MORRIS COUNTY REWIND
The Morris County Championships certainly has a little bit of everything last week at Dr. W.H. Wiggins Field in Boonton.
Randolph pulled off its second major sweep of the season!! It also got out the brooms at the county relay meet.
Keturah Orji of Mount Olive and Bria Saunders of Parsippany each smashed a pair of records!!!
Adam Franklin of Mountain Lakes ran wild with three sprint victories, breaking one meet record and tying another!!!
The Randolph boys capped off its victory with a meet record in the 4x400.
Kylene Cochrane of West Morris and Mackenzie Barry of Mendham each went out winners in their final county meet.
Let's take a look back at all the great highlights-
RANDOLPH BREAKS MEET 4X400 RECORD TO CLINCH BOYS TITLE
Mountain Lakes did it all it could to try to score an upset victory and capture its first title in the boys competition, but then Randolph delivered a knockout blow in the meet-concluding 4x400-meter relay to capture its first title since 2010 at the 69th Morris County Championships last Wednesday at Dr. W.H. Wiggins Field in Boonton.
Mountain Lakes stayed within striking distance of heavily favored Randolph the entire meet, and got within one point, 73-72, with one event to go after Adam Franklin's meet record tying 21.98 win in the 200-meter dash and Chris Luciano's huge personal best victory in the 3,200 in 9:12.22, No. 6 in the state this season. But then Randolph's Dan Leanza, Anthony Zarro, Collin McAlmont, and Greg Stickle put the meet away by combining to run a meet record 3:21.19, No. 10 in the state this season, to win the 4x400 as Randolph secured an 83-73 victory over runner-up Mountain Lakes.
Leanza, who led off in 50.6 and won the 400 hurdles Tuesday in a personal best 55.44, said it was a little nerve-wracking to have the meet come down to the 4x400.
"I was little nervous before the 4x400, but were were also confident in ourselves,'' said Leanza. "We knew we could come through, but to win the meet by breaking the meet record makes it even better.''
The victory by Randolph comes after finishing second the previous three years, and marks its third huge victory in a row this season.
"We really wanted to win this after being runner-up three straight times,'' said Leanza. "And it keeps our streak going after we won the county relays and the NJAC meet. This was the hardest of them all to win. Mountain Lakes has a great team, so to beat them and win this is very big for us.''
Randolph had several guys come up with clutch performances in addition to Leanza.
Anthony Zarro won the high jump and triple jump, ran on the winning relay, and placed second in the long jump, and Greg Stickle won the long jump (a personal best 22-9 3/4) and split 49.0 on the anchor of the 4x400.
When Stickle and Zarro went 1-2 in the long jump and Seamus Higgins ran a personal best 9:45.08 to get fifth in the 3,200 late in the meet, it enabled Randolph to hold that one point lead heading in the relay.
FRANKLIN BURNS UP THE TRACK
Adam Franklin of Mountain Lakes turned in one of the greatest performances in meet history at the county meet to help the Lakers place seocnd to Randolph.
On Day 1 last Tuesday, the Rhode Island-bound Franklin won the 100 for the second straight year (11.04) and the 400 in a meet record 48.49. The on Wednesday he won the 200 for the second straight year (meet record trying 21.89), and anchored the sixth place 4x400 with 47.5 carry
"We did everything we possibly could to try to win this,'' said Franklin, a senior whose 48.49 and 21.98 are both No. 6 in the state this season. "We had so many guys come up with PR's and we all left everything we had out there. Randolph is a great team and had just a little bit more, but we're very proud of how we performed.''
RANDOLPH GIRLS
Randolph has been overcoming injuries to key runners ever since the cross-country season. And it did it once again on the second day of the Morris County Championships last Wednesday at Boonton.
With Liz Lansing, one of the best distance runners in the state already out for the season while recovering from an injury, Randolph lost another major distance star, Liz Wellman, to a leg injury suffered during the first day of the meet.
But, much like Randolph has done without Lansing all season, it received big performances from all around the track and in the field to rally around the injury and edge runner-up Mendham, 61-58, for its first county championship since 2011.
"It was great. It was like the cherry on top of what has been a really good season for us," said Aliyah Huland El, who finished second in the triple jump (37-9 1/4) and third in the high jump (5-2). "We all worked really hard and I think it was definitely deserving for us."
With Wellman, second on the 1,600 on Tuesday out on Wednesday, Randolph substituted Marianne Loeken into her spot in the 4x400. Loeken responded by splitting 61.7 to help Randolph finish fourth to in the relay clinch the team title.
Randolph did not finish with any gold medals in the meet, placed in seven of the nine events on Day 2 , including key second-place finishes from Huland El, Carole Harsch, who ran a personal-best 10:41.63, in the 3,200, Elly Scherer (15.04 in the 100 hurdles), and Nora May McSorley (2:15.43 in the 800).
"It was really good competition out here, I don't think we won a single race," Huland El said. "I'm honestly so proud of us with what we had to do to win. I put pressure on myself in practice, so there's never any pressure in the meets.
UPDATE ON WELLMAN-
She got some good news a few days ago. According to Randolph distance coach Kevin Higgins, Wellman does not have a stress fracture and she will be able to run at the state sectionals this Friday and Saturday.
DOUBLE RECORD BREAKERS
Keturah Orji of Mount Olive and Bria Saunders of Parsippany were the biggest stars in the girls meet.
The Georgia-bound Orji, who holds the state triple jump record of 44-11, broke her own triple jump meet record when she launched 42-11 ½ last Wednesday. On Tuesday, Orji broke the meet record in the long jump at 20-6, No. 1 in the state and No. 3 in the nation this season.
Orji is No. 1 in the nation this season in the triple jump with a 43-10 ½.
