Sectional Wrap Up

Joe Lanzalotto

So many performances across the state it's hard to keep up with all the results.  Just some observations and results that caught my attention from the past couple days in no particular order:

 

In General

  • The weather was great, a real and welcome change after all the cold and rain we've had throughout the spring.  However, I  have to think it was a shock to athletes' bodies that certainly haven't become acclimated to the warmth.
  • Some tinkering is still needed with the distribution of groups as the inclusion of non-public sectionals made the meets at those locations a lot longer than others. 
  • The NJSIAA simply has to spring for wind gauges.  It's tough for marks in the sprints and horizontal jumps to garner national acceptance without them.  If you think national attention doesn't matter, think again.  It sure does to the runners and jumpers.  Wind gauges aren't that expensive and you need one extra official to operate them.

 

Group 1

North 1

Boys

  • Kaleb Zuidema's 220-10 in the javelin went largely unnoticed.  This is an athlete who had major reconstructive knee surgery and is within four feet of last year's best.  Pretty amazing stuff. 
  • Stephen Lewandoski and Rutger Admirand of Mountain Lakes had wonderful weekends.  Lewandowski won the 1600 and 3200 in 4:17.13 and 9:38.59 respectively and took third in the 800 with a 1:58.16.  Admirand won the 800 in 1:55.94, was second in the 400 in 49.13, fourth in the 200 in 23.35 and ran a leg on the Lakers' 4x400 relay.  A word about that 800.  Rutger went out in about 62 seconds, so I figured it was a typical tactical race that he would win in a little under 2:00 since he had three events to go after the 800.  Nope.  Admirand came back on the second lap in 54-flat! Who negative splits an 800 like that?  I have to think he's got a lot more than his season best 1:53.73 and can't wait to see him in the Meet of Champs and hopefully at the New Balance Nationals (shameless plug).
  • Kevin Condal had a nice triple winning the 100, 200 and 400 in 11.14, 22.36 and 48.86 respectively and ran the third leg on Hasbrouck Heights winning 4x400.

Girls

  • Mountain Lakes went 1-2-3 in the 1600 and 1-5 in the 3200.  Kristen Landry set a meet record in the 1600 (5:09.22) and Colette Richter chalked one up in the 3200 at 11:10.16.  Landry also won the 800.
  • Kinnelon won two events - the shot and 4x400 - but was deep enough to win the team title over Mountain Lakes, 78 - 73.  The title wasn't clinched until the 4x400 put it away for them as they finished first and Mountain Lakes was fourth.

North 2

Boys

  • Patrick Rono won everything in sight it seemed with his 49.25, 1:53.28, 4:28.32, 9:44.81 quad for wins in the 400, 800, 1600 and 3200.  The 800 win was a meet record.  Lyndhurst ran up another 94 points to take the team title over Newark Central. 
  • Gerrold Gainer of Newark Central had a good meet with a win in the 200, a third in the 400 and a leg on the winning 4x400.  Gainer is a soph.  I'm curious to see how he does at the next level.

Girls

  • Nice win for Essex Vo-Tech Market Street (that's the name on the results).  I guess they should also say "Newark Tech" or what's that other name?  Hey, one name per school, 'k? The abbreviated name adjacent to the athletes' names is ESSEXVY MARKET.  No kidding.
  • Couple of sophs had great days here.  Iana Amsterdam of ESSEXVY MARKET won the 100, long jump and triple jump and was third in the 100 hurdles.  The triple jump win was a meet record at 37-10.75.  Amsterdam is already the fifth performer in the state.  Shanique Frett of Weequahic was third in the 100 after leading in the prelims but then went 24.83 (= #2 NJ) in the 200, 57.53 in the 400 and ran on the winning 4x400, all winners.

Central

Boys

  • I wasn't there so I cannot comment on the DQ of the Dunellen 4x400 except to say that I cannot imagine how horrible Kerry Hansen  must feel.  Not making excuses; if he did the crime, he has to pay.  But just feeling badly for the young man and his teammates. 
  • Hansen had a heck of a meet otherwise, winning the 200 and 400 and taking sixth in the 100.
  • Nice double for New Providence's Everett Price - 1:55.17 and 4:22.17 for wins in the 800 and 1600. 
  • Meet record for McLean Lipschutz of Robbinsville with his 173-8 in the javelin.  Jersey is DEEP in the javelin this year.
  • Very nice showing for Metuchen in the long sprints and middle distances, as they go 4-5 in the 400, 4-5 in the 400 hurdles 2-3-4 in the 800 and 2-4-5 in the 1600. 

