Hollis And Barna Lead Super Fast NJ Mile Times In NY


More smoking hot times were thrown down by some of New Jersey's top milers at the Trials of Miles on Friday night at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island in New York.

In the girls mile, Peyton Hollis, a sophomore at Union Catholic, took over the state lead by placing third in a Union County record 4:49.88, which converts to 4:48.20 for 1,600. Nicole Clifford of Cherokee dropped a Burlington County record 4:50.50 (4:48.82 converted) to place fourth. Molly Malague of Metuchen was sixth in a Middlesex County record and NJ No. 4 time of 4:51.13, Kaleigh Gunsiorowski, a junior at Union Catholic, was ninth with a big PR and NJ No. 13 time of 4:59.61, and Caroline Schleif of Metuchen was 10th in 5:02.86.   

Mia Cochran of Moon Area in Pa. won the race in 4:42.43, and Zariel Macchia of William Floyd in NY was second in 4:47.47.
NY.

The 4:49.88 by Hollis broke the Union County record of 4:51.47 that Katie Hamilton of Westfield ran to win the State Group 4 1,600 title last year,  and it places her No. 8 on the state's all-time sophomore list. Hollis's time comes a day after Cate DeSousa of Red Bank Catholic ran a then NJ No.1 time of 4:49.06 for 1,600 at the Royal Rumble in Holmdel.

Clifford's 4:50.50 broke the Burlington County record of 4:52.95 set by Caitlin Orr of Lenape when she finished fourth at the 2009 Meet of Champions. Clifford's previous PR was 4:53.85 for 1,600, which she ran to win the State Group 4 indoor title this past winter. 

In the boys mile, Jackson Barna of Ridge, the state leader in the mile with the NJ No. 6 all-time 4:07.00 that he ran at the Ridge Twilight Invitational earlier this month, placed third in 4:07.40. Kyle Rakitis of Kingsway, the Meet of Champions winner in the 1,600 last June, finished seventh in 4:11.22. 

Jimmy Wischusen of Union Catholic dropped a massive 14 second PR when he placed 10th in 4:12.13, the fifth fastest time ever run by a sophomore in state history, the third fastest sophomore time in the nation this season, and the fourth fastest time ever run outdoors by a Union County runner. Wischusen's previous best time was 4:26.24 when he placed seventh in the Freshman Division at the 2021 Outdoors Nationals in Oregon.

Devan Kipyego of St. Raphael Academy in Rhode Island won the race in 4:05.51, just ahead of Myles Hogan of Fordham Prep in New York, second in 4:05.69. 

NJ'S TOP 10 ONE-MILE OUTDOOR LISTS (c-converted from 1,600)

BOYS   

3:59.8-Marty Liquori, Essex Catholic, 1967 AAU Championships
4:03.29-Edward Cheserek, St. Benedict's Prep, 2013 adidas Grand Prix 
4:03.49-Robby Andrews, Manalapan, 2009 Portland Track Festival
4:05.01-Sean Dolan, Hopewell Valley, 2019 Brooks PR Invitational 
4:05.69-Ben Malone, Pascack Valley, 2013 Penn Relays 
4:07.00-Jackson Barna, Ridge, 2022 Ridge Twilight Invitational
4:07.07-Jim Nielsen, Bernards, 1984 International Prep Invitational 
4:07.66-Joe Rosa, West Windsor-Plainsboro North, 2011 adidas Grand Prix 
4:07.68c-Jackson Braddock, Southern, 2021 Ocean County Championships (converted from a 4:06.25 1600)
4:07.70-Jim Rosa, West Windsor-Plainsboro North, 2011 adidas Grand Prix 
4:08.07-Pat Schellberg, Delbarton, 2010 Penn Relays


GIRLS

4:39.25-Danielle Tauro, Southern Regional, 2006 Nike Outdoor Nationals
4:41.78c--Lilly Shapiro, Colts Neck, 2021 Royal Rumble in Holmdel
4:42.96-Erin Donohue, Haddonfield, 2001 adidas Nationals
4:43.3-Michele Rowen, Washington Township, 1982
4:43.24c-Josette Norris, Tenafly, 2014 Meet of Champions
4:43.83-Camryn Wennersten, Garden State Track Club, 2022 John Hay Pennsylvania Distance Festival
4:45.57c-Ajee' Wilson, Neptune, 2012 State Group 3 Championships
4:46.55c-Molly McNamara, Red Bank Catholic, 2011 Non-Public A Championships
4:46.98-Christina Rancan, West Windsor Plainsboro South, 2016 New Balance Nationals Outdoor
4:47.02c-Liz Lansing, Randolph, 2013 Meet of Champions