Ocean City Boys Rout Mainland in Track and Field as Chris Turner Sets Triple Jump Record

Chris Turner is in the record books.

The Ocean City High School junior set a school record in the triple jump, as the Red Raiders swept a tri-meet with Vineland and rival Mainland Regional in Linwood.

The Red Raiders dominated the Mustangs, Ocean City's main rivals, 121-19. Ocean City topped Vineland, 85-55, with a strong showing from its field athletes.

Turner was the top triple jumper of the day with a distance of 40 feet, 11 inches.

"It feels weird. It feels unbelievable to break it," Turner said. "It's enjoyable to break it and to have my friends here to congratulate me."

Turner said he didn't start getting serious about the event until last season. He hopes to continue to add to his record.

"It helps knowing I can come back this year and next year and I should be getting higher in the 40s," Turner said.

Turner also added a long jump win (21 feet, 3 3/4 inches) against the Mustangs. The Red Raiders' win was never in doubt, winning all but two events.

Ocean City's Jimmy O'Connor won three events, and Miles Schoedler doubled up against Mainland. O'Connor took first in the 400 hurdles (58.9), 110 hurdles (15.8) and the high jump (6-2). Schoedler cruised to wins in the 1,600-meters (4:42.9) and the 800-meters (2:01.32).

Ben Bethea (100-meters), Ryan Heckler (400-meters), Joe Devescio (3,200-meters), Jim McMasters (javelin), Sean Stewart (discus) and Michael Oberg (pole vault) captured first against Mainland. So did the 4x400 relay team of Bill Dooner, Andrew DeMaria, Kevin Scott and Heckler.

The Red Raiders didn't have it so easy against the Fighting Clan. Vineland won five track events.

However, Ocean City stayed pace on the track, but had an advantage in the field events.

"We have been talking about our depth and we showed that today," Ocean City coach Matt Purdue said.

McMasters and Stewart won the javelin and discus, and the Red Raiders swept the high jump, long jump, triple jump and pole vault to pick up important team points.

"We really came through in the field events," Purdue said. "I think we were almost even up on the track, but we did well in the field events."