Girls

  • Excellent win for Robbinsville here too over a tough Metuchen team.
  • Are these years right in the results?  There were NO junior or senior placers in the 100 or 200?  In teh 400 there was ONE scorer who was a junior - no seniors.  No senior scorers until you hit the 3200.  Geez.  Both Robbinsville and Metuchen especially are very young.  More good stuff coming.
  • Noel Jancewicz of Robbinsville takes the high jump at 5-8 along with a second in the long jump, second in the javelin and a leg on the 4x400.  You won't often see a more disparate group of events than that for one athlete.

South

Boys

  • Daryl Bush.  Wow, what a story.  Last year his PR was 49.26.  He had a good winter and ran 50.03 at the Easterns.  Then he goes outside and drops a bomb 47.89 at the beginning of May, 47.61 in the middle and now 47.41.  You can see where this is going.  he was also second in the 100 and won the 200 as Woodbury grabbed the team title by 7 over Penns Grove.  Bush is a junior, folks. 
  • Teammate Terrance Tolbert had a pretty good meet also - a win the 100 in 10.98, second in the 200 (22.45) and the 400 (48.91).  No surprise Woodbury won the 4x400 in a very good 3:22.29.  Geez, Group 1 is strong this year.
  • Another nice javelin throw - 176-8 for Joe kelly of Pitman.

Girls

  • Freshman Faleesha Dowe of Penns Grove won the 200, 400 took 6th in the triple jump and ran a leg on the winning 4x400.

 

Group 2

North 1

Boys 

  • Really strong performance by Morris Hills taking the team title.
  • No surprise as Derrick Washington wins the 400 hurdles in 53.80, the 400 in 49.56, 110 hurdles (15.15) and the 200 (22.67).  Hey, this guy did not run track last year!  Good grief!  He had to work at it in the 400 hurdles as Mahwah's Erik Moutenot gave him everything he could handle right down to the final few meters of the race.

Girls

  • The host school, Mahwah, eked out a 2 point win over Westwood, 80 - 78. 
  • Mahwah's Kim Nagotko had a big meet with wins in the 100, 200, 400 and a relay leg.
  • Morris Hills' Jana Sedlacek won the 1600 and 3200.

North 2

Boys

  • Yikes!  Nice quad for Zamir Thomas of Snyder with wins in the 100 (10.76), 200 (21.66), 400 (48.36) and a leg on the first palce 4x400.
  • Jake Neuman of Chatham threw 166-11 to win the discus. 
  • Kevin Seery (Hanover Park) and Stephen Burk (Parsippany) both tossed the javelin 193-2 with Seery getting the win.  Both those throwers have gone over 200 feet this season.
  • In addition to winning the high jump at 6-8, Mark Jones of Summit took the 110 hurdles and long jump.

Girls

  • Bernards edged Summit here, 80.33 - 76, as junior Dana Giordano won the 1600/3200 double in 4:58.10/10:56.64. 
  • Also a good meet for Summit's Katie Watson with a win in the 800 (2:15.88) second in the 1600 (5:00.48) and a leg on the second place relay.  I love to watch Katie run; she backs off for no one.
  • Voorhees soph Nisa Cicitta had a good meet taking third in the 1600 with a PR 5:02.05 and second in the 3200 in 11:01.02.
  • Bernards senior Catherine Shih equaled the best mark of the sectionals with her 12-0 win.

Central

Boys

  • Long Brach senior Miles Shuler-Foster did something new - he ran the 400 with excellent results, a 49.23 win to go along with triumphs in the 100 (10.90 into a 1.6 mps wind) and 200 (21.95 NWI but a wind-legal 21.97 in the trials).  Miles also ran on the winning 4x400.  Why does this section have a wind gauge but not all the others?
  • Nice throw in the discus for soph Andre Hodge - 176-7. Hodge also won the shot at 50-7.25.
  • Solomon Simpkins, a freshman from Matawan, won the long jump with a leap of 22-5.25 (NWI).
  • Proving the adage that 400 hurdlers make good 800 meter runners and vice-versa, junior Evan Johnson of Ewing won both events, the 400H in a fine 54.83 and then the 800m in 1:58.27.

