Morristown, behind the sizzling performances by Jason Meza and Aaliyah Murphy, ruled the day by sweeping the team titles at the Morris County Championships on Monday night at Ocean Breeze on Staten Island.
Meza was simply spectacular as he won three races to fuel the Morristown boys to its first title since 2013. The Colonials, seventh last year, outscored runner-up Delbarton, 68-57.
The Cornell-bound Meza, who owns the county indoor records in the 300 and 400, won the 55 hurdles in a personal best 7.72, finished first in the 300 with a NJ No. 3 time of 35.17, and first in the 600 in 1:20.35, the second fastest time in the state this season and No. 4 in the nation this season!!
Two other Morris County record holders, Ryan Johnson of Delbarton and Cade Zeolla of West Morris, came up with great performances in the boys competition.
Johnson, a senior who owns the county record in the 55 dash at 6.39, almost broke his record by winning that race in a meet record 6.41. Johnson's 6.41 broke the meet mark of 6.50 set last year by Jack Ahart of Kinnelon.
Zeolla, a junior who set the county pole vault record of 15-6 earlier this month, cleared 14-0 to repeat as champion in the pole vault.
In the girls competition, Morristown, the co-champions with Mount Olive last year, outscored runner-up Morris Hills, 60-49.
Murphy, a senior who won the 400 hurdles at the Meet of Champions last spring, smashed a Morris County record, placed second in the 55 hurdles and he anchored the runner-up 4x400 relay for Morristown.
The Troy University-bound Murphy burned a red hot 40.33 to break her own county record of 40.62 that she ran at the Pietrewicz Invitational earlier this month at the New York Armory. Murphy added a PR of 8.24, the second fastest time in meet history, to place second in the hurdles, and she anchored the winning 4x400 that ran 4:00.72.
PISKULA AND RYERSON SHINE
Morris Hills was able to stay in contention behind the remarkable triple by Ivory Piskula, and Morgan Ryerson of Mount Olive smahed a nmet record.
Piskula, a junior, won the 600 in 1:37.14, the 1,000 with a PR of 3:04.71, and the 1,600 in 5:10.80!!!
Ryerson, a senior, won the 55 hurdles in 8.22 to break the meet record of 8.27 set in 2016 by Tymia Joseph of Morris Knolls.