Track & field: Middletown North, Rumson-Fair Haven, Colts Neck win sectional titles
MIDDLETOWN — The maximum distance an athlete is allowed to race in a New Jersey high school track & field meet is four miles. That can only happen by entering the four longest events — the 3200 meters, 1600, 800 and 4x800 relay.
Almost nobody actually does that, though, because it’s brutally hard.
Connor Kinch didn’t care. The Middletown High School North senior put himself through the punishment at the NJSIAA sectionals with one goal in mind.
“It was for the team,” Kinch said. “I wanted to give us as much of a chance as possible to win. I did it for my coach, I did it for my teammates. Track & field is a team sport — everyone works together. You’ve got to give your best for that.”
Kinch medaled in all four events to lead the Lions’ boys team to the program’s first sectional crown since 2014. He won the 3200 in a time of 9:35 and placed second in the 800 (1:58) and fifth in the 1600 (4:31) while contributing a 1:58 split to the victorious 4x800.
Middletown North racked up 128 points, 39 more than runner-up Matawan. Kinch contributed 20 points personally and had a big hand in 10 more. He was hurting afterward.
“I gave everything I could,” he said.
Senior Levi Wilson also scored big for the Lions, winning the long jump (22 feet, 3 inches) and placing second in the triple jump (43-8.5) and high jump (5-10).
“This is something I always wanted to do,” Wilson said of winning at the individual and team levels.
The Lions were one of five Shore Conference teams to earn sectional titles. Here’s a rundown, followed by our ranking of the conference's top 10 girls and boys performers over the two-day event, which unfolded Friday and Saturday and sites throughout the state.
Lilley, Connors lead Rumson-Fair Haven sweep
Rumson-Fair Haven swept the boys and girls Central Group 2 crowns for the second straight year. That’s no surprise. What was particularly impressive this time, though, is that new people led the charge.
On the girls’ side, freshman sensation Clemmie Lilley put the Bulldogs over the top. She won the 400 (57.19), placed third in the 800 (2:19) and 200 (26.33) and anchored the victorious 4x400 with a 57-second split.
Not bad for someone who intended to spend her winter on the basketball court and her spring playing lacrosse.
“In soccer I was kind of on the fast side, but I had no clue what I’d be able to do at a distance like the 400 or 800,” Lilley said.
The crucial 4x400 triumph provided the margin of victory as the Bulldogs outscored Metuchen 100-90. Ryan Malone, Cassedy Stypul and Izzy Rodriguez ran the first three legs for the unit, which crossed in 4:04.
Please note: That’s three freshmen and a sophomore on the gold-medal relay. The Bulldogs’ dominance is poised to continue.
“We’re all really good friends,” Lilley said. “It’s super fun we all get to run together. For the next three years we have a bright future.”
The Rumson-Fair Haven boys’ victory wasn’t as dramatic. It didn’t need to be. The Bulldogs thumped the field, scoring 104 points to runner-up Voorhees’ 68. The pacesetter, junior John Connors, has a pretty good story.
Connors threw the javelin last year. He didn’t compete in the jumps one time. He didn’t run one race. Yet this weekend he won the high jump (6-2) and long jump (21-6.25) and ran a leg on the second-place 4x100 (44.47).
“I really didn’t know I could do this, but I did it,” he said.
Rumson-Fair Haven’s coaches suggested he expand his repertoire over the winter. He listened, and it exploded from there.
“I just had to get the work in,” he said.
New faces, same winning result for Rumson-Fair Haven track & field.
“We did it last year, we’re doing it again this year, and hopefully we can do it next year, too,” Connors said.
Colts Neck girls win without Shapiro
The sectionals began with bad news for the Colts Neck girls: Senior Lilly Shapiro, one of the most accomplished distance runners in Shore Conference history, was not able to recover in time from a hip injury. She scratched from the 800 and 1600, ending her high school career.
The Cougars showed their strength anyway, racking up 117 points, well ahead of runner-up Somerville (85) in Central Group 3.
“It was definitely hard winning without Lilly,” junior Kylie Jacoutot said. “We had to step up a lot. We scored more in the hurdles than we were expected to.”
Jacoutot saw to that personally. She blazed to victory in the 400 hurdles in a Shore Conference-best 1:02.62 and took second in the open 400 in 58.40. She also ran on the winning 4x400 (4:04).
Junior Ava Wilmot did her part, too, winning the 1600 (5:08) and 3200 (11:08) and running on the 4x400 as the Colts Neck machine rolled on.
“We have such a great history of runners, so it seems like a lot to live up to, but everyone is so supportive,” Wilmot said. “The bond at Colts Neck is really strong and that’s a big part of why we have so much success. We have a great program and it’s only going to keep flourishing.”
