Guzman Qualifies for Boys Track Meet of Champions

The top six finishers in each event at the Central Jersey Group III track meets this past weekend automatically qualified for The Meet of Champions. Everyone else has to wait for the results from all of the other meets to come in to see if they made it as a wild card.

After a bit of a wait, 's Angel Guzman learned he will be one of the wild cards in the discus.

"You love to see someone who works so hard and cares so much get a second chance," Hightstown Coach Jim Firtek said.

Guzman placed seventh in the discus (140' 10") while competing in the Group III meet, held June 3 and 4 at South Plainfield.

Guzman advances on to The Meet of Champions, which will be held on Thursday at Old Bridge.

"He knows he didn't throw his best, but now he gets a second chance," Firtek said.

Guzman also competed in the shot put and placed 12th with a distance of 46' 1 1/2"

Luke Dermody competed in both the 1600, coming in 17th with a time of (4:43.65), and in the 3200, 12th at 9:43.76.

Because these are both such long, draining races, one was held on Friday and the other on Saturday.

"Luke did a great job in the two-mile," Firtek said. "I think it was his best time all season. I think he was a little disappointed in how he ran in the mile. It was great for him to end his season with a good race in the two mile."

Marcus Lawrence placed 21st in the shot put with a distance of 42' 10".

"There is a lot of pressure in that circle," Firtek said. "Just to get to that meet is great. Hopefully, he'll get to go back again next year."

The 4x400 team of Eric Anderson, Emmanual Marfo, Abdul Namoya and Tyler Foss qualified for the Group III meet, but it did not compete.

"That's internal to the team," Firtek said, explaining why the group didn't compete.