Orji, who fouled on her first two attempts in the long jump, and nearly fouled out on her third try. But instead she hit a 20-5 to try the meet record and make the finals.
In the finals, Orji has jumps of 20-3 ¾, 20-6 and 20-2.
``It's been frustrating not getting 20 yet this season,'' said Orji, who jumped a personal best of 20-11¾ last year. ``But I knew it would come.'
But it didn't come without some anxious moments.
``I only fouled out once before and I was afraid I fouled on my third try, but fortunately I got that 20-5 to get into the finals,'' said the Georgia-bound Orji, the U.S. leader in the triple jump. ``Once I got into the finals, I got really comfortable and I was jumping very consistently.''
Orji, who has broken just about every record possible in the long jump, said breaking the meet record meant a lot.
``I looked at the record (19-0 ¾) and told myself I had to finally get it,'' she said. ``I just never really jumped well at this meet before today,'' said Orji.
Orji's LJ and TJ wins jacked up her career county title total to 13, which includes indoors and outdoors.
The Rutgers-bound Saunders, who broke her own meet record in the 100 on Tuesday (11.93 in the semifinals) when she won her third straight title, also broke her own meet record in the 200 on Wednesday when she stopped the clock at 24.49 to win that race for the third straight year.
"It's a really special feeling because it was my record from before, but to me, it's all about just improving every year," Saunders said. "I'm glad I could break my own meet record, even though I didn't break 24, there's always room for improvement."
JAVELIN DRAMA
Kyle Allison of Mountain Lakes and Conor McClain of Morris Hills hooked up in one of the most dramatic javelin duels in Morris County history on day one of the Morris County Championships last Tuesday.
Check this out.
After the trials, Allison held the lead with a 182-6. But on his 2nd throw in the finals, McClain took a one inch lead when he threw 182-7.
Then McClain increased his lead over Allison to 20 feet, 3 inches on his final attempt when he unloaded a 192-9, a personal best bomb by more than 11 feet.
It looked like McClain had just won the event with that performance.
The only way he could lose was if Allison came up with the biggest throw of his life on his final attempt.
HE DID!!!
In a remarkable clutch performance, Allison sent the spear sailing through the air further then he had ever thrown it before. It kept going, and going, and going. When it finally landed, it had travelled 199-4!!!!!
The 199-4 was 16 feet further than Allison's previous personal best, is No. 4 in N.J. and No. 18 in the nation this season, and it broke the school record.
``I knew going into my last throw that I really needed to really get one out there, and luckily for me I threw a huge PR and came away with the win,'' said Allison, who will be throwing next year at Moravian in Pa.
Allison said he knew it was big throw after he released it.
``I knew as soon as I left my hand that is was definitely my best, but I didn't know if it was going to beat the 192,'' said Allison. When they started unrolling the tape measure they almost had to get another one because the one they used only went 200 feet.''
Allison was obviously ecstatic with what he did.
``I was very excited,'' said Allison. ``I knew going into it would be a good battle with McClain. I knew it would come down to the last couple throws and both of us had big PR's. It was a great competition.''
The only person that may have been happier than Allison after his victory was his mother and coach, Vicki Allison.
``My mom puts everything into it (coaching), and is very emotional about it,'' said Allison. ``I think she might have been even more excited than I was.''
What was different about Allison's last throw?
``I've been really working on my block and get my straight left leg, and I feel on my last throw that I had my best block and it really showed on that last throw,'' said Allison.
Allison knows there is still work to do to catch up with Curtis Thompson of Florence (NJ #1/US #2 220-5), and Chris Mirabelli of Holy Cross (US #3 216-6).
``Hopefully I can get up in the 200's and compete with them,'' said Allison.
KEEPING TRACK
In other highlights from the county meet, Mendham's Mackenzie Barry, who won the 3,200 in 10:37.00, finished her career with nine individual county titles, 3 in cross-country, 3 indoors, and 3 outdoors.
Kylene Cochrane of West Morris, who won the the 800 and 1,600 finished her career as an eight-time individual county champion between indoors and outdoors combined.
Ben DeVeneezia of Mountain Lakes won the 800 for the second straight year and also captured the 1,600.
Tommy Rhodes of Delbarton won the shot put with a personal best 59-8, No. 2 in the state this season, and Madison received a 1-2 in the 110 hurdles from Mat Richards (14.87) and Dylan Anderson (14.92), and a victory from Abe Gertler in the pole vault (14-6). Cristian Graupe of Kinnelon unloaded a PR of 157-0 to win the discus.
Lots of underclassmen in the girls competition at the county meet won gold medals.
Freshman Simone Kirton of Chatham (100 HH), sophomores Julia Murawinski of Jefferson (high jump), Anna Lazur of Hanover Park (400 hurdles), Gina DelloRusso of Whippany Park (400), Kathryn Campbell of Parsippany (javelin) and Nickolette Dunbar of Whippany Park (shot put), and junior Halia Rosemond of Morristown-Beard (discus) were all county champs!
The 44th East Coast Relays were held this past Monday at Randolph. The results are here
COMING UP
The road to the NJSIAA Meet of Champions (June 4 at Frank Jost Field in South Plainfield) will begin this Friday and Saturday when the two-day sectional championships are held at eight sites across New Jersey. Each sectional meet starts at 3:30 p.m. Friday and resumes at 10 a.m. Saturday.
The top six finishers in each event, including all ties for sixth, will advance to the state group championships May 30-31. The state group meets will be held at South Plainfield (Groups 1 and 3 and Non-Public B) and Egg Harbor (Groups 2 and 4 and Non-Public A).
For a look at all the past sectional champions and all the sectional records, go here
For a look at the sectional schedule, order of events, and what teams are in which sections, go here