Runners Advance to MoC, Seek to Overcome Saturday Performance

The Westfield High School track team didn't have its best performance of the season at Saturday's NJSIAA Group IV championships, but coach Jack Martin is encouraged.

Five Blue Devils will take part in Thursday's Meet of Championships at South Plainfield High School's Jost Field. Westfield finished 27^th overall in the group meet at Egg Harbor High School, scoring seven points.

Those who place in the top six in each event qualified for the Meet of Champions.

"We have five different kids going; we didn't score a lot of points because we had fourth, fifth and sixths,'' Martin said. "But we did better than we have done in the last few years.''

He added. "We're looking for redemption.''

Junior Jon Henry finished fourth in the 400 meters in 49.53 after finishing second at 48.21 in last week's North 2 Group IV meet. Henry also placed eighth in the 800 in 1:55.64.

"They have a rule at Egg Harbor where you can use only eighth-inch spikes – it's almost negligible,'' Martin said. "It's almost worthless. Jon slipped at the start and it changed the whole race. Then it snowballs.''

Senior Pat Gray placed sixth in the javelin with a 177-09 toss and the 4x400 team of senior Jhakyse Williams, senior Brian Henry, Gray and Henry finished sixth in 3:23.90. The Blue Devils won the North 2 Group IV championship last week in 3:21 flat.

"It was our worst race of the outdoor season, nobody finished well. If we had our typical finish we would have been second,'' said Martin adding that Gray could improve in the pole vault with a couple of technique adjustments.  "It was disappointing, but we'll get another shot Thursday.''

In the girls field, junior Ashley Edwards placed fourth in 57.65 in the 400 meter dash.

Senior Dave Fishman cleared 13-foot-6 in the pole vault for sixth.

"David had two very good attempts at 14 feet on a new pole; he's almost there,'' Martin said.

Mike Kelly, Tyler Cusick, Sam Tooley and Zach Lizmi will be the first Blue Devils to compete Thursday when they run the 4x800 relay. It's the first year the Meet of Champions will run a 4x800 and 4x100. Martin is expecting an outstanding performance from the team.

"It's been a great season,'' Martin said. "They have all improved steadily. The proof is in the pudding. It's a senior dominated team, but they are still focused.''