New Jersey's Penn Relays Notebook - Thursday Events Recap

The Penn Relays Carnival
Robert Kellert


Interview by Jim Lambert with Chatham's 4x800m squad at Penn Relays.

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Want a quick overview of New Jersey's performance during the 2023 Penn Relays Carnival Presented by Toyota? Well, we've got you covered!

Check out all the New Jersey interviews, features, and top results from the weekend in our day by day snap recaps.

New Jersey Feature Links



Top Performers Event by Event

This section will point out top performances in each event and added context for major times or marks.


Day 1 - Thursday Highlights

Boys 4x800m Prelims

With a time of 7:49.99 the Seton Hall Prep boys led NJ at Penn Relays on Thursday, and after a DQ of Jamaica College they led the entire 4x800m preliminary! They are the top seed out of the qualifiers for the Championship of America race set to run Friday evening.

Chatham HS recorded the second fastest time winning their heat at 7:56.02, and Toms River North battled through traffic to finish eight in the merge. All three moving on to the COA race! 

Read More : Boys 4x800m Sees Three NJ Squads Advance to Championship of America

Performance in Merge : Full Result



Boys 4x100m Prelims

Bergen Catholic, Piscataway, and Livingston all advance to run the Northeast 4x100m final on Friday at 1:25pm, Bergen Catholic the top New Jersey team at 42.86 ranked 25th overall.

Top 10 NJ Finishers - Full Result


4x400m

The Seton Hall Prep boys had a busy schedule on Thursday and qualified for yet another Championship of America in the 4x400m when they ran the sixth fastest time in prelims clocked at 3:16.67. That's the state leading time for New Jersey this outdoors, 

Pennsauken made their way into the Philadelphia Area final with their 11th ranked prelim of 3:18.87. They now rank NJ No. 2 this season.

Union Catholic, 3:20.15, Ocean Township, 3:21.53, and Linden, 3:21.70, along with Seton Hall Prep and Pennsauken mentioned above, rewrote the top five 4x400m rankings for New Jersey.

Read More: Seton Hall Prep Storms Into a Pair of CoA Races at Penn

Top 10 NJ Finishers - Full Result



Boys Discus

Fabian Gonzalez of Southern Regional continued to impress this spring with a major PR of 203-2 in the discus throw to finish as the top American and second overall. He tightens his hold on the New Jersey state lead with that mark.

This also improves his standing to NJ No. 7 all-time and ranks US No. 2 this season. One of only four boys to crack the 200 foot barrier this outdoors!

Sophomore Benjamin Shue of Bergen Catholic threw 196-8 for fourth overall and moves to US No. 7 NJ No. 2 this season. 

Read More : Gonzalez and Huisman Earn Top American Finishes

NJ Finishers : Full Result



Boys Shot Put

Joshua Huisman of St. Rose hit a mark of 63.7.75 for second overall during the Penn Relays shot put, this also earned him the honor of Top American and a gold watch! Huisman moves up to NJ No. 2 US No. 8 so far this outdoor season. 

New Jersey's shot put crew is rocking the month of April and we have three inside the top 10 nationally and 60+ feet thus far. Fabian Gonzalez of Southern Regional US No. 2 with 65-9 from Woodbury Relays, Huisman's US No. 8 at 63-7.76 from Penn Relays, and Benjamin Shue of Bergen Catholic US No. 9 with 63-5.5 from Arcadia. 

NJ Finishers : Full Result


Boys Long Jump

Union Catholic sophomore Noah Cooper, the New Jersey state leader, made a jump of 21-9.5 for eight on Thursday at Penn Relays. Cooper cleared a distance of 22-10.5 (NWI) the weekend prior during the Blue Devil Classic.

NJ Finishers - Full Result


Boys High Jump

Rabae Smith of Linden HS cleared the 6-4 bar for fourth overall improving his season best and moving up to a now four-way tie for NJ No. 7 this season. Derrick Robinson of Cinnaminson fifth, also at 6-04, matching his season best.

NJ Finishers - Full Results



Boys Javelin

Bergen Catholic senior Sean Coll launched a 167-9 to finish 12th at Penn Relays during Thursday's javelin competition. Coll already ranked NJ No. 3 this season off his earlier mark of 175-9 during Hasbrouck Height's Penn Qualifier meet.

NJ Finishers - Full Results


Boys Triple Jump

Kam Coleman of CBA led New Jersey in the triple jump finishing 11th overall with a mark of 43-9.75 on his second attempt. Coleman moves up to NJ No. 7 this season.

NJ Finishers - Full Results



Boys Pole Vault

NJ No. 1 ranked Brian O'Sullivan cleared 15-8.25 for second on Thursday only behind KY's Wyatt Stewart who made it over the 16-8 bar. O'Sullivan had cleared 16 earlier this season. 

Junior vaulter Ryan Merlino of Oakcrest moved up to NJ No. 3 with his sixth place height of 14-8. 

NJ Finishers - Full Results