Mariah Fede turned in a dazzling triple, James Bivins was a double winner, Myles Plummer and A'Liyah Thomas posted NJ#1 performances, and Union Catholic and Pope John captured team titles at Sunday''s Wayne Letwink Memorial New Jersey Catholic Track Conference Championships at the Ocean Breeze Complex on Staten Island.
Fede, a senior at Paramus Catholic, was simply spectacular!!!
She blasted a NJ#2 39.47 to win the 300-meter dash, went a NJ #3 7.18 to win the 55 dash, and a won the 55 hurdles in a NJ#3 8.28.
Bivins, a junior at Donovan Catholic, won the boys 55 dash (6.48) and the long jump (21-8 1/4). Bivins is NJ#2 in both events (6.39/22-2 3/4).
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Thomas, a junior who one of the state's most versatile stars, soared a NJ#1 18-6 to win the girls long jump, cleared 5-4 to place second in the high jump, and ran 7.41 to place fifth in the 55 dash to help lead the UC girls to its sixth straight title, outscoring runner-up Paul VI, 145-56.
The UC girls picked up four other gold medals, Abby Granrath in the 1,000 in 3:07.35, Asydiah Pray-Brown in the 600 in 1:39.10, Felicia Quainoo in the triple jump with a 38-0 ¾, which is No. 2 in the state this season, and the 4x800 team of Granrath, Zoe Lee, Kacey Brennan and Kathryn Power won in 10:15.77.
Quainoo also ran a NJ#9 8.41 to finish third in the 55 hurdles. Chi Chi Nkulume had a very impressive meet for the Vikings, placing second in both the 55 dash (7.25) and the 300 in 39.85, which is the third fastest time in the state this season. Morgan Williams was second in the 1,000 in 3:07.59 and dropped a red hot 57.90 split on the runner-up 4x400. Zamira Ysaac placed second in the 600 (1:39.17) and fifth in the hurdles (8.69). Isabella Gray cleared 10-6 for second in the pole vault, Sarah Abood finished third in the 3,200 (11:45.10), Ajanae Thompson placed sixth in the 55 dash (7.42) and was fourth in the hurdles (8.62). UC also placed second in the 4x400 in 3:59.15.
In the boys competition, Plummer, a sophomore, ran a NJ#1 2:31.00 to win the 1,000 for UC, and several Vikings shined as Union Catholic captured the boys A Division title.
UC's two other winners were Elijah Brown matched his season best and NJ#2/US#5 time of 1:21.11 to win the 600, and Justin Lopez won the pole vault (11-6). Also for UC, Oluwafemi Asenuga finished second in the long jump (21-8) and fourth in the high jump (6-0). Tyhir Jones placed fourth in the 300 (35.48), Matt Granizo was sixth in the 1,600 in 4:34.87, Zach Turner finished sixth in the 1,000 in 2;45.02, and the 4x800 was second in 8:48.51.
For the Pope John boys, who won the B Division team title, Eric Libero won the triple jump (42-10 1/2) and was third in the 600 (1:26.13), and the 4x800 squad won the 4x800 in 8:45.97. James Setlock placed second in the 1,000 in 2:41.15, John Albright placed second in the high junp (6-2), Doug Fowler finished third in the shot put (46-0 1/2), Eion McClain finished third in the 3,200m (9:52.66) and ran on the victorious 4x800. Pope John also finished fifth in the 4x400 (3:35.83).