Track: Chiefs Impress at State Sectionals

's boys track team had a strong showing at Saturday's North 1, Group 2 sectional championships at Mahwah.

The Chiefs finished fourth overall with 36 points and sent several individuals and its 4x400-meter race squad to Saturday's Group 2 championships. On the girls' side, Hopatcong junior sprinter Courtney Macaluso will also head to the next round of state competition.

The top eight finishers in each event moved on to groups.

Macaluso nabbed second in the 100-meter dash in 12.86 seconds and fifth in the 200-meter run, clocking in at 26.58.

Hopatcong head coach Mike Juskus said he was pleased with the performances of junior Dylan Capwell and sophomores Johann Lara, Chris Dugan and Stephen Rogers and the 4x400 team.

"They have the camaraderie of close friends that are just inseparable," Juskus said. "They enjoy each other's company. They have a great amount of personal confidence. You have to love the hard work and the giddiness they produce.

"And the most important thing of all is that they have fun. That is the key. And I like that they like each other and when it comes time to muster up, they muster up."

Capwell faced a particularly difficult challenge Saturday. The junior, battling back from losing 12 pounds from bronchitis, was in the unseeded heat for both of his races. The state seeds races based on championship results. Capwell didn't get an opportunity to race in a championship meet in 2012.

Despite the odds, Capwell took third in the 400-meter hurdles, finishing in a school-record 56 seconds. Then he grabbed bronze in the 400-meter run in 50.4 seconds, good enough for second all-time on Hopatcong's list.

"I thought it was a great showing," Juskus said of Capwell.

Lara crossed third in the 100-meter dash in 11.4 seconds and then finished fifth in the 200-meter run in 22.8 seconds. He also secured seventh in the 400-meter run in 51.4 seconds.

"He's a talented, powerful runner," Juskus said. "He runs on guts."

Dugan is "progressing in leaps and bounds," the head coach said. The distance runner landed fifth in the 3,200-meter run in 10.03.71.

"He works as hard as anyone and he's just behind some of the biggest names we've had here, and he's just a sophomore," Juskus said.

Rogers took third in the high jump at 6 feet—just 2 inches lower than his personal record.

"He's not short on confidence," Juskus said, "and he's a tremendous talent."

The 4x400 group—comprised of Rogers, sophomore Max Cafaro, Lara and Capwell—clocked in fifth in 3:31.03.

"We keep reaping the benefits of the Hawks' track program," Juskus said."Those guys always do a great job down there. It always helps getting kids that have been acclimated to track and field, used to running. It helps us to take them further."