Vuojolainen and Gensib Win Sectional Titles

Having advanced to the Group finals in each of her previous three years, Rebekka Vuojolainen was expecting a good performance in the Central Jersey Group III meet this past weekend at Monmouth Regional

She had a great performance.

Vuojolainen won both the pole vault (9' 6")  and triple jump (35' 10 3/4"). The Princeton senior also placed sixth in the long jump (15' 6 1/4").

"I usually seem to get second place, so this was very exciting," Vuojolainen said. "It was exciting and something I have been waiting for. I'm very pleased with my results."

Vuojolainen's great meet helped Princeton score 51.5 points and place fifth as a team.

The top six finishers in each event score points and also advance on to the Group III finals, which will be held on June 3-4. Princeton qualified seven girls in 11 events.

"It was a good day for our team," Vuojolainen said. "We had a lot of distance girls qualify. We had a lot more girls qualify than we usually do."

Princeton's best overall event was the 3200 in which it advanced three girls to the next round. Elyssa Gensib won (11:20.84), Jenna Cody was fourth (11:35.59) and Ameila Whaley was fifth (11:36.33).

Gensib also advanced in the 1600, placing fourth in a time of 5:13.81.

Michelle Bazile placed in two events. She was sixth in the discus (105' 4") and in a fifth-place tie in the shot put (32' 1/2").

In other results, Mary Kennedy-Moore was fourth in the pole vault (9 feet). Madeline Lea was fourth in the triple jump (34' 9 1'2").

Princeton also came close to placing in several other events. Maggie Sowa turned in a 2:22.83 in the 800, placing eighth. Madeline Lea was eighth in the 100 (13.51). The 4x400 team of Sowa, Kaitlyn Carduner, Crissy Glover and Laureline Hartmanshenn was ninth in a time of 4:17.59.