Winter track: Highlights from the State Meet of Champions

Keating keeps patient and wins North Jersey's only gold

Emma Keating has learned to vault alone. She's also learned to be patient.

Sunday was a long day for Keating. She and her family were up early, made the hour plus ride from their Pompton Lakes home to the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island, N.Y., site of the NJSIAA State Meet of Champions, arriving at 8:45 a.m. and began warming up for her event, which began competition when the meet started at 10 a.m.

"I put down my marks, got my steps straight, did some run throughs and went through my warm-up,'' said the Rutgers-bound star. "And then I waited.''

And waited. And waited. 27 vaulters had vaulted more than 120 times at four separate heights over more than two and a half hours, before Keating was able to pick up a pole again and take the one allowable run through at her opening height of 10-6.

She cleared the height easily and then had to wait again as the 10 other girls left in the event took their tries at 11 feet. Five others cleared before Keating made her second jump of the day and again cleared easily.

By the time she made her third height, 11-6, to clinch her second State Meet of Champs title in the event (she won last spring) the rest of the meet was almost over. Then Keating finally got to do what she does best.

"I love to vault at high heights,'' she said.

Keating cleared 12 feet on her first attempt and then had three good attempts at a Passaic County record 12-8 before finally ending her long day just after 2 p.m., when the day's final event, the boys 4-x-400 relay was on the track.

"I don't mind waiting,'' said Keating. "I watch other vaulters, I do some drills. I drink some water and I keep stretching. I always try and look for things to help me get better, even while I'm waiting to vault.''

Keating's win was not a surprise, on a day when surprises seemed to be the norm, especially on the track. She is the only girl in New Jersey to clear at least 12 feet this year -- doing it eight times. She has cleared at least 11-6 in 12 of her 13 meets this winter. Only two other girls did it even once. Ironically, her only meet with less than an 11-6 clearance came in her only other meet at Ocean Breeze, the Passaic County championships in early January,where she won at "only" 10-6.

"I just want to get better and keep jumping higher,'' said Keating. "If I have to wait to get a chance to do it, that's okay.''

County records fall in distance races

Remy Dubac of Clifton was so anxious for her 1,600 meters race that she warmed up too early.

"I had so much time after I warmed up that I started to obsess over it,'' said Dubac, who admits she gets really nervous before races which sometimes impacts her confidence. "I won the Eastern States mile on Wednesday, but I was so disappointed in my time, my confidence began to die down a little.''

Then she got to the starting line and saw her competitors laughing and relaxing.

"Everyone was so calm and I'm over here freaking out,'' said the Bucknell-bound star, one of the top runners in Passaic County history. "I saw how chill they were and it made me calm down.''

A calm Dubac is a potent athlete. Dubac stayed with the lead pack through a comfortable first five laps (1,000 meters) and as the race took off, so did she, making a big move into fourth and then staying there, running a 71.29 final 400 meters to earn a third MOC medal (the first in the 2021 cross-country SMOC and last winter in the 3,200. And as a bonus, she became Passaic County's first sub 5 minute indoor 1,600 runner, finishing in 4:58.07, more than 3 1/2 seconds faster than the old mark of 5:01.62 set by Eastern Christian's Kristen Traub in 2011.

"I was so discouraged earlier in the season because I wasn't running fast,'' said Dubac. "I know I can run with the top girls and now I have proven it to myself.''

IHA's Leanna Johnston didn't have the doubts Dubac had about her ability to race with the best in the state in the 3,200 meters. She had finished in last years indoor 3,200, eighth outdoors and medaled in last fall's cross-country state Meet of Champions.

She had already broken the Bergen County 3,200 meter record at Ocean Breeze in a solo effort at her league meet in January but knew that Sunday's race was going to force her to go even faster. And she did, taking more than eight seconds of of her previous mark by running 10:26.25 for second behind Cate DeSousa of Red Bank Catholic. Johnston's tremendous effort, left her in 10th place all-time in New Jersey indoor history and is ranked within the top 15 in the U.S. this year.

