Victoria Vanriele of Gov. Livingston and Sean Dolan of Hopewell Valley ran two of the fastest times in New Jersey's history when they turned in sensational performances at the Brooks PR Invitational on Saturday at Renton Memorial Stadium in Renton, Wa.
Vanriele, a junior, blasted a 2:05.15 to place second in the girls 800. That's the fifth fastest time in NJ history. Vanriele's previous PR was the 2:05.43 she ran to win her third straight 800 title at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions last week.
Only Ajee' Wilson of Neptune (2:00.91 in 2012), Athing Mu of the Trenton Track Club (2:01.38 in 2019), Joetta Clark of Columbia (2:03.54 in 1979), and Jillian Smith of Southern (2:04.67 in 2009) have run faster in the 800 while in high school than Vanriele
Dolan moved all the way up to NJ#4 all-time in the boys mile by placing fourth in 4:05.01. Marty Liquori of Essex Catholic (3:59.8 in 1967), Edward Cheserek of St. Benedict's Prep (4:03.29 in 2013) and Robby Andrews of Manalapan (4:03.49 in 2011) are the only NJ runners who have run a faster mile during their high school years than Dolan..
The Villanova-bound Dolan, who won the 1,600 at the NJ Meet of Champiins last week and opted for the Brooks PR meet over defending his mile title at the New Balance Nationals in North Carolina, dropped his personal best by nearly four seconds. His previous PR was 4:08.86, which he ran at the adidas Boost Boston Games in May of 2018.
Three other NJ stars turned in strong performances at the Brooks PR Invit.
Devin Hart of Point Pleasant Boro, coming off a third straight 3,200 title at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions, placed 10th in the boys two-mile in 8:56.74, Liam Murphy of Allentown was 15th in 9:13.93.
Abby Loveys of Randolph, the state record holder in the 3,200 (10:10. 24), finished fifth in the girls two-mile in 10:30.87. Loveys is expected to anchor Randolph's DMR today (Sunday) at the New Balance Nationals.