Track & field Meet of Champions: Ocean's Sadikov, Jackson Memorial's Paneque win titles
FRANKLIN -- The relentless 20 mph wind gusts at Saturday’s NJSIAA Track & Field Meet of Champions posed a major challenge to the athletes.
Alex Sadikov and Rob Paneque rose to meet it.
Ocean Township’s Sadikov won the boys 400 meters, diving across the finish line in dramatic fashion. Jackson Memorial’s Paneque delivered as the top seed in the boys javelin, capping a meteoric rise to the top.
On a day when some top competitors skipped the MOC in favor of one of the three national meets taking place this weekend, Sadikov and Paneque etched their names into the New Jersey schoolboy record books.
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For Sadikov, the bruises of victory
Fifteen minutes after his finish, Sadikov was lying flat on his back in the grass field adjacent to the track at Franklin High School, his left side covered with abrasions.
They were the bruises of victory.
“It’s a lot more painful than I thought it was going to be,” he said. “The wind was so bad. By the time I hit the 200 (meter-mark) I thought my race was over. It was the same amount energy I put into my 400s . To have another 200 to run, it felt like hell.”
He rounded the 300-meter mark near the lead and another runner challenging for the gold fell to the track. Sadikov would meet that same fate, but it was just as he crossed the finish line. He got his chest out far enough to record the triumph.
“Last 10 meters I lost focus,” he said. “I figured if I’m going to stop my race there, I’m going to stop it forward.”
The junior’s time of 49.41 was irrelevant. He’s run under 48 seconds for the race under normal conditions. These were exceptional circumstances.
“Definitely really happy with the work I put in,” he said. “Seriously, it paid off it the end.”
It’s been a journey to this point for Sadikov, who was disqualified at the indoor state meet due to a false start. Then, at least week’s Group 4 meet, he was disqualified from the 400-meter hurdles (after placing second) due to a hurdle violation.
“I didn’t know if I wanted to run the hurdles or 400 at Meet of Champs,” he said. “After that DQ, the decision was made for me.”
Sadikov is Ocean Township’s first Meet of Champions winner since Elliot Gindi won the boys 1600 in 2017.
“I know a lot of people were doubting me a little but, but it feels really good to come out here and win,” he said.
After the fall at the finish line, runner-up Jason Meza of Morristown (who ran 49.60) came over and picked Sadikov up, then helped carry him off the track. It was a nice moment.
“What great sportsmanship,” Sadikov said. “That was amazing. I’ve talked to him before. Love his spirit; he’s a great kid.”
Sadikov capped his day by anchoring Ocean Township's 4x400 to fourth place (3:25) with a 49-second split.
Paneque's emergence complete
One of New Jersey’s least likely top seeds at the Meet of Champions kept defying the odds.
Paneque had never picked up a javelin until last year. The senior has since taken the event by storm this year.
Throwing against strong winds, Paneque unleashed a best of 189 feet, 9 inches to capture the boys javelin crown at the MOC. He’s the first Jackson Memorial boys athlete to win a MOC title.
He was a virtual unknown even at the beginning of this season, but now he’s officially a household name in the New Jersey track and field community.
“This feels great,” Paneque said. “I didn’t think I’d make it this far, but I was throwing bombs and made it.”
The blustery winds periodically blew perpendicular to the vector throughout the event. One moment the winds were still, the next they were at full force. It was difficult for the participants to time their throws.
Paneque – one of the least experienced throwers in the group – had to adjust to the tough conditions on the fly. He fell short of a season best, but his 189-9 was enough to take the gold. He threw five feet farther than runner-up Austin Hudak of Hammonton.
“It was annoying for everyone,” Paneque said. “You couldn’t really throw it high, and you had to be fast on the runway. It was a struggle.
“I want trying to let (the wind) settle down, but it never did, so I just went at it.”
Paneque’s win capped off his meteoric rise in javelin. He threw a Shore Conference record 208-6 missile at the Group 4 Championships. It was the first 200-foot throw in the state this spring and topped the previous state-leading throw of 197-feet by Freehold Township’s Tyler Zawatski.
The defending MOC champion, Zawatski did not participate Saturday due to a hand injury. He’s still scheduled to throw at the New Balance Nationals in Philadelphia on Sunday.
Paneque, who will throw for Central Connecticut State next year, is also set participate at Sunday’s nationals. No matter how he fares there, he’s already etched his name into state history as one of the most surprising success stories.
“I just wanted to break the school record going into the season,” Paneque said. “But then I started going up and up and up.”
Other local boys of note
Manchester senior D'Maari Brown placed second in the triple jump with a leap of 46-9.
Manalapan placed third in the 4x800 in 8:02 with Joshua Kim, Christian Savage, Rowan Cassidy and Stephen Kyvelos.
Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Track & field Meet of Champs: Ocean's Sadikov, Jackson's Paneque win
