MORRIS COUNTY REWIND
Last week's NJAC Championships featured a little bit of everything.
There was lots of drama. A bunch of meet records were broken. Some sizzling triples and impressive doubles were turned in. Established stars dominated. Some new stars emerged. And the Randolph boys and Parsippany girls grabbed team titles.
Let's take a look back at the highlights before looking ahead to this week's Morris County Championships.
RED HAWKS SOAR TO TITLE
The Parsippany girls captured the NJAC Small Schools title last Wednesday at Wallkill Valley by edging a very strong Whippany Park team, 84-78.
The Red Hawks were led by triple winner Bria Saunders, double winner Ally Schlosser, and Kathryn Campbell, who won the javelin with a meet record 119-3.
Saunders, a senior, won the 100, 200, anchored the winning 4x400 and was second in the 400.
Schlosser, a sophomore, won the 800 and 3200 and placed 3rd in the 1600. Jen Mlynar also had a strong meet by placing 5th in the 400 hurdles and running on the 4x400, and Sam Pignatelli was 2nd in the 3200.
RAMS KEEP ROLLING
There aren't many teams in the state that are as hot right now as the Randolph boys.
Four days after winning the county relays title, the Rams scored another decisive win, 109-79 over Mendham, to win its first NJAC Large Schools title last Wednesday at Gifford Field at Morris Hills.
Randolph was led by triple winner Anthony Zarro, double winner Greg Stickle, and James Lienhardt and Stephen Nalbach, who each won a race.
Linehardt won the 100 dash depsite a sore hamstring in a PR of 11.36, and Nalbach won the 400 IH in a PR of 55.54).
Zarro was spectacular, winning the long jump (personal best 23-1) and high jump (6-2) on Tuesday, and placing second in the triple jump and running a leg on the winning 4x400 on Wednesday.
In the long jump, Zarro was on the runway preparing for his final attempt when he had a flashback.
``I remembered finishing one inch behind Booker McLean (of Montville) last year, and I really didn't want to lose to him again,'' said Zarro, a senior at Randolph. ``That really got my adrenaline going, and I just had a feeling I was ready for a really good jump.''
Zarro responded with the best jump of his career when he soared a personal best 23-1, tied for the No. 2 jump in the state this season, to break the meet record and overtake McLean to win the long jump.
McLean, leading before Zarro's last jump, was second with a 22-7 ½.
``I knew I was behind him and had to come up big and I did,'' said Zarro, who broke the meet record of 22-9 set last year by Greg Leeper of Morris Hills. ``I was so excited that my hands are still hurting from clapping after I heard I went 23-1.''
Stickle, a junior, continued his breakout rookie outdoor season going by winning the 400 in 49.88, placing third in the long jump (21-6 ¾), third in the 800 in (1:57.02), and splitting 48.7 as the anchor on the winning 4x400.
For his accomplishments at the county relay and NJAC meets, Stickle was chosen as the Track and Field Athlete of the Week by The Star-Ledger.
Here is the profile I did on him.
STICKLE EARNS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
GREG STICKLE, RANDOLPH
Junior, 6-5, 165
JUST THE FACTS: At the Morris County Relays at Morris Knolls (May 2-3) , Stickle leaped a personal best 22-6 to help Randolph finish first with a combined 66-5, which broke the Morris County record. He also split 1:59.1 on the winning sprint medley (3:35.34), and anchored the meet record-breaking 4x400 (3:20.63) with a 48.9 carry. Led by Stickle, Randolph won the team title.
Stickle's 22-6 in the long jump is No. 5 in the state this season, and Randolph's 3:20.63 in the 4x400 is No. 4 in the state this spring.
Last Tuesday (May 6), Stickle won the 400 in 49.88 and was third in the long jump (21-6 3/4) on Day 1 of the NJAC Championships at Morris Hills. He followed that up on Wednesday (May 7) by placing third in the 800 (a PR of 1:57.02) and splitting 48.7 on the anchor leg of the winning 4x400 to help Randolph win its first team NJAC Large Schools title ever.
REACTION TO YOUR PERFORMANCE AT THE COUNTY RELAYS: "I was really excited and happy that everything fell into place the way it did and that I was able to help the team with the overall win.''
