RECAP: Central Groups 2 & 3 Sectionals

Quick recaps from each of the Sectional Championships held at Middletown North over the weekend. Video interviews from this meet are on the way!

Central Jersey Group 2 Girls

Team Champion: Rumson-Fair Haven, 100 pts

The Rumson-Fair Haven girls scored in 9 of 11 track events to tally 100 points, outlasting Metuchen (90) and Point Pleasant Boro (83). The win for Coach Tim McLoone's girls comes after a 2nd place finish here last year. Freshman Clemmie Lilley and senior Chloe Dotts were everywhere for the Bulldogs. Lilley led the team to a 1-2-4 finish in the 400 with a 57.19, finished 3rd in the 800 with a 2:19, took 3rd in the 200 in 26.33 and ran a leg on the winning 4x400 that ran 4:04.98. Dotts anchored the 4x100 team that finished 2nd in 49.83, took 2nd in the 100 in 12.64, 2nd in the 200 in 25.69, and 2nd in the 400 in 58.48.

Event Winners


Central Jersey Group 3 Girls

Team Champion: Colts Neck, 117.5 pts

The Colts Neck girls took the team title for the 4th year in a row, scoring 117.5 points to win by 32.5 points over Somerville.

Junior Kylie Jacoutot lowered her best to a state top 10 of 1:02.62 in winning the 400 hurdles, took 2nd in the 400, and ran a leg on the winning 4x400. Classmate Ava Wilmot won the 3200 (11:08.62), took charge in the second half to win the 1600 (5:08.63), and joined Jacoutot on the 4x400. Senior Katherine Taylor was the another winner for Jim Schlentz's squad, taking the javelin with a 119'6" effort.

Event Winners

Central Jersey Group 2 Boys

Team Champion: Rumson-Fair Haven, 104 pts

After winning their first-ever Sectional title last year, the Rumson-Fair Haven boys did it again in 2022. Their 104 points easily outdistanced 2nd place Voorhees (68). The Bulldogs finished 2nd in both the 4x100 and 4x400 and 3rd in the 4x800, but picked up the bulk of their points in field events. Leading the way was junior John Connors, who won both the high jump (6'2") and long jump (21'6.25") while also running a leg on the 4x100 relay. Rumson-Fair Haven also had at least one athlete in the top 3 in the pole vault, triple jump, discus, javelin and shot put. 

The brightest start in the Central Jersey Group 2 meet was Shamali Whittle. The Georgia-bound senior powered to a state-leading 10.55 win in the 100 and cruised to a 21.26 win in the 200.

Event Winners


Central Jersey Group 3 Boys

Team Champion: Middletown North, 128 pts

Middletown North used the home track advantage to the fullest, scoring 128 points to win by a big margin over Matawan (2nd with 89). The Lions won six events over two days and scored in all but three events. Junior Aaron Guensch (1:58.64) and senior Connor Kinch went 1-2 in the 800, and then came back to lead the team to a win in the 4x800 (8:16.75). Kinch picked up another win in the 3200 (9:35.46) and a 5th in the 1600, while Guench helped the 4x400 crew finish 2nd. Jack Chenowith won the 400 Hurdles (57.50), Levi Wilson won the long jump (22'3") and Matthew David Sheehan won the javelin (153'0"). 

Event Winners