Girls

  • Essence Mayers recorded a NJ #1 in the triple jump at 40-6.25 (NWI), was first in the 100 in 12.68 (-1.1 wind) and on the long jump at 19-4 (NWI). 
  • Katherine Frye had double wins in the hurdles events and seconds in the 200 and long jump.

South

Boys

  • Issac Clark is a soph at Pleasantville.  I cannot find an 800 PR for him under 2:00 anywhere but I could be missing something.  Big shock as he drops Ben Potts of Haddonfield in the 800 1:54.37 - 1:55.21!  That's a huge PR and a great win over a great runner.
  • Potts did win the 1600 as he and teammates Matt Nussbaum and Tim Malloy went 1-2-4.  They went 1-2-4 again in the 3200 with Nussbaum and Potts reversing positions.
  • Nice 400 hurdle time by soph Brandon Hill of Willingboro - 53.79.  That's #6 NJ.  The 400 hurldes are another event where Jersey is very deep.  No one has yet stepped out to take command of the event so groups and MOc will be very interesting.
  • Hill joined teammates Matt Dash (javelin winner at 179-10), Rashaun Houston and Brandon Bennett (400 winner in 49.29) for a 3:21.88 4x400 win over Bridgeton but Bridgeton won the team title 106 - 85.25.
  • Soph Dominique Irons' (Haddon Heights) 46-5.25 triple jump is #5 NJ.
  • Great meet for soph Braheeme Days of Bridgeton.  57-11 in the shot and 177-5 in the discus, both winners.  Pleasantville's Dontaye Rivera threw 57-2 for second in the shot.

Girls

  • Manchester frosh Kylie Siemanowicz threw the discus 128-0 for the win and #6 in New Jersey.

 

Group 3

North 1

Boys  

  • Brandon Gregory (Old Tappan) had a heck of a Friday in Mahwah.  First he won the 400 hurdles in 53.75 (= NJ #4) then he ran down Brad Paternostro at the line in the 400 to take second in 48.82, no mean feat.
  • Paternostro won the 1600 on Friday in 4:19.17 prior to taking third in the 400.  In the 800 he was second to soph Ben Malone of Pascack Valley in the 800 1:52.17 - 1:52.65.  Malone only ran one event.
  • Soph Eric Geider of Demarest takes the win and NJ #5 with his 14-1 vault.
  • Taylor Bernstein (Montville) won the shot with a heave of 57-11 and the discus at 168-9.
  • Teaneck uses sprint and jump strength to take a 83 - 80 win over Demarest. 

Girls

  • She's back!  Claudia DiSomma, after struggling for several months to regain fitness as the result of a broken-leg enforced layoff, took charge of the 1600 from the gun, splitting 73.3, 76.1, 75.3 and 72.2 to win in 4:56.72.  The win was her first race under 5:00 since the injury.  She later took second in the 800 in 2:15.99 and won the 3200 11:28.07.
  • Teammate Erika Veidis stormed to a 55.68 in the 400, winning by more than two seconds and grabbing a NJ #3.  Veidis won the 800 on Saturday in 2:15.31, was fourth in the 200 and anchored the winning 4x400. 
  • Sparta used those points plus a second in the 400H and thirds in the 100H 400 by Jen Silvestri (all in PR times), a PR 5-0 high jump by Danielle Farrand and a fourth in the triple jump by Rebecca Davis to score their second sectional titile in a row and only their fouth since 1976.
  • Teaneck swept the first three spots in the triple jump.

North 2

Boys

  • Nick Vena had an outstanding 72-7.25/185-9 shot/discus double. 
  • Alexander Rossi of Nutley took the javelin win over Daniel Jamieson of Parsippany Hills 179-1 - 174-7.  Man, Jersey kids can throw the spear!
  • Rahway dominated the meet, winning 113.66 - 52.

