Results
The Howell girls, led by Laura Gugliotta and Samantha Strydesky, won its first title ever, and Christian Brothers Academy blitzed the competition to extend its streak t 12 straight boys titles at the Monmouth County Championships on Saturday at the Bennett Center in Toms River.
Howell clinched one of the biggest championships in the history of the program when the 4x400-meter relay team placed third in 4:19.69. That gave Howell a 54.50-50 victory over runner-up Rumson.
There were plenty of athletes who contributed to Howell's historic triumph.
Gugliotta, a senior, won the 400m in 58.61, and placed second in the the 55m dash in 7.41.
Strydesky, a junior, took over the state lead in the high jump by matching her personal best of 5-6. She also made 5-6 last spring when she placed third at the Meet of Champions.
The other point scorers for Howell were Melanie Barbosa, third in the 3,200m in 11:44.74, Sydni Bell, third in the 55m hurdles in 9.31, Keira Mullen, third in the high jump (4-10), Sara Veres, sixth in the 55 hurdles in 9.64, and Jasmine Allen placed fifth in the high jump (4-6).
In the boys competition, it was all CBA as the Colts rang up 66.50 points to outscore runner-up Rumson by 38 points and raised its county record total to 30 titles.
Eight different athletes scored for CBA, not including the relay.
CBA picked up victories from Rutgers-bound Jack Moran in the 1,600m (4:23.93), Kam Coleman in the 55m hurdles (7.98), and from Robert Manse, who unloaded a PR of 59-1 to win the shot put. Manse's throw ties him with teammate Tyler Mayerhoff for No. 2 in the state this season.
Also scoring for CBA were Matt Herman in the 800, second in 2:01.48, Nick Sullivan in the 1600, third in 4:27.07, Ben Skrincosky in the pole vault, second with an 11-6, Hugh Straine, fourth in the shot put (49-1.25), William Feddeler, sixth in the high jump (5-4), and the 4x400 squad placed second in 3:36.84.