Barnes, Valley Win State Group Titles

West Orange senior standout javelin thrower Nia Barnes had her second straight state Group IV title wrapped up Saturday at Carl Sandburg Middle School in Old Bridge with one throw to spare.

But, this is a student/athlete bound for the University of Alabama, an outstanding student to go along with her athletic skill. If she had one last throw, she was going to make certain it went a long way.

So Barnes, on her last throw — the last throw of the event in fact, threw a meet and group record of 143 feet. She broke her own record of 139-04 she set last year and shared by South Brunswick’s Indira Morton, who hit that distance in 2006.

Barnes and junior 400-meter runner Dexter Valley were West Orange's winners.

Valley, who was also sixth in the 200, ran a personal best and school record of 48.33 in the 400.

Those two will compete in Thursday's Meet of Champions competition at Carl Sandburg Middle School.

Barnes placed second last year to Marlboro's Elaina Mezzasalma, but Barnes is eager to get the Meet of Champions title to go with all that she's accomplished.

"Being the last person, and knowing nobody was going to throw better, it was like 'what the heck, just go for it,'" she said. "I had nothing to lose. I can only do better. I was a little calmer and focused."

"I wanted to win," she added. "Once I knew I had already won, I wanted to throw over 140. That was my goal today."

And becoming a two-time state champ as her mom and dad watched along with javelin coaching specialist Gary Calvert and West Orange assistant coach Bridgit Amir. 

"It's important to me for all of the hard work and now I can put a name to the hard work," she added. "Last year I threw 139, so it says a lot of how I've improved and gotten better. I’m grateful."

"Nia's an outstanding person," said Mountaineer head coach Joe Picateggio. "She's the real deal — in athletics, academics. She's a coach’s delight."

Valley's goal is to get to below 48 seconds. 

That objective seems to be getting closer and closer. He edged runner-up Leonard Robbins-Lockhart of East Brunswick, who ran 48.37. Valley bounced back from not placing in the 100 meters earlier Friday.

"He had a terrible 100 meters, he stood straight up in the finals and finished seventh in a field of seven," said Picateggio. "I was a little disappointed and concerned it might affect his 400. But he concentrated. In the 400 he started out a little slow, but on the back straightaway he just turned it on. He came off the last turn here just held his focus, stayed relaxed and he won on the straightway. The 48.33 is a school record and he’s a state Group IV champion."

Junior Jared Mason also had a very strong race in the 800, placing second in a personal best and school record of 1:52.72. Dickinson's Jose Veras won in 1:51.62.

"Jared can win the Meet of Champions," said Picateggio. "He again got himself boxed in on the first lap around. In the second lap he picked it up, got the lead, but he gave it up a little early. He knows it. He has to fight those guys off.  Then coming off the last turn, he was in fourth and he wound up second. He was closing the gap, but ran out of real estate."

The girls and boys 4x100 relay teams also qualified for the Meet of Champions.