Old Tappan senior Patrick Passalacqua headlined the elite performances from the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2 and 3 meets on Saturday at the Bennett Center in Toms River.
Passalacqua won the North 1, Group 3 shot put with a NJ#1 60-8. He surpassed 60 feet for the first time in his career just three days prior, tossing the ball 60-2 ¾ at the Bergen County Championships.
Also in Group 3, Randolph senior Jacob Hitland leaped 6-4 in the high jump, tying his NJ#9 season best which he first got at the Morris County Championships last month.
Among Group 3 girls, Old Tappan senior Marissa DiGia pole vaulted 11-10, which would be third in the state. She has a 12-0 from the Bergen County Relays.
The Group 2 boys meet was highlighted by Lakeland senior Jesse Campoverde, who ran a NJ#9 9:29.40 in the 3,200.
And in the Group 2 girls meet, Demarest senior Jada Sewell threw the shot NJ#4 41-3. Her indoor best is 41-10 from last season.
North 1, Group 3 Boys - Full Results
Randolph senior Jacob Hitland won a pair of events and was the team's main impetus in its march to the title, 57-41 over runner-up Roxbury. Hitland not only won the high jump at NJ#9 6-4, he also won the 55 hurdles in 7.82.
Senior James Keaney was also a double threat for the Rams, taking the 1,600 in 4:33.96 and placing second in the 800 (1:59.88). Also scoring for Randolph were senior Jason Tomaino, second in pole vault (13-6); senior Eric Byrne, third in pole vault (13-6); and senior Kevin Pereira, sixth in the 55 dash (6.92). Randolph placed fourth in the 4x400 relay (3:36.63).
The distance crew from Roxbury helped keep Randolph from running away from the field. Junior Schafer Sembrat won the 400 in 51.65. Junior Thomas Schulz placed second in both the 1,600 (4:35.06) and 3,200 (9:45.61). And junior Nathaniel Hajel placed third in the 3,200 (9:53.36).
North 1, Group 3 Girls - Full Results
Seniors Grace Smiechowski and Daisy Liljegren and junior Brynn Madonna each seized a gold medal and eight girls scored to push Northern Highlands to the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 title, 68-54 over runner-up Ramapo.
Smiechowski had a busy day, winning the 55 dash in 7.45 and placing second in the 400 (59.85) and 55 hurdles (8.88). Liljegren won the 3,200 in 11:34.37 and placed sixth in the 1,600 (5:30.38). And Madonna won the shot put with a heave of 38-5.
Also scoring for Northern Highlands were sophomore Molly Bennett, fourth in the 400 (1:00.24); sophomore Jessica Reilly, fourth, 3,200 (11:59.90); sophomore Sydney Schildiner, fifth, 3,200 (12:05.77); senior Nicole Waletzki, fifth, 55 hurdles (9.28); and junior Christina Hughes, sixth, hurdles (9.31). Northern Highlands placed second in the 4x400 relay (4:12.85).
Top performances for Ramapo came from junior Sophia Vernieri, who won the 400 in 59.56; senior Lauren Judd, second, 3,200 (11:48.37); senior Sophia Schwartz, third, 55 dash (7.53); and junior Elizabeth Conklin, third, 800 (2:25.54). Ramapo won the mile relay in 4:07.59.
North 1, Group 2 Boys - Full Results
Senior Ray Campoverde pulled off a big distance double and senior Zachary Voll earned a gold for Lakeland, which survived a scare from Westwood, 55-45, to win the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2 title and become this section's first champs from Passaic County.
As stated earlier, Campoverde won the mile in NJ#9 4:31.55, and he also won the 3,200 in 9:29.40. Voll won the 800 in 1:58.52 and placed fourth in the 1,600 (4:32.79).
Also for Lakeland, senior Ray Schmitt placed second in the 55 dash (6.69); junior Ethan Lehr was third in the 3,200 (10:11.11); senior Carlos Cuevas, was fourth in the 400 (53.96); and senior Mason Murphy was fifth in the 3,200 (10:20.21). Lakeland placed sixth in the 4x400 relay (3:48.44).
Top performances from Westwood came from junior Adam Beck, second, 400 (53.30); junior Justin Napier, third, 400 (53.60); junior Marcus Cheema, third, 400 (2:01.27); and sophomore Connor Munson, second, pole vault (13-0). Westwood won the relay in 3:33.01.
North 1, Group 2 Girls - Full Results
Demarest 64, Ramsey 63
Seniors Jada Sewell and Julia Tucci earned gold medals and led the field event crew to score 54 of Demarest's 64 points to edge Ramsey by a single point for the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2 team title.
Individually, Sewell was the headliner in this one, throwing the shot put NJ#4 41-3 for Demarest. Tucci won the pole vault with a 10-6 jump.
Also in the shot put, senior Bella Sposato was second (38-2 ½) and junior Julietta Ambartsoumian was fourth (33-11 ½). In the pole vault, Tucci was followed by juniors Jordan Hecker (9-0) and Abigail Fowler (8-6) in third and fourth, respectively. Sophomore Gretchen Haray (5-2) and senior Julia Monaco (4-10) were second and fourth in the high jump.
Also scoring for Demarest were senior Kyra Pialtos, fifth, 400 (1:02.96); senior Casey Lam, fifth, 55 hurdles (9.77); and senior Gabby Tulsariam, sixth, 55 hurdles (10.06). Demarest placed third in the 4x400 relay (4:15.08).
Unlike Demarest, Ramsey's big blow occurred on the track, when seniors Emily Grubb (8.69) and Hannah Leto (9.43) and junior Julia D'Amico (9.49) orchestrated a sweep of the top three slots in the 55-meter hurdles.
Ramsey scored the wealth of its points on the oval, like in the 4x400 relay, where it won in 4:12.42. Also scoring were junior Claire O'Keeffe, third, 400 (1:00.82) and fourth, 55 dash (7.69); senior Carloyn Coletti, fourth, 800 (2:25.06) and sixth, high jump (4-10); senior Maya Bender, sixth, 800 (2:28.52); junior Kaitlyn Garofalo, fifth, 1,600 (5:25.17) and 3,200 (11:46.42); senior Julia Dakwar, second, pole vault (9-6); and sophomore Kayla Martino, sixth, pole vault (8-6).
