McLaughlin, Poole, Wilson, Rivera shine in farewell MOC

US#1 javelin throw for Cade Antonucci (220-11)

By John Nepolitan of DyeStat

A rundown of the events at the 50th NJSIAA Meet of Champions at Northern Burlington High School on Saturday.

PHOTOS - GIRLS | BOYS

400 Hurdles - Cory Poole (East Orange) began the day with a near miss of his US#1, crossing the line in 50.72. World U20 record holder and 2016 US Olympian Sydney McLaughlin (Union Catholic) won her specialty in an easy 56.97 to become the first four-time winner of the event.

100 – Jonathan Taylor (Salem) only had the fourth fastest time in the trials, but came back to win in 10.64 into a -2.3 head wind. Bria Mack (Williamstown) posted the best time in the trials running 11.60 and then returned to the final in 11.77, the only runner to break 12 seconds.

Shot Put and Discus – Alyssa Wilson (Donovan Catholic) repeated as champion with a throw of 54-0.25. Jordan West (Rahway) won the boys shot by more than seven feet, throwing 67-4.25.  Both Wilson and West would come back to win the discus titles as well. West threw 189-9 and Wilson 168-1.

1,600 – It came down to a photo finish and one-thousandth of a second as top seed Rachel Vick (Kinsway) out-leaned Elena DiMarcello (North Hunterdon) to take the win as both got credit for a time of 4:52.69. On the boys side Elliot Gindi (Ocean Township) had the best kick and took the title, crossing the line in 4:09.14 over Drew Maher (Shore Regional) 4:09.92.

Pole Vault – Five vaulters cleared 14-6 with Jason Mezhibovsky (Northern Valley Old Tappan) getting the win on fewer misses. The top four girls all equaled the meet record of 12-6 win Leah Saifi (Governon Livingston) getting the win on fewer misses.

4x100 – Franklin Township took the boys crown in 41.49 over Pennsauken 41.57. Summit won the girls title circling the track in 47.07 over Delsea Regional 47.27.

400 - Running her final race as a high school athlete in New Jersey, Sydney McLaughlin (Union Catholic) stormed to a 51.91 win crossing the line three seconds ahead of Reanda Richards (West Essex). Brandon Outlaw (Moorestown) powered up the final straight to win the boys race in 47.05.

High Hurdles – Coming off the final hurdle Cory Poole (East Orange) ran right out of his shoe, but he still won in 14.07 into a -2.7 wind.  Poole ran .01 faster in the trials.  Back in sixth place was Ryan McLaughlin, younger brother of Sydney. Lenaami Morton (Camden) had to fight a -3.0 wind to take the title in 13.84 over Union Catholic’s Amaya Chadwick, who was right behind in 13.86.

High Jump – Jason Thobourne (Kennedy) came into the meet as the state leader but was upset by Stephan Staklinski (Freehold Township) 6-10 to 6-8. Abrianna Barrett (Montgomery ) and Tierra Hooker (Timber Creek) both cleared 5-10 with Barrett getting the win on fewer misses. The girls high jump could become a hot event over the next few years with the top three all clearing 5-8 all and all back for three more years.

Javelin - Rachel Kern (Howell) took the girls' gold with a toss of 145-4. On his final throw Chris Antonucci (Holy Spirit) unloaded a US#1 throw of 220-11 for the win.  Nickolas Mirabelli (Cedae Grove), who was the state leader coming into the meet could only mange ninth with a throw of  180-2. 

800 – Rey Rivera (Old Bridge) made it three in a row leading the 800 wire to wire and dipping under 1:50 for the second week in a row, running 1:49.96 for the win. New Jersey has produced three US Olympians in the 800 (Joetta Clark, Hazel Clark and Ajee Wilson) and may have a new star in frosh Victoria Vanriele (Governor Livingston), who took the title here in 2:08.18.

200 – Martin Booker Jr (Pennsauken) blasted the turn and entered the straight with a lead and built on that for the 21.57 win over Taj Burgess (Carteret), who crossed in 21.75. A -2.5 head wind slowed the runners up the final straight. The big story in the girls race was who did not run. McLaughlin had qualified for the event as part of her amazing triple at last week's Group championship, but the 2016 Olympian did not run.  As a result Shakira Dancy (Winslow Township) stormed to the 24.14 win (into a -2.2 wind).

3,200 – Sophomore Devin Hart (Pt Pleasant) led a big pack through the 1,600-meter point right on sub-9 pace and continued that pace for another lap, which started to string the field out. Hart extended his lead all the way to the finish line, eventually winning by six seconds and crossing in 9:05.45. Alexa Westley (Warren Hills) went right to the front and with steady laps of 79 and 80 she pulled away from two-time Foot Locker finalist Alyssa Aldridge (Mainland) for the 10:35.41 win.

Triple Jump  & Long Jump – Bonvie Fosam (Robbinsville) ended her high school career with a win and jumping 39-9 to take the triple jump crown. Khaliel Burnett (Delsea Regional) took the boys triple jump with a leap of 48-9.50. Ja’Sir Taylor (Brick Township) jumped 23-8.50 for the win in the boys long jump, while Nyamskey Opoku-Agyemang (Union) took the girls crown with 19-10.50.

Wheelchair events – Maybe the top performance of the day was turned in by Miguel Jimenez-Vergara (Notre Dame), who took the 100, 400, 800, 1,600 and also won the shot put, javelin and discus.

4x800 – Ridge swept the boys and girls races. The girls race saw a lead change at every lap, but it would be Ridge that grabbed the win crossing the line in 9:11.81. The boys teams were trying to build up a lead over 800 winner Rey Rivera (Old Bridge) and it was Ridge that had a big enough lead going into the final leg, winning in 7:50.20 as all 15 teams broke the 8:00 barrier.

4x400 – East Orange jumped to the front early and then had to hold off a fast-closing Franklin to win the boys crown in 3:12.89 to 3:13.38. In the final event of the meet Winslow Township won a battle with Union Catholic (no McLaughlin) 3:47.41 to 3:47.83.