Connors, Seidel Finish in Top Seven in the State

One could say that the delay of the State Meet of Champions definitely had an effect on the times and the distances at the meet.

The meet which was originally scheduled to take place on June 6, was postponed a day due to downpours. Later the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association pushed the meet off until June 10.

Despite another threat of rain, SMOC finally went off on that Monday, but the delay seemed to affect many of the athletes.

The top two finishers for Hasbrouck Heights came in the throwing events with senior Chris Connors and junior Anthony Seidel both coming in seventh in the shot put and javelin events respectively.

Both saw their distances drop at the SMOC. Connors was seeded at 55-feet-9 while throwing 55-feet-6.5 at the meet of champions. Seidel had a mark coming in of 183-feet-1, but only threw 174-feet at the SMOC. Both won their events at the Bergen Meet of Champions.

Junior Roland Gamez said he definitely wants to do better next season than the 12th place finish in the long jump. While he increased his seeding at the SMOC, he still was not satisfied. He came with a seeding jump of 20-feet-11.75 and surpassed it at the SMOC at 21-feet-3.25

"I could have done better," said Gamez. "I was ready on Thursday and wasn't expecting the lightning and thunder and then I was ready Friday."

The junior said that he is ready for the 2013 outdoor season. "All I have to do is run hard, jump hard and practice," said Gamez who would also like to make the SMOC in the high jump next season.

Despite coming in 12th in the SMOC long jump, he had his best jump at the Bergen Meet of Champions at 22-feet-8.34 that won the meet.

Along with the long jump, Gamez set school records in the 110-meter hurdles  with a time of 14.86. In terms of 2013 he will not set any marks for his events. "I don't set goals, if it happens it happens," said Gamez.

The best finish for a Lady Aviators athlete was junior Irene Cedano with a 16th place finish and a throw of 36-feet-10.

For senior Rebecca Fortoul her time in the 1,600 meters or mile was faster than her seeding time as she finished 23rd in the state. The senior runner finished with a time of 5:25.22, better than her seeding of 5:25.65, but she said it was tough with all the delays for the meet to get focused on running.

"It was hard to get ready so many times," said Fortoul who will be going to St. Thomas of Aquinas. "I could have had a better time. I couldn't believe how fast everybody went out."

If you look at the results of the 1,600, it was one of the toughest fields and Fortoul was one of the few if the only Group 1 runner. "My mom said that I was the only Group 1 runner. The rest were all 3 and 4 and private school runners," said Fortoul.

Senior Rayn Moses also competed at the SMOC and finished 25th in the triple jump with a leap of 35-feet-4.75 which was a drop from her seeding of 36-feet-1.75.

On the boys side senior Alex Sisco, who finished fifth in the BMOC, was the 13th best pole vaulter in the state with a vault of 13-feet-6, matching his seeding height coming into the SMOC.

State Meet of Champions

1600 Meters

23. Rebecca Fortoul, 5:25.22

Triple Jump

25. Rayn Moses, Hasbrouck Heights, 35-feet-4.75

Shot Put

16. Irene Cedano, 36-feet-10

Pole Vault

13. Alex Sisco, 13-feet-6

Long Jump

12. Roland Gamez, 21-3.25

Shot Put

7. Chris Connors, 55-feet-6.50

26. A.J. Traina, 48-feet-2

Javelin

7. Anthony Seidel, 174-feet