The Union Catholic girls took down a state record, Seton Hall Prep nearly broke one as well and Collin Boler scored a huge victory to highlight a great day for New Jersey at the 115th Millrose Games on Saturday at the New York Armory.
All season, the UC girls knew they had the talent and potential to do something historic in the 4x200 if they put it all together. Well, sophomore Taylor Aska, senior Ajanae Thompson, junior Leah Gould, and sophomore Taylor Cox did exactly that, stopping the clock at 1:38.73. That broke the state record of 1:38.99 set by Columbia when it finished first at the Millrose Games in 2014.
UC finished second in the race behind Bullis of Maryland, who ran 1:37.06.
Seton Hall Prep almost joined UC in the state record book when the Pirates burned a meet record 3:15.73 to win the Private School 4x400 relay. That's the second fastest time in state indoor history behind the 3:15.53 set in 2014 by Union Catholic when it won the New Balance National title. The great Taylor McLaughlin anchored that squad.
The splits for Seton Hall Prep's all senior lineup were 47.8 for Ryan Matulonis, the fastest split of the meet, 50.8 for Russell Webb, 48.6 for Nick DeVita, and 48.3 Xavier Donaldson.
In the boys mile, Collin Boler of Delbarton jumped to the lead with a quarter mile to go and unleashed a 57.49 final quarter on hos way to victory in 4:09.15, which is No. 7 in state indoor history and breaks his own Morris County record of 4:09.96 that he ran at the New Balance Nationals last year.
After a 63.68 opening quarter, Boler was in sixth place when he hit the half in 2:10.57. Then the pace picked up and Boler closed in 1:58.58 over the final half mile as he edged Devan Kipyego of St. Raphael Academy in Rhode Island, second in 4:09.66. Brian Boler, Collin's twin, led for half the race (2:09.81) and wound up 12th in 4:17.66.
New Jersey's other victories came from the Union Catholic girls 4x800 squad and the Timber Creek girls 4x400 team.
In the 4x800, senior Maameyaa Nyinah (2:16.80), freshman Jimmiea King (2:20.68), junior Peyton Hollis (2:14.83) and Kaleigh Gunsiorowski (2:11.82) combined to win in 9:04.12, the second fastest time in the country this season. Shaker of NY was second to UC in 9:10.14, and Cherokee finished sixth in 9:19.80
It was a strong return for Hollis, who was running her first race since the Non-Public A XC Championships in November. She had been sidelined with a leg injury.
Timber Creek burned a 3:53.82 to win the girls Suburban Division 4x400. That's NJ No. 1 and US No. 5 this season. Timber Creek's four runner were junior Chloe Jones (58.16), sophomore Billie Frazier (58.75), sophomore Adiat Olaogun Dickson (59.39), and junior Naylah Jones (57.52).
In other big NJ highlights, the Toms River North dropped a 7:50.87 to finish third in the 4x800. That's the third fastest time in the nation this season!!! Sophomore Camryn Thomas, sophomore Taysaun Wilson, junior William Brommeland, and senior Teddy Wilson shared the baton for TRN. Union Catholic was fourth in the 4x800 in a US No. 5 7:55.18. Sean Wilson, Ryan Cichocki, Caudell Cajuste, and Jimmy Wischusen carried the baton for the Vikings. Wischusen, a junior, split 1:54.3 on the anchor leg.
Dylan Decambre of Bergen Tech finished fourth in the boys 600 in 1:20.19 and Xander Roberts-Bogin of Pleasantville finished fifth in 1:20.27.
Premier Wynn of Pleasantville was sixth in the boys 300 in 34.54.
Lindsay Hausman of Kent Place finished 12th in the girls mile in 5:11.15.