Girls

  • West Morris Central's freshman, Kylene Cochrane, won the 1600 over Mendham's Mackenzie Barry, 5:05.52 - 5:07.50.  Mendham's Abby Seel (5:07.88) was third and teammate Reagan Kolkowski was sixth.  Barry and Seel went 1-2 in the 3200.
  • Natalie Engelese of Cranford won the 200 (25.74) and 400 (57.22).  Englese already owns the second best 400 time in New Jersey this season.
  • Dashana Ransome had quite a meet.  She was first in the 400 hurdles, 400 hurdles, long jump and was second in the 200 scoring 38 of Irvinton's 92 points that took the team title by only 5 points over Scotch Plains-Fanwood.

Central

Boys

  • Mike Andre (Ocean Township) was second in the 100 in 11.06 into a 1.9 mps wind, won the 200 on Saturday in 21.74 (NWI) and won the 400 48.55.
  • Mike O'Dowd is feeling better.  He scored a 4:18.62 - 4:19.96 - 4:20.61 win over Joe and Jim Rosa and then came back on Saturday in the 3200 and was second to Joe's NJ #2 9:04.75 in 9:14.34, just 0.01 ahead of Jim.  O'Dowd's time is NJ # 6 and Jim Rosa's mark is #7.  You don't often see this level of quality marks in a sectional.
  • Connor Grunwald of Somervile won the pole vault with a NJ #2 14-6.
  • Christian Spaulding threw the javelin 182-4.
  • Greg Caldwell of West Windsor North scored a win over Eric Kahana (Freehold Boro) in the 110 hurdles 14.57 - 14.83. 
  • Sam Snyder of Hopewell Valley won the shot and discus at 54-4/171-11.
  • Hamilton North secured its 6.33-point team victory wtih a fine 3:21.09 4x400 relay win.

Girls

  • Miranda Mackey (Hopewell Valley) did the quad with a 12.36 win in the 100 (into a 1.6 mps wind), a 25.33 200 meter win, first in the 400 in 57.65 and a leg on the third place 4x400 mter relay team.
  • Middletown South took 1-2-3 in the high jump.
  • Ajee' Wilson wont he 800 (2:11.91), 1600 5:04.35 and ran on the winning 4x400 relay.
  • Neptune came up short in their bid for the team title, losing to Hopewll Valley 74 - 70.

South

Boys

  • Wow! What a time by Damiere Byrd (Timber Creek).  10.36!  That would be WAY up there on the US list.  WAY! But alas...no wind gauge!  Wake up Jersey!  Doesn't change the fact that this guy is a tremendous talent.  This race saw 4 under 11.00 - Kevin Potter also of Timber Creek, 10.79, Koree Dusenbury (Burlington Township), 10.89 and Vincent Pini also of Burlington Township, 10.93.
  • Byrd was second in the 400 on Friday in 49.57 but did not finish in the 200 on Saturday and to be honest with you, I don't know why.  Still checking on that one.
  • Byrd did lead a 1-2-3 Timber Creek sweep in the long jump with a leap of 23-5.5, with Potter second and and Josh Gray third. Potter won the 110 hurdles in 14.68 and Gray won the triple jump at 45-0.75.
  • Anthony Colasurdo (Lacey) continued his fine running this season with a second in the 800 (1:55.30) and a win in the 1600 (4:18.06).
  • Timber Creek's Donnie House was a winner in the 400 hurdles in a NJ #2 53.50, was sixth in the 400 in 51.17, second in teh 110 hurdles and led off the winning 4x400 team.
  • Zachary Torrell of Lacey whipped the javelin 201-5, New Jersey #4 and US #16.
  • Timber Creek overwhelmed Lacey, winning the team crown 142 - 62.

Girls

  • Ste'yce McNeil - what a talent!  The Winslow junior won the 200 in a NJ #2 24.83, the 400 in 57.21, the 400 hurdles in 1:02.56 (= NJ #3) and was third in the 110 hurdles in 14.24.
  • Delsea's Felicia O'Donnell led the way to a 116 - 63.5 team victory with her wins in the 800 and 1600 (5:01.75) and ran on the winning 4x400 relay.

