Central Groups 1 & 4 Sectionals Highlights

NJ State Meet Coverage
Jim Lambert


Results | Videos


CENTRAL GROUP 1



Courtesy of Metuchen T&F

BOYS HIGHLIGHTS

Metuchen, one of the best programs in state history, returned to the top by exploding for 97 points to run away its first title since 2014 and its seventh overall.

Brandon Sinclair was his typical splendid-self for Metuchen, winning the 400 in 52.49, running on the victorious 4x400 relay, and placing second in the 800 in 2:00.60.  

Juniors Vedant Naik, and Alex Patelski, and also came up huge for Metuchen, which finished 32 points ahead of runner-up and defending champion Dayton. 

Naik scored 26 individual points!!! He placed won the 55 hurdles in 7.87, was second in the 55 dash in 6.84, and was the runner-up in the 400 in 53.44. 

Patelski was second in both the 1,600 in 4:28.08 and 3200 in 10:07.81.

Colin Riley of Dayton won the 1,600 in 4:25.32, and the 3,200 in 9:51.72.

Central Group 1 Champions


Courtesy of Metuchen T&F

GIRLS HIGHLIGHTS

Metuchen made it a Bulldog sweep by repeating as champion with a hard-fought 82-76 victory over runner-up Shore Regional.It's the fourth title overall for Metuchen.

Senior Nelagh Matthews was one of the catalysts for Metuchen. She won the 55 hurdles in 8.79 and was second in the 55 dash in 7.54.

Metuchen received contributions from several athletes.

Sophomore Gianna Hernandez second in the 1,600 5:27.35 and third in the 800 in 2:24.26. Senior Zoey Brown finished  third in the 400 in 1:02.79 and ran on the winning 4x400 relay. Sophomore Sarah Hyman was third in the hurdles in 9.27. Sophomore Abby Kozo finished third in the shot put with a throw of 29-7.

Senior Megan Donlevie led the charge for Shore Regional, winning the 1,600 in 5:20.59, and 11:45,25.

Central Group 1 Champions



CENTRAL GROUP 4



BOYS HIGHLIGHTS

East Brunswick, despite losing lots of firepower off its loaded team from a year ago, repeated as champion, and Akshay Vadul of Edison burned a sparkling double to highlight the action. 

EB, behind Joshua Augustine, Aiden Badelli and Chiemelie Anosike, edged GMC rival South Brunswick, 50-44, to succesfully defend its title.

EB picked up a big 18 points when Augustine (51.35) and Aiden Baldelli went 1-2 in the 400. They also ran on EB's runner-up 4x400 (3:29.64), and Baldelli placed second in the 55 dash in 6.71 (6.70 in the trials).

Anosike scired 16 points for the Bears by winning the 55 hurdles in 7.63, and clearing 6-0 to finish third in the high jump.

One of the biggest stars of the meet was Vadul, who threw down a red hot meet record 4:16.21 to win the 1,600, the fastest time among all the sectionals combined, and he captured the 3,200 in 9:23.14. 

Central Group 4 Champions


Courtesy of Hillsborough T&F

GIRLS HIGHLIGHTS

The Hillsborough girls track and field program came into this meet having captured just about every possible title on the state level across all three running seasons except an indoor sectional title.

But the Raiders finally got that elusive championship crossed off its wish list with a dominating 63-42 victory over runner-up South Brunswick to capture its first sectional title ever.

The two biggest individual stars of this meet were juniors Emma Zawatski of Freehold Township, and Julia Scrudato of Montgomery.

Zawatski, the state leader in the 1,600 and 800, won the 1,600 in 4:54.58, the fastest time of all the sectionals combined, and she captured the 800 in 2:17.38. Scrudato won the 3,200 in 10:47.61, the top time of all the sectionals combined and the fastest time by a Group 4 runner this season, and she was second in the 1,600 in 5:01.43.

In the team competition, Hillsborough picked up gold medals from junior Ella Karolewski, who cleared a PR of 11-0 to win the pole vault, junior Michaela Ruffa in the shot put with a throw of 37-0, and its 4x400 relay, who clocked a 4:09.49. 

The Raiders received points from several other athletes.

Junior Jessica Galette was second in the shot put (35-11), Sabrina Sardar finished second in the 400 in 59.71 and fifth in the 800 in 2:24.74. Senior Ernestina Danquah ran 7.58 to finish fifth in the 55 dash. Junior Laina Davis was third in the 3200 with a PR of 11:24.09, and fourth in the 1,600, and Zoe Amofa was fifth in the hurdles (8.93)

Central Group 4 Champions