Still, it was disappointing to see Shapiro shelved. The three-time Meet of Champions winner, whose top times of 4:40 in the 1600, 2:06 in the 800 and 10:18 in the 3200 rank among the best in state history, hadn’t raced since anchoring Colts Neck’s distance medley to fourth place at the Penn Relays in late April.
“It (the hip) is just not right,” Colts Neck coach Kevin Hein said recently. “She’s obviously got a big career ahead of her at the University of North Carolina, so we’re taking it cautious.”
Donohoe sparks Shore title
Shore Regional has produced a litany of track & field stars. Caroline Donohoe is earning a high place on that list.
The senior, who will run for the University of Richmond next year, dominated Central Group 1 to lead the Blue Devils to a sectional title defense at Howell High School. She won the 400 (59.15) and 800 (2:23.25) and placed second in the 400 hurdles (1:04.94).
Shore compiled 107 points, 20 more than runner-up Dayton.
TOP 10 GIRLS PERFORMANCES
1. Laura Gugliotta, Howell: The senior won the Central Group 4 100 dash (12.28), 200 (25.19) and 400 (55.46).
2. Kelly Enterline, Southern: The senior won the South Group 4 shot put with a Shore Conference-best distance of 42-9.5, took second in the discus (126-1) and fourth in the javelin (109-10).
3. Caroline Donohoe, Shore: The senior won the Central Group 1 400 (59.15) and 800 (2:23.25) and placed second in the 400 hurdles (1:04.94).
4. Kylie Jacoutot and Ava Wilmot, Colts Neck: Jacoutot won the Central Group 3 400 hurdles (a Shore Conference-leading 1:02.62) and placed second in the open 400 (58.40). Wilmot won the 1600 (5:08) and 3200 (11:08). Both ran on the winning 4x400 (4:04).
5. Emma Zawatski, Freehold Township: The sophomore won the Central Group 4 800 in 2:14.59, took second in the 1600 (4:57) and third in the 3200 (10:51).
6. Lily Oliver, Toms River South: The junior won the South Group 3 1600 (4:59) and 800 (2:18).
7. Clemmie Lilley, Rumson-Fair Haven: The freshman won the Central Group 2 400 (57.19), placed third in the 800 (2:19) and 200 (26.33) and anchored the victorious 4x400 with a 57-second split.
8. Taylor Moore, Raritan: The senior won the Central Group 2 shot put (38-0.75), placed second in the javelin (103-9) and took fourth in the discus (111-8).
9. Imani Fitzpatrick, Natalia Bray and Antonia Dunbar, Neptune: Fitzpatrick won the Central Group 3 400 (56.49). Bray won the 200 (25.89). Dunbar won the 100 (12.65). All three ran on the winning 4x100 (a Shore Conference-best 48.45).
10. A’Lycia Moore, Manchester: The senior won the South Group 2 long jump with a Shore Conference-leading distance of 18-3.75.
TOP 10 BOYS PERFORMANCES
1. Alex Sadikov, Ocean Township: The junior won the Central Group 2 400 hurdles (54.36) and open 400 (48.29), placed third in the 200 (22.64) and led off the third-place 4x400 (3:28).
2. Aidan Scaturro, Shore: The senior won the Central Group 1 400 hurdles (56.95), 110 hurdles (14.92) and 200 (22.44) and placed second in the 100 dash (11.11).
3. Connor Kinch, Middletown North: The senior won the Group 3 boys 3200 (9:35.46) and placed second in the 800 (1:58.81) and fifth in the 1600 (4:31) and ran a 1:58 leg on the winning 4x400 (8:16).
4. Fabian Gonzalez, Southern: The junior won the South Group 4 discus with a heave of 185-9 and placed second in the shot put (56-2).
5. John Connors, Rumson-Fair Haven: The junior won the Group 2 high jump (6-2) and long jump (21-6) and ran on the second-place 4x100 (44.47).
6. D’Maari Brown, Manchester: The senior won the South Group 2 triple jump (45-5.75) and placed second in the high jump (6-2) and fifth in the long jump (20-0).
7. Levi Wilson, Middletown North: The junior won the Central Group 3 long jump (22-3), placed second in triple jump (43-8.5) and high jump (5-10) and ran on the third-place 4x100 (43.84).
8. Christopher Seegobin, Howell: The senior won the Central Group 4 800 in 1:55.47 and placed fifth in the 1600 in 4:21.
9. Branden Satterwhite, Matawan: The junior won the Central Group 3 triple jump (45-0.5) and placed fourth in the long jump (21-2.5).
10. Tyler Zawatski, Freehold Township: The senior won the Central Group 4 javelin in a Shore Conference-best 197-7.
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: NJ Track & field: Ranking top Shore Conference athletes at sectionals
