The Rumson girls made big a statement by dropping a hot time in the 4x800-meter relay at Wednesday's Shore Track Coaches Association Invitational at Ocean Breeze.
Rumson was locked in a tight duel with Hillsborough through three legs when junior star Clemmie Lilley broke away on the anchor with a 2:16.31 carry as she stopped the clock at 9:26.76! That broke Rumson's school record of 9:27.03 set at the 2019 Eastern States Championships, and it moved the Bulldogs to the No. 1 spot in the state and No. 14 nationally this winter!
Hillsborough, with Sabrina Sardar anchoring in 2:18.66, finished second with a N.J. No. 2 time of 9:29.61, which is No. 20 nationally.
Senior Ryan Malone got things going for Rumson with a 2:26.98 leadoff leg. Junior Izzy Rodriguez moved Rumson up to second-place with a 2:20.39 effort, and then junior Logan Rettino ran 2:23.10 for her two laps, doing exactly what her team needed by handing the baton to Lilley with a half-second lead on Hillsborough.
Lilley, second in the 800 at the outdoor Meet of Champions last spring, is a close as it gets to a lock when she's anywhere near the lead, so it was no surprise to she her do what she does best by dropping the hammer and slamming the door to put the finishing touches on Rumson's record-breaking victory.
That was one of two school records on the day for Lilley, who earlier burned a 56.49 to win the 400 in another great 2-lap battle with senior Olivia Nickelsen of Toms River North, second in 57.05.
Lilley's 56.49 is a big indoor PR and it smashed the school record of 56.80 set by Lily Orr in 2019, and it also places Lilley No. 3 in the state season. Lilley is also ranked No. 4 in the state in the 800 with the 2:13.30 she ran at the Shore Conference Championships last month.
Meanwhile, Nickelsen's 57.05 is a also new PR and she moved up to No. 8 in the state rankings this winter.