The proof is in what is delivered, and that's what the West Orange High School boys track team did Saturday at the Kearny Relays.
The Mountaineers won the Division II category with 60 points.
Junior Dexter Valley had a great season-opening meet, being a part of three first-place relays and nearly pulling the Mountaineers into another victory in the 4x400.
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West Orange won the 4x100, 4x200 and the sprint medley to highlight the start of what is expected to a great season.
The girls were third in the Division II category.
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"I've been saying we have a good team, but to say it and do it are two different things," said West Orange coach Joe Picataggio. "Hopefully, it'll just get better and better."
Valley, senior Josh McNeil, junior Lance Smith and sophomore Kazari Trought won the 4x100 in 44.01. The 4x200 team of Valley, Smith, senior James Cham and Trought won in 1:31.89 despite bobbling the baton a couple of times. Trought ran a 22.1 anchor leg.
Valley, Karl Cajuste, junior Jelani Williams and senior Jared Mason won the sprint medley in 3:41.88 seven seconds ahead of the runners-up. The Mountaineers were fifth when Mason got the baton, but he blasted a 1:55.6 leg for the 800 to get his team the gold.
"He passed a good field of runners," said Picataggio. "Jared has been looking good. I told him it's good and bad news. It's bad news that it's March. We have to wait until June for the Meet of Champions. He looks like he's ready right now."
The 4x400 was a super race where Valley nearly pulled it off with a great 49.1 anchor leg. He passed Dickinson's Jose Veras on the backstretch, only for Veras to retake the lead and nip him at the line. Dickinson ran a combined 3:25.6, while the Mountaineers were clocked in 3:26.44.
"Veras is one of the premier 800 meter runners in the state," said Picataggio. "He was the meet's outstanding athlete, but Dexter would have won it if it wasn‘t for Veras."
Among some of the team's other highlights were a second place in the pole vault relay with junior Josh Ringel and sophomore Ethan Blake. The javelin team led by senior Anthony Sugaste was second. He threw 151 feet -- just six feet less than his personal best.
The girls' effort featured a first in the javelin as senior star Nia Barnes and sophomore Illissa Blackshear won easily with a 212-10. Barnes threw 129-6.
"I thought it was really good, it was really swampy and cold and soaked," said Picataggio.
The surprise of the day was 6,400 relay where freshman Susannah Crorwell, senior Jaclyn McKeon, sophomore Casey Kriak and junior Mary Rose Huryk won in 24:39.70. Crowell put the team in the lead with her first leg 5:51.
The shot put team of Sydney Grimes and Barnes was second.
Among the other solid performances was the third-place 4x100 team of freshman Casmira Nelson, senior Yori St. Hill, freshman Aliya Barnes and freshman anchor Chantoll Gauntlett.
"I never knew Yori was that fast, she ran the second leg and really opened it up. She looked absolutely wonderful," he said.
The 4x200 team of Nelson, Gauntlett, St. Hill and Branes were third in 1:50.66.
