State Success

Last Saturday, Feb. 19, the qualifiers from the North 1, Group 3 State Sectional Championships competed in the Group 3 State Championships at the Bennet Center in Toms River.

Three individuals from the Marauder squads medaled and thus advanced to the Meet of Champions on Saturday, Feb. 26. The best 6 medalists from each of the 6 groups, plus 6 wildcards, move on to contest to see who's the best in NJ.

The highest place was junior Ashley Tomasula, who equaled her own school indoor record, taking 2nd at 11'. It was her second consecutive clearance of that height in as many weekends. Next highest was the bronze medal won by soph Marissa Karl in the 800 m. She zoomed to 3rd on a 2:21.85 p.r. improvement; she may have turned some heads because of her 2:25.25 from the week before and her 9th place seeding prior to the race. Finally, senior Matt Herb jumped 6'2" in the high jump along with 3 others, but was awarded 5th, his 5th time over that height this season. The winner went 6'4".

Both 4 x 400 teams ran their season bests. The girls team, pictured above, ran an automatic 4:15.09 for 12th place. Fr. Alicia Warren, jr. Sam Tavalare, jr. Ingrid Nimoh, and soph Marissa Karl ran .05 off their 4:14.8 at the Varsity Classic at the Armory, but will be given credit for the record because of the official auto timing. The flat nature of the Toms River oval makes times run there up to 4 sec. slower for 1600m than the banked track of the Armory. The all junior boys team of Mike Gonzalez, Dan Baules, Cory Colligan, and Scott Rennalls posted a 3:38.54. Speaking for the group, Scott said, "We're happy to run our fastest time of the season. We can still do better." Rennalls placed 11th in the 800 in 2:03.58, slightly off his 2:02.61 the week before. He did, however, post his best 400 split in 52.7.

Sam Tavalare placed 10th in the 800 in 2:28.51, her second time under 2:30. Fr. Keturah Orji and jr. Armani Blair were 18th and 19th in the 55 semis at 7.69 and 7.70 respectively. The 7.70 was Armani's best time of the season and a scant .01 off her p.r. of 7.69.

The girls were 9th overall with 14 pts.