South Group 4

Full Results

Team Champions

Boys Meet Recap: This meet had it all! There was the amazing performance by Southern that overcame adversity on its march to its first team title in 12 years, and there was of course the unforgettable clashes between Jackson Braddock of Southern and Kyle Rakitis of Kingsway, who staged probably the greatest distance trilogy in state sectional history.

Braddock and Rakitis squared off three times, and each time they pushed each other to record-setting performances.

It started on Friday night when, after a long weather delay, they went head-to-head in an epic 1600 battle.

Rakitis, a junior, stormed back over the final 100 and caught Braddock just before the line to win in 4:08.58!! Braddock crossed second in 4:08.65. Those are the two fastest time ever run in State Sectional history (all sections and groups combined). No one else had ever run under 4:10 in state sectional history. But unfortunately for Braddock, he was called for interference and was DQ'd.

Braddock got his redemption the following morning when he became the first runner to ever break nine minutes in a state sectional race when he blasted an 8:55.46 to win the 3200! Rakitis was second in 9:26.61.

The two distance running titans came back later on Saturday and produced another instant classic in the 800. Rakitis edged Braddock in the two-lapper, 1:53.13 to 1:53.18. Both runners went under the old SJ Group 4 meet record of 1:53.51 set in 2009 by Xavier Fraction of Washington Township, and the times by Rakitis and Braddock were the two fastest 800's run in the state this weekend. 

I told you it was an epic three-part series!!! Amazing!!!

That's only part of the story in this memorable Group 4 meet.

Braddock wasn't planning to run the 800, but after his DQ he told his coach Scott Baker that he felt bad about losing points for the team as the result of his DQ, so he asked to run the 800 to make up those points.

And that selfless act of putting the team first by Braddock was a big reason why Southern rallied for a dramatic 82-79.75 victory over Rancocas Valley with Egg Harbor third with 76.75.

Southern still needed several athletes to step up, and they got that in a big way as a parade of PR's kept coming in the field events.

Sophomore star Fabian Gonzalez launched a pair of big PR's, winning the discus with a NJ#1 182-0, and the shot put with a 56-6. Jaiden Brown was second in the shot with a 55-1, more than a one foot PR.  Angel Santiago improved his pole vault PR by 6 inches when he cleared 13-6 to win the event, and then Southern senior Hank Gallacher put the finishing touches on the team title by unloading a massive PR of 161-3 on his first attempt that secured a third-place in the javelin. Gallacher's previous best was 139-0! How is that for clutch!!

Baker said it came down to the 1-2 in the shot, 1-6 in the pole vault, and the javelin.

"We needed to be fourth or better in the javelin and finish ahead of Egg Harbor, and we went 4-5 with a huge PR from Gallacher,'' said Baker. "The vault was huge and unexpected, Angel came through for us. And for Braddock to ask to get those points back is what this team is all about. Never have I been around a group that cares more about each other than these guys. And that is same for 85 members on this team.''

I told you this meet had a little bit of everything!

Girls Meet Recap: Anabella Chin didn't win any of her four races, but that doesn't mean she didn't have one of the best performances in the state this weekend!

Also starring for RV were junior Ravin Hood, fourth in the shot put and discus, and Abigail Boggs, the pole vault champ at 10-6. RV also picked up a win from its 4x400 team (4:00.09), and a second from its 4x100 squad (49.44).

Egg Harbor was led by sprint sensation Lauren Princz. The Penn State-bound Princz won the 100 in 11.95, the second fastest time of the weekend in the state, and the 200 in 24.67, the fastest time of all the sectionals. Princz is the state leader in the 100 with an 11.76.

Jailya Ash of Eastern also had a big meet, winning the 100 hurdles in an NJ#2 14.12, and placing second in the 100 in 12.09. 

Event Champions

Boys Events

Girls Events