The Union Catholic girls and Christian Brothers Academy boys, two of the most storied programs in state history, added to their remarkable tradition of dominance when the two powerhouses each captured an eighth straight championship at Friday's NJSIAA Non-Public A Relays Championships at the Bennett Center in Toms River.
CBA's victory extended its state record to a remarkable 31 state relay titles overall. That's 12 more than any other team in state history. Willingboro is No. 2 all-time with 19. And the eight titles in a row ties CBA for the most consecutive championships ever won for a boys program with Asbury Park (1988-95) and CBA (1981-1988).
CB kept its streak alive by winning five events and scoring in all nine events on the way to a hard-fought 72-60 victory over a very strong Seton Hall Prep squad,
The victories for CBA came in the distance medley relay, the 4x800, the 4x400, the high jump, and the shot put.
Several athletes came up big for CBA.
Villanova-bound Nicholas Sullivan split 4:24.3 as the anchor on the DMR. Jack Falkowski anchored the runner-up SMR with a 1:57.3. Nick Williams (48-8.25) and Everett Kaeli (44-6.75) teamed up to win the shot put, and Aidan MacManus, Sean Lawson and Matt Herman also ran 51 and change on the victorious 4x400 for CBA.
Seton Hall Prep received several strong performances, including splits of 49.5 in the SMR and 21.9 in the 4x200 from Princeton University-bound Xavier Donaldson.
UC GIRLS DROP LOTS OF SMOKE ON WAY TO RECORD SETTING PERFORMANCE
The Union Catholic girls once again showed that they are the No. 1 team in the state with the greatest performance in meet history as the Vikings racked up a meet record 80 points out of a possible 90, and shattered two meets records and one facility record.
The Vikings also won the DMR in 12:50.24, the sprint medley in 4:16.78, the 4x400 in 4:16.80, and the high jump, and placed second in the 4x800, second in the pole vault, and fourth in the shot put.