"I know a lot of the girls I'm racing with have stronger kicks than I do,'' said Johnston, who grabbed the lead and led the pack through the first half of the race. "But I also know I can maintain the pace I'm running even when some people pass me.''

That helped when DeSousa made her move and later when eventual third place finisher Tilly O'Connor of St. Rose was ready to make hers.

"I know Cate likes to go with 800 to go and I expected her move,'' said Johnston, who couldn't stay with DeSousa but increased her own pace went by. "Then I heard Tilly's coaches yelling at her to make a move and I figured I had to go first.''

So when DeSousa began to pull away from the field, Johnston began to pull away from O'Connor, running her fastest two laps of the race in the final two to go from a lead of a step to nearly 50 meters by the finish.

"I knew I was in a better place than I was last year at this meet, and I used that knowledge and all the work I've put in to make it happen.''

Winners and North Jersey finishers

Girls

55: 1. Sianni Wynn, Pennsauken, 7.00; 18. Piper Portacio, Lodi Immaculate, 7.91.

200: 1. Wynn, 24.48; 9. Gina Rubio, Paramus Catholic, 25.54; 10. Natasha Redmond, Mount Olive, 25.60; 21. Ayanna Chape, Hackensack, 26.13.

400: 1. Brooke'Lyn Drakeford, Piscataway, 55.51; 10. Chape, 57.80; 12. Kylie Castillo, Ridgefield, 57.85; 14. Redmond, 58.50; 17. Siena Kannenberg, Mahwah, 59.48; 22. Chloe Higgins, Morristown-Beard, 1:00.80; 24. Gina Certo, Holy Angels, 1:00.97.

800: 1. Peyton Hollis, Union Catholic, 2:11.92; 11. Ivory Piskula, Morris Hills, 2:19.59; 12. Halye Greene, Roxbury, 2:19.85; 16. Kara Langbaum, Wayne Hills, 2:21.36; 19. Danielle Tilp, Cresskill, 2:25.72.

1,600: 1. Emma Zawatski, Freehold Twp., 4:49.53; 3. CHRISTINA ALLEN, River Dell, 4:55.39; 4. REMY DUBAC, Clifton, 4:58.07 (Passaic County record); 15. Grace DelGiorno, Morristown, 5:06.98.

3,200: 1. Cate DeSousa, Red Bank Catholic, 10:16.20; 2. LEANNA JOHNSTON, IHA, 10:26.25 (Bergen County record); 9. Delana Einreinhofer, Wallkill Valley, 10:51.07; 13. Morgan Uhlhorn, Lakeland, 11:02.75; 21. Kate Shaw, Mendham, 11:26.82; 22. Amelia Keogh, Ramapo, 11:33.15; 23. Amandine Fernandez, Bogota, 11:33.80.

55 HH: 1. Taylor Cox, Union Catholic, 7.88; 4. ABBY DENNIS, Old Tappan, 8.32; 7. BELLE BENNETT, Northern Highlands, 8.53; 13. Morgan Ryerson, Mount Olive, 8.67; 16. Abreeeana Rilveria, River Dell, 8.68; 21. Leah Alves, Hawthorne, 9.20.

Shot put: 1. Jessica Oji, Livingston, 44-8 1/2; 6. TYAJA THOMAS, Paramus Catholic, 37-8 1/4; 7. ELLIOT EDDY, Hasbrouck Heights, 37-1 3/4; 10. Ariyana Jackson, Randolph, 35-5 1/2; 11. Carly Sarisky, Pope John, 35-5 1/4; 16. Isabel Johnson, Ridgewood, 34-3; 19. Danielle Meribe, Roxbury, 33-2 1/2.

High jump: 1. Samantha Strydesky, Howell, 5-6; tie 3. NORINA KHANZADA, Tenafly and ELSA SPOOR, Chatham 5-4; 9. Mackenzie Beazley, Passaic Valley, 5-2; 17. Gabrielle Snell, Paramus Catholic and Anneke Kuperus, Eastern Christian, 5-0.

