North 2 Groups 1 & 4 Sectionals Highlights

NJ State Meet Coverage
Jim Lambert


Results | Videos


NORTH 2 GROUP 1



Courtesy of Whippany Park HS T&F

BOYS HIGHLIGHTS

Whippany Park, led by triple-winner Matt Griffin and a-1-2-3 sweep in the pole vault, rolled to its second straight title and seventh overall with a 83-46 win over runner-up West Side.

The six other titles for the Wildcats came in 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2022.

Griffin struck gold for Whippany Park in the 400 (51.99) and the 800 (2:06.79), and ran on the winning 4x400 (3:39.29).  Last year, Griffin, a senior, won the 400, ran on the winning 4x400, and was second in the 800.

Whippany Park picked up a huge 24 points in the pole vault when seniors Luke Laterza (10-0), Jonathan Gomez (9-0), and Michael Hoppes (8-0) went 1-2-3!!!

North 2 Group 1 Champions

  • Team Whippany Park
  • 55m Xaiden Simmons 12 Hoboken HS 6.82
  • 400m Matthew Griffin 12 Whippany Park HS 51.99
  • 800m Matthew Griffin 12 Whippany Park HS 2:06.79
  • 1600m Ian Zalewski 11 Verona HS 4:33.00
  • 3200m Noah Page 12 McNair Academic HS 10:14.43
  • 55mH Joseph Bio 12 West Side HS 8.48
  • 4x400m Whippany Park HS 3:39.29
  • High Jump Anthony Lewis 11 Verona HS 5-08
  • Pole Vault Luke Laterza 12 Whippany Park HS 10-00
  • Shot Put Luke Riordan 11 Hanover Park HS 47-10.75


Courtesy of Verona HS T&F

GIRLS HIGHLIGHTS

Verona won its first sectional title by dethroning two-time defending champ Whippany Park with a convincing 72-37 victory over Whippany Park.

Freshman Gwendolyn Neale led the way for the Verona by winning the 800 in 2.31.81, placing second in the 400 (1:00.06), and running a leg in the runner-up 4x400 relay.

Senior Sarah Knoetig contributed runner-up finishes for Verona in the dash and the 400, and was also a member of the 4x400.

Ridgefield junior Kylie Castillo won the 55 dash in 7.55, and won the 400 in 1:00.06.

North 2 Group 1 Champions

  • Team Verona HS
  • 55m Kylie Castillo 11 Ridgefield Memorial HS 7.55
  • 400m Kylie Castillo 11 Ridgefield Memorial HS 1:00.06
  • 800m Gwendolyn Neale 9 Verona HS 2:31.81
  • 1600m Samantha Gotimer 9 Hoboken HS 5:43.28
  • 3200m Samantha Gotimer 9 Hoboken HS 12:26.52
  • 55mH Kathleen Mulligan 12 Whippany Park HS 9.31
  • 4x400m Whippany Park HS 4:27.21
  • High Jump Nikki Ditta 11 Hanover Park HS 5-00
  • Pole Vault Emma Guerard 11 Whippany Park HS 8-06
  • Shot Put Juliana Behringer 10 Hanover Park HS 34-08.50



NORTH 2 GROUP 4


Courtesy of Westfield T&F

BOYS HIGHLIGHTS

Westfield, which rolled up a staggering 49 points combined in 800, 1,600, and 3,200, continued to steamroll its way through one of its greatest seasons ever by running away with its second straight title, and Union's Gabriel Rodriguez pulled off a great triple.

Individually, Rodriguez, senior won the 800 in 1:56.68, second fastest time in meet history,, placed first in the 400 with a PR of 50.39, and ran on the victorious 4x400 (3:28.96). Rodriguez is the state leader in the 800 with a 1:53.30.

In the team competition, Avery Keith was the catalyst for Westfield, which outscored second-place Ridge, 93-54. The junior won the 1,600 in 4:19.14, the second fastest time in meet history, and the 3,200 in 9:22.73.

Westfield's Tage Mehta was second to Keith in the 1,600 in 4:21.94, and the Blue Devils went 2-3-4 in the 800 with Jonathan Scalia (1:58.51), Jimmy Gildea (1:58.75), and Liam Maurillo (1:58.83).

Westfield, which has now won the Union County title, and the sectional crown, flexed its balance by racking up 30 points in the field, including 18 in the shot put, and scoring in every event except the hurdles.

In the shot,  Westfield's Owen Paul (47-10.75), Jon Boufarah (47-0), and Mason Marino (45-1.25) finished 2-3-4.

Senior Joseph Pierro had another impressive meet for Westfield,  placing second in the 400 in 50.59, and sixth in the 55 dash.

North 2 Group 4 Champions

  • Team Westfield HS
  • 55m Christopher Zou 12 Bridgewater-Raritan HS 6.67
  • 400m Gabriel Rodriguez 12 Union HS 50.39
  • 800m Gabriel Rodriguez 12 Union HS 1:56.68
  • 1600m Avery Keith 11 Westfield HS 4:19.14
  • 3200m Avery Keith 11 Westfield HS 9:22.73
  • 55mH Steven Memo 11 Columbia HS 7.74
  • 4x400m Union HS 3:28.96
  • High Jump Rabae Smith 12 Linden HS 6-02
  • Pole Vault Chris Kirkwood 12 Ridge HS 12-00
  • Shot Put Lokaditya Hariharan 11 Ridge HS 49-04.50

Courtesy of Piscataway Twp T&F

GIRLS HIGHLIGHTS

Senior Brooke'Lyn Drakeford threw down one of the greatest performances in sectional history by striking gold four times to ignite Piscataway to its first sectional championship, 57-45.5. victory over runner-up Westfield.

Drakeford, who won the 400 hurdles at the Meet of Champions last spring, won the 55 dash (7.24), captured the 400 (57.79),  finished first in the 55 hurdles in 8.59, and on ran the victorious 4x400 relay that ran 4:03.95. Drakeford is the state leader in the 400 with a 56.51.

Morgan Jean, a junior, also had a big meet for Piscataway by clearing 5-2 to win the high jump, and senior Enobong George was third in the 400 and sixth in the 55 dash for the Chiefs.

North 2 Group 4 Champions

  • Team Piscataway Twp HS
  • 55m Brooke'Lyn Drakeford 12 Piscataway Twp HS 7.24
  • 400m Brooke'Lyn Drakeford 12 Piscataway Twp HS 57.79
  • 800m Sara Khiri 11 Dickinson HS 2:21.90
  • 1600m Sara Khiri 11 Dickinson HS 5:07.87
  • 3200m Brooke Hunter 12 Phillipsburg HS 11:21.96
  • 55mH Brooke'Lyn Drakeford 12 Piscataway Twp HS 8.59
  • 4x400m Piscataway Twp HS 4:03.95
  • High Jump Morgan Jean 11 Piscataway Twp HS 5-02
  • Pole Vault Magdalena O'Reilly 12 Watchung Hills Reg. HS 10-06
  • Shot Put Madison Stevens 11 Columbia HS 40-09.75