THOUGHTS ON WHAT YOU AND YOUR TEAMMATES ACCOMPLISHED AT COUNTY RELAYS: "It was pretty awesome to finally break the record (long jump). After having come up short a few times before it was sweet to all hit monster jumps on the same day and finally get the record.''
PERSONAL BESTS
400 - 48.85
800 - 1:58.5
LJ - 22-6
TJ - 40-2 3/4
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN TRACK: "I have always been running since the start of the Randolph Lakeland track program. I have played lacrosse in the spring instead of outdoor track. After my winter season I knew I had the potential to get faster through training into the spring season to improve my times and see what I really could do.''
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO GIVE UP LACROSSE AND DO TRACK THIS SEASON: "The coaches and quite a few friends on the track team showed me that I would find more success in track than I would in lacrosse.''
GREATEST STRENGTH AS TRACK ATHLETE: "I believe that my persistence leads to a lot of the success that not only me but my teammates share. Also my versatility helps out the team wherever I am needed in tight situations.''
FAVORITE EVENT: "The 800 because I like how much strategy is involved and it is not as dependent on how fast someone is. ''
BREAKTHROUGH MOMENT: "During indoor track when I ran the sprint medley and broke the two-minute barrier in the 800. This gave me the confidence I needed to prove to myself I could stick with the top competitors."
BIGGEST
PERSONAL GOALS FOR THIS SEASON: "Making
it to the Meet of Champions in the 800 and 400 and performing well in
long jump."
BIGGEST
TEAM GOALS FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON: "Winning
counties and making it to Meet of Champs for the 4x400."
GREATEST
MOMENT IN TRACK AND WHY: "Being
a part of this team that is capable of all of these records and
championships.''
FAVORITE
MOVIE: "Happy
Gilmore"
FAVORITE
TV SHOW: "Game
of Thrones"
FAVORITE
FOOD: Pizza
FAVORITE
TRACK ATHLETE: Nick
Symmonds
OTHER
ACTIVITIES YOU ARE INVOLVED IN: "I
am no longer part of a team but I enjoy playing lacrosse and golf
with my friends."
IF
YOU COULD TRADE PLACES WITH ANYONE FOR A DAY WHO WOULD IT BE: "Usain
Bolt so I could be the fastest man in the world for a day.''
PRESIDENT FOR A DAY: "I would make college more affordable for everyone so kid don't have to stress about their educational future."
IN 10 YEARS: "My goal is to go to college and major in computer science and get a job after school in that field. I would hope to be able to volunteer at the youth level for any sport.''
FRANKLIN'S TRIPLE FUELS RUNNER-UP MOUNTAIN LAKES
Adam Franklin smashed two meet records and won three events to spark Mountian Lakes to a runner-up finish behind defending champion, 110-91, in the boys NJAC Small Schools Championships at Wallkill Valley.
Franklin won the 100 dash in 10.97 (meet record 10.95 in the trials), won the 200 in a meet record 22.11, and the 400 in 49.09.
Also for Mountain Lakes, Kyle Allison won the javelin with a meet record 183-10, Chris Luciano won the 3,200 in a meet record 9:23.69, and Ben DeVenezia won the 800 (1:57.15) and the 1,600 (4:23.99)
SHE DOES IT ALL
One of the best all-round stars in the state that simply doesn't get enough attention outside the county is Montville's Leah Wis.
The sophomore does just about everything, and does so at a very high level. At the NJAC Championships, Wis won the discus with a 124-6, cleared a meet record 5-4 to win the high jump, matching her personal best in the latter, and finished third in the 100 hurdles in a school record 15.67.
TRIPLE WINNER
Keturah Orji of Mount Olive grabbed three more golds and two meets records at the NJAC Large Schools Championships. Orji won the long jump with a meet record 19-9 1/4, the triple jump with a 42-11, and ran a 56.5 leg on the winning 4x400 (4:04.97).
SUPER SOPHOMORE
Anna Lazur of Hanover Park won the 400 hurdles in 1:03.35 and the 400 in 59.11 at the NJAC Small Schools meet. Both those times are No. 1 in the county this season.
