Fearon Sprints Away with Two Sectional Titles

Robbie Fearon ensured that his Memorial Day weekend would be golden, not once, but twice.

Fearon, a senior track standout at West Deptford high School, won an NJSIAA Group II Sectional title in the 100-meter dash on Friday and added a second title in the 200 on Saturday at Buena High School.

(Click here to view photos from the meet.)

Fearon finished the 100 in 11.23 seconds and the 200 in 22.46.

“I’m extremely happy,” Fearon said. “On Friday I ran the (100) prelims and found out I got ranked first in the finals, but I knew (Williamstown’s) Isaac Williams is real fast and had to get the lead. Once I got the lead I knew I had to maintain it. He has bigger, longer legs.”

The same could be said about most of Fearon’s competitors. The West Deptford standout is just 5 feet, 8 inches tall, and as a result his stride is shorter than most of the athletes he races. Fearon's shorter legs won out though—Williams placed second.

Aware of what could be perceived as a disadvantage, Fearon makes it a priority to get out in front and make his competitors try to chase him down.

“(Getting out to a lead) is huge because I know that they do have longer legs and do have the advantage,” Fearon said. “I just count on my little, stronger legs to push off and power as fast as I can. I was heading into a headwind so I just stayed low used my legs and got out in front.”

Fearon also had to overcome being in an outside lane in the 200 after finishing the prelims as a No. 7 seed.

Knowing his opponents would try to break the barrier to get out in front before the turn into the straightaway, Fearon again focused on delivering a fast start.

“I think I had the best 200 start I have ever had,“ he said. “Once I got the lead I had to stay in front just like the 100. “

His efforts impressed his coach.

“He had the potential for it, obviously, and to finish through with it is great to see,” said West Deptford head coach Mark Dixon. “ … I’m just really happy for him to end his senior year on these positive notes.”

Fearon wasn’t the only West Deptford athlete to bring home a title. Ferrell Cooper won the long jump with a lead of 21-6 1/2. He also showed his impressive range placing second in the 100 hurdles, third in the triple jump and fifth in the 200.

“He wants to do so many things and it’s hard to get him to concentrate on one thing," Dixon said. "He always says ‘I want to do this and I want to do that’ and he is good at all of them. I am happy for him. He’s doing a great job for us.”

On the girls' side, junior Megan Kirschling won a triple jump title, while placing second in the high jump.

What makes the triple jump title so impressive is that, until three weeks ago, Kirschling hadn’t competed in the event since her freshman year. In the short time since picking it up, Kirschling has made big gains.

“I guess it kind of comes naturally because my stride is so long, but I have been working on it,” said Kirschling, whose winning jump came on her second attempt.

Although happy to move on to states in the high jump, Kirschling was disappointed in her final height being 5-4. Having cleared 5-8 earlier in the year, the 5-4 was a bit of a surprise.

“I was, step-wise, just not right and if I went to adjust then I just wasn’t consistent,” Kirschling said.

Yet even when she was a little off, it was more than good enough to earn a trip to states.

“It is a nice feeling to know (I made states) and now I can go practice it so I don’t have those inconsistent jumps,” she said.

Also advancing were pole vaulters Claudia Theriault and Paige Vicari, who placed fourth and fifth, respectively, and Samantha Budd, who took sixth in the 800.

The Group II state finals will take place next weekend in South Plainfield.