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New champions will be crowned in every individual event, some meet records will be under siege, and several dramatic duels and highly anticipated matchups will go down in the boys' competition at the 58th NJSIAA Meet of Champions on Sunday at Ocean Breeze. The meet is scheduled to start at 10 a.m.
For the first time that I can remember, no defending individual champions are returning in the boys' meet. But that doesn't mean there isn't a ton of firepower hitting the track and the field in what is once again shaping up to be a memorable Meet of Champions.
Let's dive in and take a look at the top boys' storylines to follow.
SUPER SOPHOMORE
Sophomore Jevon Ledgister of St. Peter's Prep is favored to become just the second boy to ever win both the 55m and 200m.
Ledgister, who won the 100m dash as a freshman at the Meet of Champions last spring, comes into this meet as the state leader in both the 55 (6.31) and the 200 (21.19), which are both state sophomore records.
Ledgister will have strong challenges in both races.
In the 55, senior Daniel Tobia of Hillsborough just ran 6.32 to finish first in the Eastern States Championships, and in the 200, sophomore Adrian Woodward
If he wins both, Ledgister would join Malachi James of Burlington City (2024) as the only boys to pull off this double.
RED HOT HURDLES
The meet record could be under siege in the 55 hurdles with Essien Plummer of Neptune leading the charge.
Plummer, a junior, is coming off a victory at the Eastern States Championships in 7.19, which is the fastest time ever run by a junior in NJ history, moved him into a tie for the No. 5 spot on NJ's all-time list, smashed the Shore Conference record, and is the third fastest time in the country this season.
Plummer, who will be chasing the meet record of 7.18 that was set by Yashahya Brown of Washington Township in 2024, will clash with four hurdlers who have gone sub 7.40 this season.
They are Jasiah Gibbons of Williamstown (7.29), Michael Perry of North Brunswick (7.32), Elvin Marte Feliz of North Brunswick (7.38) and Jael Hester of Donovan Catholic (7.38).
SUB 48?
The two-lapper is wide open and could bring the first sub 48 time of the season as six quarter milers who have run 48 point this season will square off.
Sophomore Liaram Nyanke of St. Benedict's Prep leads the way with the 48.17 he ran to place first at the Eastern States Championships.
The next five fastest in this race are Crue Brown of Manalapan (48.61), Carlos Venegas of St. Joseph's (Met.) (48.68), Marc Maccario of St. Augustine (48.77), and Seven Garcia of Hackensack (48.78).
POSSIBLE 800 SWEEP
With three of the top 5 fastest runners in this race from Union Catholic, the Vikings will try to become the first team to ever go 1-2-3 in the 800.
Union Catholic's Keandre Kelly, the outdoor Meet of Champions winner in the 800 last spring, is NJ No. 1 with the 1:52.69, and his teammate Ciaran Brosnan is NJ No. 2 with a 1:52.77.
Connor Polen of Newark Academy is the next fastest at 1:54.60, but he also qualified for the 1600m, so he may just run that race. Next is Liam Angley of St. Peter's Prep, who ran 1:54.64 to finish first at the Eastern States Championships.
DISTANCE DUELS
The 1600m has the makings of an epic duel between several sub-4:16 runners.
Marcus Valenzuela of Chatham took over the state lead when he ran 4:11.58 to win the high school mile at the USATF National Championships last week. Right behind him are Benjamin Andrus of Haddonfield (4:14.39 for the mile), Brody Watt of Bernards (4:14.44 for 1600m), Keenan Byers of Randolph (4:14.69 for the mile), Matthew Littlehales of Delsea (4:15.10 for the mile), and Connor Polen of Newark Academy (4:15.96 for the mile).
Littlehales owns the fastest PR in the race with the 4:09.37 he ran to place second at the Indoor Meet of Champions last year. Byers ran 4:09.87 for 1600m last spring, and Watt ran 4:12.78 for the mile last spring.
In head-to-head matchups at the State Group Championships, Watt won the Group 2 race, finishing ahead of Andrus, and Littlehales defeated Valenzuela and Byers to win the Group 3 title.
WILL CBA BRING THE BROOM?
In the 3200m, Christian Brothers Academy teammates Luke Hnatt, Gavin Schmitt, and Ryan Collins, and Clay Stevens of Manalapan, Jay Adimala of Colts Neck, and Michael McGinnity of Hackensack will clash.
Hnatt, Schmitt, and Collins could give CBA a sweep of the top 3 spots!!!
Hnatt is the state leader with a 9:10.00 and has run 8:22.22 for 3,000. Schmitt has gone 9:15.73 for 3200m and 8:23.13 for 3,000, and Collins dropped a 9:15.28 for 2 miles. Adimala has run 9:15.48 for 3200m, Stevens has gone 9:17.31 in the 3200m this season, and McGinnity has run 9:17.56 for 2 miles.
BATON BATTLES
The 4x400 should be a classic Bergen County duel as Bergen Catholic and Hackensack will face off.
BC is the state leader with the 3:16.68 it ran two weeks ago, and Hackensack is NJ No. 2 with its 3:17.79. No other team in this field has gone under 3:21 this season.
In the 4x800, Union Catholic, who set a state record of 7:37.96 at the Millrose Games, and Hackensack, NJ No. 2 at 7:52.68, won't be running. So this race is wide open between Woodstown (7:55.62), Haddonfield (7:56.97), Ridge (7:59.01), Deptford (8:01.00), and Westfield (8:01.24).
AIR-TIME
Junior Malik Mohammed of West Side is favored to sweep the high jump and long jump. He is the top seed in the high jump with the 6-10 he made last month at the Garden State Invit., and sophomore Supreme Stradford of Cherry Hill West is the next best in the field with a 6-8.
KING OF THE RING
With six throwers over 58 feet, the shot put competition could provide the most excitement of any event and could give us the first 60-foot throw this season.
Junior Evan Yuzon of Glen Rock is the state leader with the 59-11.50, with Anthony Agnoli of Montville right behind him with a 59-6. The next best are Luke Van Benthuysen of Wall (58.8), Jaxon Ellis of Brick Memorial (58-7.50), Ayden Winters of Ocean Township (58-7), and Daniel Riga of Franklin (58-2.25).
LAMBERT PREDICTIONS
The Meet of Champions brings together the best of the best from each Group State Championship. The NJSIAA end-of-season finale will be held at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island, NY on Sunday, March 8th. Events begin at 10:00 AM ET.
- Performance Lists & Showcase Events -
- Meet Records -
NJ MileSplit will be streaming LIVE starting at 10:00 AM ET. There will be a track events live stream, and we will have full recordings of select field events, which will be uploaded after the meet.
Jim Lambert will be trackside to interview every event winner, so if you bring home the gold, please seek him out. The usual photo coverage will be published post-meet by Tom Smith and Tom Harkins, and you can expect recaps, features, and more.
Tickets Here - Note that no cash will be accepted at the door at Ocean Breeze. Attending spectators are encouraged to purchase tickets online. You can scan and buy tickets at the door, but they will not be using cash.
WATCH LIVE on MileSplit
Meet Page - Videos - Photos - Articles
New champions will be crowned in every individual event, some meet records will be under siege, and several dramatic duels and highly anticipated matchups will go down in the boys' competition at the 58th NJSIAA Meet of Champions on Sunday at Ocean Breeze. The meet is scheduled to start at 10 a.m.