DOUBLING UP
Sean Lyons of Morristown ran a 62.0 final 400 to close out a personal best 4:19.15 to win the NJAC Large School 1,600, and came back the next day to win the 3,200 in PR of 9:27.05.
Tommy Rhodes of Delbarton won the shot put with a 54-9 ½ and the discus with a 150-0 at the NJAC Large School meet.
Kylene Cochrane of West Morris won the NJAC Large School 1,600 in 5:01.03 and the 800 in 2:13.68/
CAPTAIN CLUTCH
Mendham junior Stefan Cole soared a school record 45-1 ¾ on his final attempt in the NJAC Large School triple jump to overtake long jump winner Anthony Zarro of Randolph and win the event. Zarro leaped 45-1 ½ on his final attempt to briefly take the lead away from Cole.
FAMILY TIES
Junior Monica Benz of Villa Walsh cleared a meet record and personal best 11-6, tied for No. 4 in the state this season, to win the girls pole vault at the NJAC Small Schools meet. Meanwhile, her brother, Mike, made 14-6 to win the boys pole vault at the NJAC Large School meet. Mike is a senior at Delbarton.
KEEPING TRACK
Mendham also picked up wins from Paul Ehmann in the 800 in 1:55.82 in the first open 800 of his career, and from Malcolm Montilius in the 200 (23.15). Montilius ran 22.96 in the trials.
Erin Bongo of Morris Knolls, second in the NJAC Large School javelin last year, unloaded a personal best 107-2 to finish first last week.
Aliyah Huland El of Randolph, headed to Virginia on a basketball scholarship, won the shot put with a personal best 35-7 at the NJAC Large School meet. What an athlete!!!!
Mackenzie Barry of Mendham won her third straight NJAC Large School girls 3,200 title in 10:42.34.
Videos from Day 1 of the NJAC meet are here
Videos from Day 2 of the NJAC meet are here
Full results from the NJAC Championships are here
The Morris County Freshman/Sophomore meet was held this past weekend. Results are here
MORRIS COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Morris County Championships are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday (May 13-14) at Boonton at 4 p.m each day.
The Randolph boys, second the last three years after winning in 2009 and 2010, are favored to win the team title. On the girls side, NJAC Large School champ Randolph is favored to win against a loaded field headed by Mendham, Mount Olive, and NJAC Small School winner Parsippany. Jefferson won the girls title last year for the first time ever.
Josiah Hanko of Trinity Christian, the 2013 county 1,600 and 3,200 champion, will not be running. Hanjo is coming off an injury earlier this season, and his coach Brian Lee said Hanko's focus is to remain healthy for the state meets.
PREDICTIONS
BOYS
Team-Randolph
100-Adam Franklin, Mountain Lakes
200-Adam Franklin, Mountain Lakes
400-Christian Kildal-Brandt, Mendham
800-Paul Ehmann, Mendham
1,600-Ben DeVenezia, Mountain Lakes
3,200-Sean Lyons, Morristown
HH-Dylan Anderson, Madison
IH-Collin McAlmont, Randolph
HJ-Anthony Zarro, Randolph
LJ-Anthony Zarro, Randolph
TJ-Stephan Cole, Mendham
SP-Tommy Rhodes, Delbarton
DIS-Tommy Rhodes, Delbarton
JAV-Kyle Allison, Mountain Lakes
PV-Abe Gertler, Madison
4x400-Randolph
GIRLS
Team-Randolph
100-Bria Saunders, Parsippany
200-Bria Saunders, Parsippany
400-Anna Lazur, Hanover Park
800-Kylene Cochrane, West Morris
16,00-Kylene Cochrane, West Morris
3,200-Mackenzie Barry, Mendham
HH-Danielle Beniulis, Jefferson
400 H-Anna Lazur, Hanover Park
HJ-Leah Wis, Montville
LJ-Keturah Orji, Mount Olive
TJ-Keturah Orji, Mount Olive
SP-Nickolette Dunbar, Whippany Park
DIS-Leah Wis, Montville
JAV-Kathryn Campbell, Parsippany
PV-Monica Benz, Villa Walsh
4x400- Mendham
COMING UP
The 44th East Coast Relays are scheduled for this Monday at 3:45 p.m. at Randolph. The schedule and other info about the meet is here