The Livingston boys continued its historic season when the Lancers completed the county triple crown by winning it first title, and the Montclair girls returned to the winner's circle at Sunday's Essex County Championships at the Ocean Breeze Track and Field Facility on Staten Island.
Livingston, second last year, used its speed to runaway from the competition on the way to a dominating 91-50 victory over runner-up and defending champion Seton Hall Prep.
The monumental victory by Livingston was the final jewel in the triple crown, which consists of victories at the Super Essex Conference Championships, the Essex County Relays, and the Essex County Track and Field Championships in the same season. How awesome is that!!!
Livingston's speed was the difference as the Lancers racked up 62 points in the sprints behind seniors Luke Petryna, Chase Wade, Chase Kaufman, and Brandon Dong, and sophomore Corey Leavy.
Kaufman led a 1-2-3 in the 55 dash with his winning time of 6.66 (6.61 in the trials). Dong was second in 6.73, and Leavy third in 6.74 (6.71 in the trials).
In the 200, Petryna was second in 21.84, Wade was third in 22.30, and Kaufman placed fourth in 22.37. Wade (50.15) and Petryna (50.25) went 3-4 in the 400, and Livingston won the 4x400 in 3:23.96.
In the girls competition, Montclair, the 2022 champ and second by just one point last year to Columbia, regained its title with a 67-49 victory over runner-up Livingston.
The Mounties were led by Avery McAdams, Corinne Stewart, Darriel Whiting, and Ashley Noel.
McAdams, a senior, placed second in both the 1,600 (5:19.39) and the 3,200 (11:47.62). Stewart, a junior, finished first in the 800 in 2:21.53. Whiting placed second in both the 55 dash (7.31) and the 200 (25.30), and Noel was fourth in both the 55 dash (7.44) and the 200 (26.27). Montclair also picked up 10 points by winning the 4x400 in 4:08.03.
Corbin Raston, a sophomore at West Orange, had a huge day in the sprints as she won the 55 dash in a NJ No. 7 time of 7.17, and the 200 24.73), which is NJ No. 5.