS
High Jump Finals5-4Carly TarentinoA. L. Johnson HS
Long Jump Finals17-6Mahogany JenkinsWatchung Hills Reg. HS
Sprint Medley Relay Finals4:18.48Relay TeamPiscataway Twp HS
Sprint Medley Relay Finals4:19.75Relay TeamMount Olive HS
Sprint Medley Relay Finals4:24.45Relay TeamVoorhees HS
Sprint Medley Relay Finals4:27.44Relay TeamNorth Brunswick HS
800 Meter Sprint Medley Relay Finals1:51.41Relay TeamRahway HS
Triple Jump Finals36-3Mahogany JenkinsWatchung Hills Reg. HS

Boys Elites

110 Meter Hurdles Finals14.59Jaheem HaylesRoselle - Abraham Clark HS
110 Meter Hurdles Finals14.67Ola AkandeRahway HS
1600 Meter Run Finals4:21.71Marco LangonBridgewater-Raritan HS
1600 Meter Run Finals4:24.90Joseph CranleyHighland Park HS
400 Meter Hurdles Finals54.85Liam O'HaraChristian Brothers Academy
400 Meter Hurdles Finals55.53Kyle ReersDelaware Valley HS
5000 Meter Run Finals15:51.03Foster BooneBridgewater-Raritan HS
5000 Meter Run Finals15:52.95Vidhur PolamSouth Brunswick HS
5000 Meter Run Finals15:59.08Ryan SmithNorth Plainfield HS
5000 Meter Run Finals15:59.38TJ HarkinsImmaculata HS
5000 Meter Run Finals15:59.43Sameer MustaqaliSouth Brunswick HS
Discus Finals153-2Uchenna DuruUnion Catholic Reg. HS
Distance Medley Relay Finals10:41.12Relay TeamSt. Peter's Prep
Javelin Finals175-4Chris SalkowskiWatchung Hills Reg. HS
Shot Put Finals52-11.75Uchenna DuruUnion Catholic Reg. HS
Sprint Medley Relay Finals3:37.23Relay TeamSayreville HS
Sprint Medley Relay Finals3:39.96Relay TeamMount Olive HS
Sprint Medley Relay Finals3:40.33Relay TeamPiscataway Twp HS
Sprint Medley Relay Finals3:43.55Relay TeamFreehold Boro HS
Sprint Medley Relay Finals3:44.54Relay TeamSt. Peter's Prep
Sprint Medley Relay Finals3:44.81Relay TeamWarren Hills HS
Sprint Medley Relay Finals3:44.85Relay TeamSouth Brunswick HS
800 Meter Sprint Medley Relay Finals1:35.82Relay TeamRahway HS
800 Meter Sprint Medley Relay Finals1:38.16Relay TeamHillside HS
800 Meter Sprint Medley Relay Finals1:39.23Relay TeamMount Olive HS