Individual Highlights
Ramy Racing Club: In Group 4, North Brunswick senior Ramy Berberena won the 400 in NJ#7 49.52 and the 55 hurdles in NJ#5 7.52, and he placed second in the 55 dash (NJ#10 6.53).
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White-hot Group 4 boys 800: Nicholas Medeiros of Old Bridge won the Group 4 800 in 1:56.03 which would be good for NJ#7, but the junior already logged the state's fastest time with a 1:53.68 from last month. And the runner-up, Monroe senior Jordan Kaplan, placed second in 1:56.68, which would fall at NJ#8 but he, too, owns a faster time this winter, NJ#4 1:55.25 from earlier this month.
Kyle Reers of Delaware Valley had a massive five plus second lead on the field to win the 800 meters, running 1:55.97 to lead all combined Sectional performances in the event and move up to NJ#6.
South Brunswick senior Ola Porbeni fueled his team's sectional title chase by winning the Group 4 55 dash in NJ#9 6.52.
Among Group 4 girls, North Brunswick senior Nakaja Weaver won the 55 sash in 7.24 which would be NJ#10 but she already has a NJ#5 7.19 from the GMC Championships. Also, Hillsborough junior Kirstyn Schecter won the 55 hurdles in NJ#6 8.25.
Central Group 4 Boys
Fueled by a sweep of the field events and track victories by Ola Porbeni and Vidhur Polam, the South Brunswick boys stormed to their second straight sectional title, 97.5 to 40.5 for North Brunswick.
Porbeni, a senior, won the Group 4 55 dash in NJ#9 6.52, He also placed second in the 55 hurdles in 7.76; the winner, North Brunswick's Ramy Berberena, won in NJ#5 7.52, tying Porbeni's best mark of the season. Junior Vidhur Polam won the 3,200 in 9:32.05 and was second in the 1,600 (4:26.84). The Vikings also won the 4x400 relay in 3:30.95.
The field events belonged to South Brunswick. Senior Dante Bailey won the high jump at 6-4; he's already tied for NJ#7 at 6-5. Senior Javier Santiago won the pole vault at 14-0. And senior Daniel O'Grady won the shot put (52-4.25).
Also scoring for South Brunswick were junior Majid Howard-Baker, fifth, 55 dash (6.63) and fifth, high jump (5-10); junior Adam Gorka, second, 400 (50.37); sophomore Sahil Sheth, fourth, 3,200 (9:45.26); and junior Joseph Carlson; third, shot put (50-2.75).
Central Group 4 Girls
Suzy Lacombe grabbed two field event golds and Katherine Loew won another and Hunterdon Central earned its first indoor sectional team title since 2014, 64-48 over runner-up Hillsborough.
Lacombe, a junior, won the high jump at 5-2 and the pole vault at 11-0, while Loew, also a junior, won the 400 in 58.72. Loew was also fifth in the 55 dash (7.50). The Red Devils also won the 4x400 relay in 4:10.22.
Also scoring for the Red Devils were senior Sydney Villani, third, 55 hurdles (8.75) and sixth, 55 dash (7.51); junior Laurel Kurtz, third, 3,200 (5:19.14); senior Megan Dalgauer, sixth, 3,200 (5:27.63); sophomore Catherine Peacock, fifth, 55 hurdles (9.03); senior Cheyenne Gurak, sixth, 55 hurdles (9.07); and junior Jessica Reilly, sixth, shot put (34-6.75).
Among the standouts in Group 4 were Montgomery senior Caroline Mehlhorn who won the 1,600 (5:12.36) and 3,200 (11:25.91).
Central Group 1 Boys
Senior Zaire Clements won a pair of gold medals and the Willingboro boys used a huge push in the field events to earn their fourth straight sectional title and fifth in six years. Willingboro scored 95 points to leave runner-up Asbury Park (32) and everyone else in the dust.
Clements won the 55 dash in 6.67 and the 400 in 51.31. Willingboro also won the 4x400 relay in 3:34.06.
The Chimeras swept the high jump, as senior Kameron Smith beat classmate and runner-up Nate Robertson on misses after both cleared 6-6, and sophomore Anaias Hughes was third at 5-8. Junior Glenn Ferguson (11-0) and sophomore Bryon Gary (10-6) took the top two slots in the pole vault. And sophomore C.J. Johnson (48-5.75) and junior Deonte Allen (47-9.5) placed second and third, respectively, in the shot put.
Also scoring for Willingboro were Robertson, fourth, 55 dash (6.79); senior Jamaho Kingsley, sixth, 400 (54.02); and junior Roshane Waugh, sixth, 1,600 (4:45.89).
Central Group 1 Girls
Junior Balkis Lyiola led a crew of speedsters and hurdlers to claiming the first-ever sectional title for Willingboro, which overwhelmed the field with 87 points. New Providence, led by Clare Kelly, was second with 49.
Lyiola won the 55 dash and shared in a sweep of the top three spots in two events. She won the 55 dash in 7.54 and led a 1-3-5 finish; senior Mikell Dolo was third (7.65) and freshman Samiyah Williams was fifth (7.80).
The Chimeras swept the top three in the 400 thanks to senior Tamia Welch Smith (1:00.33), sophomore Aleshia Mendez (1:02.33) and Lyiola (1:02.87). They also blitzed the 55 hurdles thanks to Dolo (8.81), Welch Smith (8.87) and Lyiola (9.00).
Two more golds for Willingboro came in the shot put thanks to junior Abigail Brown (33-7.5) and the 4x400 relay (4:16.40).
Standouts in Group 1 included New Providence junior Clare Kelly, who won the 3,200 in 11:47.99 and was second in the mile at 5:29.69.