 

Group 4

Boys

North 1

  • Ridgewood scored heavily from 400 - 3200 to take the team crown from Montclair, 94 - 71.
  • Ridgewood's Levi Jennings who has come on like a freight train this season, went 1:54.99 (second) behind West Orange's Jared Mason (1:53.86), 4:16.25 (first) and 9:52.40 (sixth) in the 800/1600/3200. 
  • Teammate Pat Rynkowski placed third in the 1600, 2nd in the 3200 and looked every bit the quarter-miler with his 52.5 leg on the 4x400.  Insoo Hwang won the 400 hurdles in 54.18 and was second in the 110 hurldes.  Excellent job by head coach Josh Saladino and his assistant Mike Glynn.  I guess the old coach hasn't lost anything off his fastball.
  • West Orange, which contended early for the team title, got an 11.04 win in the 100 from Dexter Valley, a second in the 200 (in 22.28, the identical time to winner Aaron Rhodes of Montclair) and a win the 400 (48.65).  West Organge won the 4x400 in 3:21.58 with Valley anchoring.  Valley is a junior.
  • After finishing seventh to just miss moving on in the 1600, Nick Fogarty (Livingston) was still alive with a possibility in the 800.  However, he chose the tougher route  - the 3200, a race he hasn't run in a big meet ever -and it paid off as he moved on by placing fourth.  Just ahead of him in that race was Randolph's Collin Frost who also went 4:20.35 for fifth in the 1600.

Girls

  • Joelle Amaral (Randolph) won the 1600 on Friday with the second best time in the sectionals, 4:54.36.  Saturday looking for a fast 800 time, she went out quickly (28.0 for the first 200) and won in 2:15.95 by 2.4 seconds.  She also contributed a 59.0 leg to the third place 4x400 as Randolph outdistanced Ridgewood 98.5 - 86.33.
  • Amaral's teammate Samantha Jones was second in the 1600 and won the 3200 by 20 seconds.
  • Kayla Polcari's (Ridgewood) 12-0 in the vault was equal to the sectionals best.
  • The big mark in the field events was the 154-5 for Nia Barnes (West Organge).  That mark is #1 in New Jersey this season and #4 US.

North 2

Boys

  • The 1600 and 3200 resulted in excellent times from the same group of athletes.  In the 1600, Piscataway's Tim Ball took the meansure of Matt McDonald (North Hunterdon), 4:15.42 - 4:17.00.  Close behind McDonald were CJ Defabio (Watchung Hills) 4:17.15, Evan Roelke (Ridge) 4:18.05, Andrew Kirna (Westfield) 4:18.28, Jon Harper (Phillipsburg) 4:18.94 and Jake Ruskan (Bridgewater) 4:19.07.  Seven under 4:20! 
  • Next day they came back with essentially the same group of friends at the 3200m party.  This time McDonald got the better of Ball, 9:11.95 - 9:16.32, with Ruskan (9:22.13), Harper 9:22.41, Defabio (9:24.36) and Kirna (9:24.36).  Six under 9:25.  Wow!
  • Jose Veras of Dicksinon performed his usual magic.  You always know he will, the question is, in which events?  This time it was the 400 hurdles 54.31, 400 48.85, 800 1:55.18 and high jump 6-6, all wins.  Teammate Edwin Young was right behind Veras in the 800 at 1:56.18.  I can't wait to see veras in a big-time 800, running no other events, with no team title to worry about.  I hope that happens at MOC and/or New Balance Nationals.

Girls

  • Columbia was happy to have star Kayann Richards healthy again.  Richards, who has been nursing an injury, ran only one event but ran it very well, taking the 100 hurdles in 14.33 (#4 NJ).
  • The workhorse in Columbia's 106 - 80 team victory over Franklin was freshman Olivia Baker.  All Olivia did was take second in the 200 in 25.00, win the 400 in a New Jersey-leading 54.96, the 800 in 2:13.59 (NJ #4) and anchor the winning 4x400.
  • Teammate Whitney jackson had an excellent meet, grabbing second in the 100, sixth in the high jump and winning the 200 in 24.89, good for #5 NJ.
  • Shantel Beckford (Piscatawy) triple jumped 37-1.5, #10 NJ.
  • Melirah Searcy (Edison) ran 1:02.19 to take the 400 hurdles, only 0.08 off the best in New Jersey this year.  Searcy also made that 400H-800 connection with a third in the later event and anchored the 4x400.
  • Nice jump for Kyaira Wright-Harmon (Franklin) winning the high jump with her 5-6 PR.

