UC Sweeps, Holley And Cadet Sparkle At Union County Meet

May 08, 2026

Union Catholic extended its remarkable winning streaks with a dominating sweep of the team titles, some history was made, and several athletes completed impressive doubles and repeated as champions when the Union County Championships concluded on Friday at the historic Milt Campbell Track and Field Complex at Hub Stine Field in Plainfield.

BROOM JOB

In the girls team competition, UC won six of the nine running events, and finished first in four field events on the way to racking up a meet record 221 points to win their 11th straight title. Cranford was second with 48.50 points.

On the boys side, the Vikings picked up two wins from both Elijah McCoy and Shahid Stevens and victories from Ciaran Brosnan and Quentin Clemons on the way to a 167-51 victory over over runner-up Westfield for their sixth titte in a row

Let's take a look at all the winners from Friday's second and final day of competition.

TRIPLE WINNER

Union Catholic's Sydney Chadwick was the biggest winner of the meet as the junior won her third title on Friday by capturing the 200 dash with an NJ No. 4 time of 24.53. On Thursday, Chadwick won the 400 hurdles for the third straight year in 1:00.58, and came back to win the 400 in an NJ No. 4 54.76 as she defeated defending champ Reagan Moore of Oak Knoll.

DAILY DOUBLES

Junior Morgan Holley of Union Catholic and senior Jaydan Cadet of Elizabeth each won a pair of events on Friday.

Holley, one of the state's best all-round stars, won both the 100 hurdles and the long jump for the second straoght year. In the hurdles, Holley ran 14.66, and in the long jump she led 1-2-3 finish for UC with a NJ No. 2 winning leap of 19-1.50. She also cleared 5-0 in the high jump on Friday to place second, and on Thursday she went 40-9.25 to finish second 100 hurdlesin the triple jump, the second best jump in Union County history and No. 9 in NJ history. Holley racked up 36 points for the Vikings.

Cadet, one of the most versatile stars in the state, pulled off a unique double as he went back and forth between the pole vault and the triple jump. He cleared 12-6 in the pole vault and on his final attempt in the triple jump, Cadet soared 47-4.50 to cap off his amazing double. Cadet may have won a third event, but there wasn't enough time for him to compete in the javelin since it was being contested at the same time as the pole vault and javelin. Alex Kessler, the Union County record holder and state leader in the javelin, didn't compete, so Cadet would have been on of the favorites to win in his absence.

BREAKOUT STAR

One of the most impressive all-round performances of the meet came from Dayton senior Chidiogo Iherobiem, who scored in 4 events!

On Thursday, Iherobiem won a thrilling duel with defending champion Jalele WIlliams of UC when he hit a huge PR of 23-7.25 on his final attempt to finish first and break the meet record of 23-6.75 that Williams set last year. Iherobiem's 23-7.25 is also a school record and No. 6 in NJ this season. His previous best was 22-2.75. He also cleared 5-10 to place fourth in the high jump.

Then on Friday, Iherobiem ran 15.66 to finish third in the 110 hurdles and went a PR of 44-4 to get fourth in the triple jump.

If you've never heard of him before, it's time to remember the name-Chidiogo Iherobiem!!! He's capable of doing some huge things at the state sectionals, state group championships, and the Meet of Champions.

DOUBLES

Elijah McCoy and Shahid Stevens of Union Catholc each picked up their second victories in Friday.

McCoy, who won the 1600 on Thursday, came back to win the 3,200 in 9:14.99, and Stevens, the 100 dash champ on Thursday, ran 21.75 to add the 200 title to his collection.

DAZZLING DEBUT

In his first 110 hurdles race of the season, Andrew Emes of Roselle ran the best race of his life as he dominated the event and stopped the clock at 14.69, whoch was a huge PR. It was his first tme ever breaking 15.00.

RAIDER NATION STRIKES AGAIN

Justin Timchak, Mike Sylvester, Ryan LaBrun and Max Handler, who are all juniors, combined to give Scotch Plains-Fanwood its second straight boys' 4x400 title with a time of 3:22.62, the second fastest time in school history. They just missed the school record of 3:22.46 set in 2000.

Timchak split 50.09, Sylvester went 52.73, LaBrun ran 51.05, and Handler burned a 48.77 on the anchor leg. Timchak and Handler also ran on last yar's victorious squad.

After the race, all four guys said it's just matter of time before they break the school record of 3:22.46, which came from a team that featured Nate Jones, who played in the NFL, and Ray Williams, one of the greatest quater milers in NJ history!

They way the way they've been progressing, it wouldn't be surprising to see Timchak, Sylvester, LaBrun, and Handler get under 3:20 this season!!!

KING OF THE RING

One of the biggest goals that Nick Dena of Westfield has had all season was to become a county champ. After coming close with a strong runner-up finish oin the discus on Thursday, Dena wasn't going to be denied in the circle on Friday, launching a 49-2.50 to win the shot put championship.

3 PEAT

Junoor Cayleigh Kaiser of Union Catholic won the 3200 for the third year in a row as she controlled the race from start to finish, crossing the line in 10:37.41 to lead a 1-2-3-6 finish for UC.

Kaiser has often been called CK2 because her older sister Courtney has the same initials, but after a winning a third straight county title, maybe it's time to start calling her CK3!!!

MORE HIGHLIGHTS

Sophomore Lidia Wright had an amazing meet for Westfield. The rising star cleared 5-0 to win the girls' high jump on misses. Wright also finished third in the 100 hurdles in 14.90 and was second in the 400 hurdles in 1:03.71.

Junior Aubrey Devers of Union Catholic won her first county title by running 2:15.01 to win the 800 and lead a remarkable 1-2-3-4-6 finish for the Vikigns in the 2-lapper.

Junior Quintin Clemons made it a UC 800 sweep by winning the boys' race in 1:55.31. UC went 1-2-5 in the race.

Junior Adam Connell of Cranford won the boys' javelin with a throw of 147-1

The Union girls ran 4:00.66 to win the 4x400

Cranford senior Elisabeth Wallin unloaded a PR of 116-1 to win the girls' discus.

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