Boys Group Championship Preview: What to Watch For

These two state powers, who have combined to win the last seven titles, will keep that streak intact when they renew one of the best rivalries in the state in what should be a great showdown that could be decided  by single digits.

CBA, which defeated UC 159-135.33 to win the South Jersey title last week, is attempting to win its fourth straight title and extend its state record to 23 championships overall. 

UC is seeking its first title since winning a third straight in 2015.

As usual, CBA has deep stable of distance runners, led by Georgetown-bound Tim McInerney, who is NJ#1 in the 1,600 (4:10.97), Shaw Powell, Troy Hill, and Tristan Amell.

But the Colts also have a very strong throwing squad, sparked by Nick Morse, Eros Bottino, and Chris Arias.

Morse is NJ#5 in the shot put at 57-10, Bottino is NJ#6 in the shot at 57-3, and Arias is NJ#8 in the javelin with a 182-1.

UC is led by juniors Elijah Brown and Conor Reilly, senior Uchenna Duru, and freshman star Myles Plummer. 

Brown won the indoor Meet of Champions title in the 800, Reilly, who owns a PR of 15-3 in the pole vault, could break the Non-Public A record of 14-9 set in 1998 by Ed Keefe of St. John Vianney, Duru won the SJ Non-Public A discus title with a 172-1, and Plummer is one of the top 800 runners in the state. 

There are plenty of other great athletes to watch out for, most notably Sincere Rhea of St. Augustine.

The Penn State-bound Rhea, who won the New Balance National indoor title in the 60m HH, has run a wind-aided 13.52 in the 110m hurdles-the No. 3 all-conditions automatic time in state history, will be chasing the All-Groups record and state automatic time record of 13.43 set in 1999 by Danyne Brown of Camden.

Renaldo Nehemiah of Scotch Plains has run the fastest time in state history in the HH with a 12.9 hand time in 1977, which converts to 13.14.

Rhea is also the No. 1 seed in the 400m (48.80) and is favored to win the 200m where he's gone 21.86 this season. 

There is a lot of depth and talent in the shot put.

Connor Mathis of Don Bosco Prep comes into the meet NJ#1 in the shot put with a 59-7. But there are four other throwers in this competition who have gone beyond 55 feet this season,. Anthony Zamarra of Red Bank Catholic is NJ#3 at 58-1 3/4. CBA's Morse is NJ#5 at 57-10 and teammate Bottino is NJ#6 at 57-3, and Caseem Akinruli-Dewitt of Seton Hall Prep is NJ#14 at 55-1 1/2.