Years of waiting turned into moments of celebration on Saturday when the Hackensack boys and Hunterdon Central girls each ended long title droughts by capturing the Group 4 State Championships at the Bennett Center in Toms River.
For both programs, the victories were about more than points on a scoreboard - they were about persistence, depth, and finally breaking through.
Comets Rise Up
The Hackensack boys delivered a sensational performance to win their first title in 27 years and its fifth state championship overall.
The Comets piled up 52 points to run away with the championship, outscoring runner-up North Brunswick by 21 points. Defending champion Manalapan placed third with 28.
Seniors Michael McGinnity and Seven Garcia led the charge for the Comets.
McGinnity won the 1,600 (4:20.42) and 3,200 (9:21.68), and Garcia finished first in the 400 (49.04), third in the 800, and he ran anchored the winning 4x400 relay that ran 3:24.49. Junior Darius Pemberton aso shined for Hackensack, placing third in the 55 dash in 6.53.
Gibbons Hurdles To Top Of The State
The Hunterdon Central girls picked up a clutch win the pole vault from senior Olivia Silber to secure their first title since 2004 and its second overall with a 30-26 win over defending champion Eastern, second with 26. Ridgewood was third with 24.
Silber cleared 11-6 in the pole vault to give the Red Devils the 10 points it needed to lock up the championship.
The championship marks a milestone moment for a program that has steadily built itself back into contention. With several underclassmen contributing, the Red Devils' breakthrough may be a sign of staying power rather than a one-year surge.
Two of the biggest stars of the meet were Natalie Dumas of Eastern and Katherine Keating of Ridgewood, who each won two races.
The University of Arkansas-bound Dumas, the triple winner at the New Balance National Championships last June, had a hand in all of Eastern's 26 points by winning the 400 (55.96) and the 800 (2:17.68) and running on the third-place 4x400. Keating, a junior, dominated the distance races by finishing first in both the 1,600 in 4:55.92 and 3,200 at 10:35.44.
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