Mason, Barnes Win Again — This Time at State Meet

West Orange High junior middle-distance star Jared Mason is simply on another level — in another class than those who have been chasing him recently.

Mason, who transferred from St. Benedict Prep to West Orange after his freshman year, won the State Group IV 800-meter title with a 1:55.43 at the John Bennett Indoor Athletic Center in Toms River. 

He and another star Mountaineer senior Nia Barnes — who won the state Group IV shot put by nearly five feet — will be back in action Saturday at the Meet of Champions meet at the Bennett Center. Barnes, who will compete at the University of Alabama next year, threw 42 feet ½ inch with teammate and senior Sydney Grimes third with a 37-0 1/2.

The boys shared fifth with North Hunterdon of Clinton with 15 points. The girls were seventh with 16 points. 

Barnes, whose specialty is the javelin, also won the North 1 Group IV shot put title last week. She set a sectional meet record last week with a 40-4 ½ toss. Mason also set a meet record last week, running a 1:58.25. This time, both were up against the best in the state.

"Jared ran a very, very smart race,’’ said coach Joe Picataggio, who predicted Mason would go 1:55 or 1:54 in the group meet. "He was second or third with one lap to go, but flew by everybody. He ran a tactical race and it worked out nicely for him."

Dexter Valley, who didn’t run his best race in last week’s sectional race, ran much better this time, his coach said. Valley was fifth with a 51.38. 

"He ran a much smarter race," said Picataggio.

Valley also anchored the fourth-place 4x400 team that ran 3:29.9 after running 3:32.71 for a third place in the sectional meet. Junior Anfernee LaRue, who came off a sick bed, opened the relay and was followed by sophomore Karl Cajuste. Senior James Cham, who missed last week’s sectional meet, ran the third leg and Valley anchored with a 50.7 leg.