Track & field: Rumson-Fair Haven girls win Group 2; Neptune's Fitzpatrick stars

If a championship track & field season could be crystalized by one moment, it took place Saturday morning for the Rumson-Fair Haven High School girls.

Freshman sensation Clemmie Lilley and decorated senior Chloee Dotts placed first and second in the 400 meters, respectively, at the NJSIAA Group 2 meet. The finish spoke volumes: It was the perfect combination of leadership and talent that vaulted the Bulldogs to the program’s third-ever state group title.

Lilley won the race in a time of 56.57 seconds, Dotts placed second in 57.60, and the 18 points they scored helped Rumson-Fair Haven reach 64 for the meet. Demarest finished second with 51 points.

“That was so cool,” Lilley said of the 400. “We were so happy for each other.”

The Bulldogs also won state titles in 2008 and 2019. For Dotts, who was a freshman for the latter, this marked a full-circle moment.

“It makes me really proud to be a Bulldog,” she said. “Our teammates are all so hard-working, always pushing themselves. To know I’m part of continuing that legacy, it makes me so happy that I was able to experience this with the other girls.”

Over the two-day meet, which took place at Franklin High School, Dotts also finished second in the 200 (25.37) and fifth in the 100 (12.59). She and Lilley teamed up with Tyler Argilagos and Megan Burns for a victory in the 4x100 (49.27).

It was a busy meet for Lilley, who burst onto this scene this year with a veteran’s poise. She took third in the 800 (2:17.88) and also joined Argilagos, Burns and Ryan Malone on the victorious 4x400 (4:02.45).

It should be noted that the 800 took place 15 minutes after the 4x100.

“I was freaking out, but I wanted to get us the points,” Lilley said of the tight turnaround.

“I’m really proud of her,” Dotts said of Lilley. “She has improved so much since the winter season. She is going to be amazing for the next three years.”

Also scoring for Rumson-Fair Haven was sophomore Katie Murray, who took fifth in the 800 (2:20) and ran on the third-place 4x800 (9:37) along with Malone, Sarah Butler and Hannah Nitka. And junior Julia Shanes placed sixth in both the 1600 (5:13) and 3200 (11:18).

It all added up to another trophy in an increasingly crowded trophy case. The Bulldogs also won the Central Group 2 sectional and the Monmouth County Relays earlier this season, not to mention the many crowns of seasons past.

“The seniors create such a positive community, bringing everyone together,” Lilley said. “To do this was special.”

Neptune's Fitzpatrick stars in Group 3

There’s a wall by the cafeteria at Neptune High School covered with photos of state champions.

Imani Fitzpatrick passed by just about every day over the past four years, wondering if she could join the montage one day. This weekend, she made sure of it.

The senior track & field standout won the girls 400 meters at the NJSIAA Group 3 Championship, and she joined teammates Antonia Dunbar, Ahjanae Young and Natalia Bray for a triumph in the 4x100 relay.

“We get our picture on the wall now,” Fitzpatrick said. “We’re really excited to be up there with all the greats. It’s been a while since we (the girls track team) last had one.”

Given Neptune’s rich tradition in the sport, that wall features some New Jersey legends like Dawn Bowles and Ajee’ Wilson. Bowles, now the Scarlet Fliers’ head coach, has held the state schoolgirl record in the 100-meter hurdles since 1988. Wilson, holder of the state record in the 800 since 2012, went on to set the American record in the event and represent the U.S. in the Olympics.

This past fall, Wilson came home as her alma mater named its track after her. She also met with the girls on the team. Between Wilson and Bowles, that’s some world-class mentoring.

“It’s amazing honestly,” Fitzpatrick said. “I feel really happy that they’re there for us. They’re able to help us do our best, and become better than we expected to become.”

What was Wilson’s advice to the teens?

“Run with your heart, and the training you do with Coach Bowles will follow along,” Fitzpatrick said.

It’s working. On Friday the 4x100 broke the tape in a time of 48.76 seconds, edging South Jersey power Timber Creek (48.91) for the gold. On Saturday, Fitzpatrick rallied from an early deficit in the 400 to cross the finish line first in 56.71. Timber Creek’s Chloe Jones took second in 57.28.

“Coming around the first 200, I was really slow and I felt it, and I know my coach is going to let me hear about that,” Fitzpatrick said. “By the (final turn) I was able to turn it up and do what I do best.”

Like all current seniors, Fitzpatrick’s track career was interrupted by the pandemic. But there was a silver lining: After focusing on the 800 at first, she switched gears to shorter races as a junior, when competition resumed after the shutdown. The change unlocked her potential.

“I’m really surprised with where I am right now,” she said. “The 400 is really what stuck, it’s what I’m good at, so I’m really glad I found it.”

Up next is the NJSIAA Meet of Champions June 18 at Franklin High School. While some of the state’s top athletes will skip the venerable meet to compete at the outdoor nationals in Oregon — an unfortunate conflict the NJSIAA could have avoided — Fitzpatrick and her cohorts will be at the Meet of Champions, eyeing up gold in the 4x100.

“We went with what we all thought we had the best chance in, and that was at Meet of Champs,” she explained. “And we’re really excited about it. I’d rather be there than at nationals. We want to be able to say ‘Hey, we won something.’”

Shore Conference state champs

Here are the other Shore Conference individuals who won events at the public-school group meets:

Boys winners

Robert Paneque, Jackson Memorial: The senior won the Group 4 boys javelin with a Shore Conference and Ocean County modern-jav record of 208-6, which is also the top throw in the state this season. He eclipsed the old Shore Conference standard of 205-11 set in 2001 by Middletown South's Rob Scales and the old Ocean County mark of 201-5 set in 2011 by Lacey's Zack Torrel.

Fabian Gonzalez, Southern: The junior won the Group 4 boys shot put (60-3.25) and discus (185-9).

Aidan Scaturro, Shore Regional: The senior won the Group 1 boys 400 hurdles (55.58) and 200 (22.32) and placed second in the 110 hurdles (14.86).

Alex Sadikov, Ocean Township: The junior won the Group 2 boys 200 (48.15) and ran on the winning 4x400 (3:21.51) along with Ethan DeFonseka, Mark Viggiano and Danny Cholak.

D’Maari Brown, Manchester: The senior won the Group 2 boys triple jump (47-0.5).

Al-Mubaraq Aderogba, Manchester: The senior won the Group 2 boys long jump at 22-0.5.

Girls winners

Lily Oliver, Toms River South: The junior won the Group 3 girls 800 (2:14.89) and 1600 (4:57.75).

Samantha Strydesky, Howell: The junior won the Group 4 girls high jump at 5-8, the top height in the state this season.

Emma Zawatski, Freehold Township: The sophomore won the Group 4 girls 1600 (4:53.79).

Shea Burke, Point Pleasant Borough: The junior won the Group 2 girls 100 hurdles (14.83).

Ava Wilmot, Colts Neck: The junior won the Group 3 girls 3200 in 10:55.92.

Kylie Jacoutot, Colts Neck: The junior won the Group 3 girls 400 hurdles in 1:02.69.

Ayotunde Folawewo, Toms River North: the junior won the Group 4 girls triple jump (37-5).

Megan Donlevie, Shore Regional: The junior won the Group 1 girls 1600 (5:12.98).

Caroline Donohoe, Shore Regional: The senior won the Group 1 girls 800 (2:17.64).

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: Rumson girls win Group 2; Neptune's Fitzpatrick stars