Central

Boys

  • Jihad Howard (Brick Memorial) and Leonard Lockhart-Robbins (East Brunswick) went head-to-head in the 100 and 200 with Howard taking the former 10.79 - 10.84 and Lockhart-Robbins winning the 200 in 22.03 with Howard third.  Lockhart-Robbins ran an outstanding 47.65 for the win in the 400 and anchored the winning 4x400 that timed 3:20.08, best mark in the sectionals.  five runners broke 50.00 in the 400.
  • Christian Boateng's number today was two - second in the 400 (48.95), 400 hurdles (54.15), 110 hurdles (14.28) and 4x400 (3:21.80), all outstanding marks.  Teammate Andre Davis threw the javelin 190-7.
  • Cullen Davis of North Brunswick won the 800 in 1:53.32 with Greg Caldwell (Jackson Memorial) in 1:54.66, and Marlboro's Rob Renna @ 1:55.00 and Mitchel Biler 1:55.32 following. Davis also won the 1600 in 4:17.51, an excellent day for him.
  • Nice double for Trenton Central's Jermaine Collier winning the 110 and 400 hurdles in 14.23 and 53.80 respectively.  The mark in the 110s is #3 NJ and Collier already owns the best 400 hurdle mark in the state.
  • Another nice double by Collier's teammate Justin Bailey winning the long jump at 22-4 and taking second in the triple jump with a 46-4 NJ #6.
  • Emeka Eze, the junior from Sayreville won the triple jump at 46-8.5 and was second in the long jump.
  • Rob Weimer becamse only the second athlete in the state to clear 6-8 in winning the high jump.

Girls

  • Nice doubles:  Kaitlyn Davis (North Brunswick) 12.43/25.55 and Emily Mauro (West Windsor South) 56.82/2:14.29 all for wins. 
  • Cayla DelPiano (South Brunswick) was second behind Mauro in the 800 in 2:15.52, third in the 1600 and ran a leg on a terrific 4x400 relay, South Brunswick winning out over Freehold 3:53.00 to 3:53.07.
  • Caroline Kellner of West Windsor South was second in the 1600 at 5:05.17 and won the 3200 in 10:52.84.
  • South Brunswick out-pointed West Windsor South 66 - 63 for the team win.

South

Boys

  • And the Oakcrest show keeps rolling on.  Fabian Santiago, Reginald Morton and Darnell Charles went 1-2-3 in the 100 at 10.75, 10.92 and 10.98.  Not that many times you will see three guys from the same school under 11.00. 
  • The same three swept the top spots in the 200 and Charles won the 400 over Cherry Hill East's Alex Reber, 49.31 - 49.35.
  • Other winners and placers for Oakcrest were Jorge Zarate first in the 800 (1:57.32), Stephen Adkisson and Syid Evans-White, second and fourth in the 110 hurdles, Evans-White fourth in the 400 hurdles, Daniel Jefferson, fourth in the high jump, Reginald Morton for the win in the long jump at a New Jersey leading 23-7.25, Charles, Jon Padilla and Chase Tolliver second, fifth and sixth in the triple jump, Andre Dodimead second in the discus and Adkisson fifth in the javelin.
  • Triton's Tom Jeffers set a meet record in the vault at 14-0. 
  • Oackcrest overpowered the field taking the team title by 73 points.

Girls

  • Outstanding 12.07 (NJ #2) 100 win for Annie Johnson of Shawnee with Garbrielle Farquharson of Williamstown second in 12.09 (= NJ #3) .  Johnson also won the 400 (57.71) and was third in the 200.
  • Farquharson  took the 200 in 25.16, the long jump at 19-4.75 best in the state this year and ran a leg on the winning 4x400.
  • Dina Iacone of Washington doubled in the 1600/3200 winning in 5:03.33 and 11:06.70. 
  • Lenape's talented freshmen and sophs won the 800 (Emily McGee), went 2-3-4 in the 1600 (Natalia Ocasio,  Amanda Restivo and McGee) and third in the 3200 (Restivo).
  • Evan Thompson of Lenape broke the meet record in winning the 100 hurdles in 14.70. 
  • Megan Thornton (Millville) ran a meet record 1:03.37 in the 400 hurdles.
  • Shaya Wilkerson (Lenape) set a meet record triple jumping 37-2.5.
  • In the javelin, Maria Jimmenez (Vineland) heaved the spear 143-4, good for the win, a meet record and a NJ #5.

