West Orange's Barnes Hits Javelin Milestone

West Orange High standout javelin thrower Nia Barnes has always emphasized the importance of being consistent in her performances.

Friday afternoon, that approach — along with a slight adjustment in technique — paid off when she set meet and Essex County record for the event with a 148-0 toss on the first day of the two-day Essex County Championships at Woodman Field in Montclair. The meet resumes Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. with field events with running events to start at about 11 a.m.

"Usually I don't get nervous before meets, but today I had some butterflies, the coach (Bridgit Amir) said that was good," said Barnes. "It was different, but I took a deep breath and I just went for it. Everything was flowing."

"I like that field because it flows correctly and I hit the point — it just went straight out," she added. "Words can't describe it. It's just been a ride. I just want to keep increasing, keep increasing. If I can't increase than just stay consistent."

Barnes said that another of her coaches, Australian native Gary Calvert, suggested she change her run-up to making the throws.

"I talked to him last Sunday and he said, 'let me see your steps,' he said maybe I should add a step," she said. "And it felt more comfortable and more natural instead of trying to force it, wasting my energy on short steps — with the longer steps I could prolong my energy and I had more momentum. I'm happy I changed it and I did it in time."

Her throws Friday would have placed her in the top five of last weekend's Southeast Conference Championships where Alabama competes. Now, she said she feels that.

Barnes broke her own Essex County mark of 145-4 set last year and jumped into the fifth spot on the national list this season. She now owns the eighth longest throw in New Jersey history.

"I'm so, so excited about it, it's crazy," said Barnes, who'll throw the shot put Saturday.

She landed throws of 141 1/2 and 144-0 before her milestone toss that came on the third throws of the trial round.

West Orange senior Josh McNeil followed up his first-place in the triple jump at the Super Essex Conference meet with a first in the event at the county event.

West Orange junior Dexter Valley, who won the Super Essex Conference 400 last week, was third in the county race.  Junior Anfernee LaRue was fourth in the 400 intermediate hurdles.