Note: none of these athletes were competing for their high schools, the meet is entirely base on club or unattached affiliation.
Nick Medeiros turned in a sensational triple at the adidas National Indoor Championships to a highlight a strong showing by New Jersey athletes this weekend in Virginia Beach.
On Friday, the senior at Old Bridge came from way back on the final 200 and blasted a US#1 and GMC record 2:28.48 to win the 1,000m run, edging Isaiah Schulties of Maryland, second in 2:28.67. Medeiros was in fifth-place at the bell, but unleashed a 27.4 last 200 to storm his way to the front and secure the dramatic comeback victory.
And also ripped a NJ#1 and PR of 49.52 in the 400m trials. Medeiros qualified for the 400m final, but scratched to focus on the 800.
The 2:28.48 by Medeiros is No. 15 in state history, and broke the GMC record of 2:28.56 set in 2017 by Old Bridge legend Rey Rivera. Rivera ran his 2:28.56 when he placed second at the Armory Track Invitational in NY.
The Georgetown-bound Medeiros came back in Sunday to place second in the 800m in a US#4 1:52.80, just off his PR of 1:52.76 that he ran to place second at the indoor Meet of Champions last March. Medeiros finished a couple strides behind Austin Klinger of Utah, who ran a US#2 1:52.51.
GOING THE DISTANCE
Lawrenceville junior Charlotte Bednar, the state indoor record holder in the 5K (16:25.90) placed fifth in the girls 2-mile in 10:27.55, and ninth in the one-mile in a NJ#1 and PR of 4:52.30.
Bednar, who came in with a NJ#2 all-time 2-mile time of 10:18.56, went out in 5:03.47 for the opening mile. Bednar was chasing the state record of 10:16.75 set in 2007 by Ashley Higginson of Colts Neck, who ran that time to win the National Scholastic Championship in New York.
NJ threw down some hot performances in the girls mile as four runners went under 4:54!!
In addition to Bednar's 4:53.20, Emma McGill of Voorhees dropped a huge PR of 4:52.55 to place third in her heat and 10th overall. The Villanova-bound McGill had a previous PR of 4:57.40 that she ran to place 14th at the 2020 Millrose Games last February.
Junior Camryn Wennersten was 11th in the mile in a NJ#3 4:52.57, bouncing back strong after placing 19th in Saturday's two-mile (11:01.37).
Lilly Shapiro of Colts Neck won her heat and was 12th overall with a huge PR and school record 4:53.13. Shapiro broke the Colts Neck record of 4:55.56 set in 2008 by Allison Linnell, and also ran under the Colts Neck 1,600m indoor record of 4:53.70 set by Ashley Higginson in 2007.
Miranda Lorsbach placed 17th in the two-mile in 10:59.10.
Senior Matt Bogdan of Colts Neck, out in 4:33.31 for the first mile, ran a NJ#1 and four second PR of 9:16.60 to place 14th in the boys 2-mile. Immaculata senior James Ptack finished 14th in a NJ#2 9:17.13, a seven second PR.
Marco Langon finished 16th in the boys mile in 4:22.16.
ASH, SHARPE, NICHOLSON, ELLIS, BONN BLAST NJ#1 PERFORMANCES
Jailya Ash of Eastern, a two-time indoor Meet of Champions winner, ran a personal best and NJ#1 8.72 in the semifinals of the 60m hurdles, but missed advancing to the final by one place. Ash's en route time through 55m was a NJ#1 8.09, just off her PR of 8.03 that Ash ran to win the Meet of Champions last March. The UConn-bound Ash, who ran 8.74 in the prelims, also won a Meet of Champions title in the 55m dash in 2019.
Union Catholic sophomore Alexandra Bonn had a sensational jumping double. She was third in the triple jump (35-5.50) and 10th in the long jump with a NJ#1 and PR of 18-1.50. Bonn also leads the state in the TJ with the 36-9 that she leaped at the NY Armory in December.
Senior Amirah Sharpe of Paulsboro dropped her NJ #1 time down to 56.23 in the trials of the girls 400m, missing a place in the final by one place.
Senior Carly Nicholson of Delsea took over the NJ#1 spot in the 800m by running an indoor PR of 2:19.04 to place 17th. Nicholson's outdoor PR of 2:17.98, which she ran to place second as a freshman at the 2018 Gloucester County Championships.
Senior Jada Ellis of Manchester Township dropped her NJ#1 leading time in the 55 dash down to 7.25 en route to her 7.82 in the trials of the 60m dash. Ellis, who failed to make the final, ran her PR in the 55 when she went 7.13 ti finish third at the Meet of Champions last March.
COLE TUCKER FOLLOWS UP WITH ANOTHER BIG THROW
On the last throw of his series, Cole Tucker of Colts Neck finished second in the shot put championship with another monster PR and US No. 2 throw of 63-03.25! This is less than a week after the senior threw a 62-08.25 at the Rebel Shot Put Series.
The event was won by the US No. 1 ranked Cooper Mack, who hit a personal best mark of his own at 65-0.5.
Out of the 19 competitors in the championship event, five were from New Jersey. In addition to Tucker's silver medal, Tyler Konopka was 11th, Robert Babson 12th, Joe Licata 14th, and Christopher Huisman 19th.
OTHER NJ HIGHLIGHTS
Junior Ryan Allen won the Boys 1 Mile Racewalk with a time of 8:19.72.
Kaelen Mitchell, a senior at Piscataway, took sixth in the boys long jump with a mark of 22-10.5. Mitchell soared a PR of 24-3.25 last month, which is US#3 and No. all-time in NJ history.
Malachi James of Willingboro captured the boys freshman 60m dash in 7.20. James, making his high long-awaited school debut at this meet, ran a PR of 7.16 in the trials.