Non-Public A

North

Boys

  • Don Bosco's sprinting strength was overpowering as they won the team title 162 - 70 over Union Catholic.  In the 100 the Ironmen went 1-2-4 (Leonte Caroo, Jabril Peppers and Benjamin Davis respectively).  In the 200, Caroo, Peppers and Tim Hamlett were 2-4-5 and in the 400 Caroo and Hamlett were second and sixth.
  • The 400 was simply outstanding.  If you didn't run under 47.70 you didn't score.  Najee Glass of St Peter's Prep ran a NJ leading 47.13 (US #10).  He was followed by Caroo at 48.09, Dylan Hurley of Pope John at 48.56, John Sanford, St Joe's Montvale at 48.66, Tarique Gray, Bergen Catholic 49.25 and Hamlett 49.69.  Wow. 
  • Glass also won the 200 in another outstanding time - 21.60.  That equaled Miles Shuler-Foster's windy mark from the Shore Conference meet earlier this month for NJ #1. 
  • Don Bosco's Greg Hazell was outstanding in winning the long jump at 23-2 and the triple at 46-11.
  • Bosco won the relay in 3:20.28.
  • Dean Sullivan of Delbarton won the javelin at 200-11.

Girls

  • Someone sent me a text during the meet saying "Myasia Jacobs is back".  I wasn't aware that she had been away.  The Paramus Catholic junior broke the meet record in winning the 100 in 11.66 seconds, the top mark on the seasonal state list. Jacobs also won the 200 in a NJ #1 24.33.
  • Tess Keller of Pope John had a 3-second PR in winning the 1600 and 3200 in 11:24.39.
  • The Mt St Dominic distance crew scored six places in the 800, 1600 and 3200.  Ashlynn Fields was first and second in the 800/1600 respectively, Kathleen McCurdy was second and fifth 800/1600 and Amanda Corbosierro was fourth in the 1600 and third in the 3200.  Nice coverage on those events.
  • Pope John and Holy Angels tied for the team crown with 107 points each.

South

Boys

  • Christian Brothers won the team title in this one by 100 points.  The batte with Don Bosco next week should be terrific.  Sadly, we learned during the day that Mike Mazzacaro of CBA would not be competing due to ongoing Achilles tendon issues.  That's really too bad.  Mazz is one of the biggest talents around and a great kid.  CBA will miss him but they are SO deep. 
  • CBA's win was fired by 1-2-3 sweeps in the 1600 and 3200, second and third in the 800 (behind Red Bank Catholic's Kevin Byrne, who won in 1:53.44) as well as wins in the javelin, discus, 110 hurdles and 400.

Girls

  • Molly McNamara (Red Bank Catholic) won the 1600 in the best time at the sectionals, 4:54.11, with Bishop Eustace's Holly Bischof second in 4:56.84.  McNamara also recorded a fine 2:14.59 win in the 800.
  • With wins in the  200 and high jump, a second in the 200 and a third in the long jump, Alexis Harrison led the way to Monsignor Donovan's team title.

 

Non-Public B

North

Boys

  • Veritas senior Jon Brinkerhoff won the pole vault at 14-0.
  • Oratory Prep had strong performces throughout as they doubled the second place team score in winning with 144 points.

Girls

  • Kristen Traub was first in the 1600 and 3200 in 5:01.35 and 11:17.86 as her Eastern Christian team won 116 - 107.

South

Boys

  • Talk about close.  St Jospeh Hammonton eked out a 1-point win over Pingry 102 - 101.
  • Colin Richmond of St Rose tripled at 800/1600/3200.

Girls

  • Pingry took this one, 118 - 112.25 over Gill St. Bernards.
  • Tacquaya Tobias (Our Lady of Mercy Academy) was first in the 100 in 12.66, the 200 in 25.92, the long jump at 18-3.75 and second in the high jump.