5 Track Athletes Head to Meet of Champions

Three school records fell this past weekend as the West Morris Central boys and girls track teams competed in the NJSIAA Group 3 Track and Field Championships at Frank Jost Field in South Plainfield. 

A total of 16 athletes represented WMC over the two day event held in the sweltering heat that enveloped New Jersey over the weekend. In addition to the record setting performers, Kylene Cochrane and Marlena Paz, three other Central athletes advanced to the state Track and Field Meet of Champions to be held on Wednesday.

Cochrane broke her own school record in the 800 with a time of 2:13.64, bettering the mark she set last season. Cochrane finished second behind Northern Highland’s Madison Holleran, who ran her own personal best to win the race. Cochrane will enter the 800 finals as the number 6 seed based on her time this past weekend. She finished ninth in this race at last year’s Meet of Champions.

Cochrane also advanced to the 1600 finals after finishing second on Friday night.  She ran a 4:56.41 and needed every last stride to hold off two fast closing competitors.  She’ll enter Wednesday’s 1600 as the number 5 seed in a familiar field as she has run against the top three seeds already this season.  Last year, she placed third in the MOC 1600, setting a school record (4:53.88) in the process.

Junior pole vaulter Marlena Paz was also a record setter for WMC as she continued her outstanding season, clearing 11 feet for the first time and placing second in the Group. Paz should contend for a medal on Wednesday, as she enters the meet tied for the second best vault among all competitors. 

Fellow pole vaulter Max Maroney was the only West Morris boy to advance to the MOC, as he advanced via wild card based on his 13-6 vault at the Group championships.

Central’s Brennan Sharkey placed fifth in the girls 3200 with a very respectable time of 10:58.0, especially considering the heat. Sharkey will enter the MOC final as the number 9 seed. 

Senior shot putter Carli Thurber was the final Central athlete to advance, as her mark of 38-8.75 was good enough for sixth place and a trip to the MOC. 

A number of Central athletes performed well at the Group championships, but came up just short of advancing to the state finals.

The 4x400 team of Abby Rec, Lauren Toth, Katie Sabatino and Kylene Cochrane improved on their own school record with a time of 4:01.63. However, amidst a very talented field of relay teams, they were not able to advance.

Senior Lauren Toth ran the second fastest 800 meters of her career (2:18.84) to finish in 11th place in her final high school race.                 

Both Central high jumpers performed well, just not quite well enough to advance.  Meggie LaGueux and Kendall Ballotti both cleared 5 feet on their second attempts.  Had they cleared on their first jump, they would have tied for fifth place and advanced to the MOC.

LaGueux also competed in the Triple Jump (29-9), while Ballotti doubled in the Long Jump (15-8). 

Senior David Reed competed in both the 1600 (on Friday) and the 3200 (on Saturday). Reed ran respectable times in both races (4:30.15 and 10:07.24), but was not able to crack the top six and advance. Perhaps the hardest working athlete on the team, Reed will continue his running career at Purdue University in the fall.

The oppressive temperatures and a lingering head cold seemed to affect freshman Sierra Castaneda who ran a 5:23.27 in the 1600, slightly slower than the times she has been running lately. Despite the one race setback, Castaneda completed an outstanding freshman season (Freshman County Champ in the 1600) and will be a major contributor to WMC’s success for the next three years.

Hurdlers Brigitte Rec and Kelsey Cronin competed in the 100 hurdles on Saturday.  Both ran a little off their personal bests and did not advance.

And, the 4x800 team of Sierra Castaneda, Taylor Brown, Meghan Lloyd and Lauren Toth ran a 9:53.21 to finish in 14th place in Group 3.

Wednesday’s Meet of Champions meet will be held in South Plainfield.  With a very pleasant weather forecast and talented competition, the conditions are perfect for PRs, school records and top finishes for these five very capable West Morris athletes.

Information provided by Steve LaGueux.