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The Metuchen boys and Hasbrouck Heights girls did it again as both teams repeated as champions at the NJSIAA Group 1 Relays on Friday night at the Bennett Center in Toms River.
It was third straight title for the Hasbrouck Heights girls and the second in a row for the Metuchen boys.
In the boys competition, Metuchen received key contributions from several athletes on the way to a hard-fought 50-44 victory over runner-up Glassboro. It's the ninth state relay title for Metuchen overall, the fourth most in state history for a boys program. Metuchen's other eight titles came in 1972, '73, '92, '97, '99, '03, '08, and last year. Only CBA (30), Willingboro (18), and Haddonfield (15) have won more boys state relay championships than Metuchen.
Metuchen won the DMR and placed second in the 4x800, SMR, 4x400, and the pole vault.
Senior Alex Patelski split 4:25 as Metuchen's anchor on the DMR and went 1:59 to bring the SMR across second. Eric Schleif and Nico Hidalgo ran on the DMR, 4x800 and 4x400 for the Bulldogs, and Vedant Naik and Kasper Ruszala were on the shuttles, SMR, and 4x400 for Metuchen.
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In the girls competition, Hasbrouck Heights flexed their superior balance on the way to a tight 46-40 victory over runner-up Metuchen. Hasbrouck Heights won the shuttle hurdles and placed fifth or better in all nine events.
In addition to their victory in the shuttles in 35.01, the Aviators placed fourth in the DMR, third in the 4x200, fifth in the 4x800, fourth in the SMR, fifth in the 4x400, third in the high jump, second in the shot put, and fourth in the pole vault.
Senior Alexandra Samperi had a sensational all-round meet for Hasbrouck Heights. She cleared 4-10.50 in the high jump, and ran on the shuttle hurdles, the 4x200, and the 4x400.