Long jump: 1. Lia Malave, Toms River North, 18-1 1/2; 3. DANIELLE MERIBE, Roxbury, 17-7 1/2; 5. JULIA TOZDUMAN, Lyndhurst, 17-4 1/4; 6. JORDANA MARCUS, Fort Lee, 17-2 1/2; 7. GRACE MCQUEENEY, River Dell, 17-2; 11. Abby Romero, IHA, 16-10 1/2; 14. Dennis, 16-6 1/2; 15. Alexandra Semperi, Hasbrouck Heights, 16-4 3/4; 19. Emma Reinke, Ridgewood, 16-1; 22. Olyvia Burrell, Emerson, 15-9 1/2.

Triple jump: 1. Alexandra Bonn, Union Catholic, 39-6 1/4; 3. ADANNIA AGBO, Morris Hills, 36-4 1/2; 7. EMILY TURSCHMANN, River Dell, 35-1 3/4; 13. Gaea DePass, Hasbrouck Heights, 34-7; 14. Jordan Myers, Paramus, 34-5 1/2; 19. Marisa Schoenberg, River Dell, 33-2 3/4; 21. Ryerson, 32-10.

Pole vault: 1. EMMA KEATING, Pompton Lakes, 12-0; 7. SHREYA SATHIYAN, Morris Hills, 10-6; 10. Jamie Kim, Old Tappan, 10-6; 12. Peyton Wennersten, Ridgewood, 10-0; 15. Isabella Formoso, Bergen Tech, 10-0; 19. Allie Tuite, Old Tappan, 9-0; 21. Casey Roberts, IHA, 9-0; 24. Kaitlyn Legaspi, Emerson, 8-6.

4-x-400 relay: 1. Union Catholic, 3:52.16; 8. RIDGEWOOD (WENNERSTEN, BEA BRASSEL KENNEDY LUBKEMANN, REINKE), 4:02.06; 22. Pope John, 4:11.68.

4-x-800 relay: 1. Union Catholic, 9:28.77; 7. RANDOLPH (CHELSEA RENNA, SAMANTHA WILLIS, CARLIE WYSOCKI, LILAH WILLIS), 9:44.18; 13. Ramsey, 10:01.41; 14. Demarest, 10:02.10; 15. Ramapo, 10:03.82; 16. Morris Hills, 10:08.17; 17. Pope John, 10:08.72; 18. Roxbury, 10:17.17.

Boys

55: 1. Maxim Rychkov, Robbinsville, 6.45; 6. LOGAN CASEY, Bergen Catholic, 6.54; 7. SPENCER ANDERSON, Morristown-Beard, 6.56; 8. XAVIER HAYLETTS, Bergenfield, 6.60; 9. Chris Ross, Wallkill Valley (6.54 in trials); 14. Allan Hilton-Clarke, Bergen Catholic, 6.57.

200: 1. Premier Wynn, Pennsauken, 21.75; 3. CASEY, 22.13; 8. JAMES DELY, Paramus Catholic, 22.29; 13. Christopher Short, Demarest, 22.52; 17. Alex Caba, Teaneck, 23.01.

400: 1. Xavier Donaldson, Seton Hall Prep, 47.35; 5. JACK AHART, Kinnelon, 48.87; 7. JASON MEZA, Morristown, 49.16.

800: 1. COLLIN BOLER, Delbarton, 1:50.90; 2. LUKE SCHAGELIN, Morris Knolls, 1:52.89; 3. DYLAN DECAMBRE, Bergen Tech, 1:53.77; 12. Ryan Welch, Ramapo, 1:56.77; 18. Raynier Galvez, Passaic Tech, 1:57.79; 20. Brandon Barreto, Dumont, 1:58.35; 22. Liam Schwabik, River Dell, 1:58.66; 26. Thomas DiVincent, Ramapo, 2:07.46.

1,600: 1. Micah Lawson, Rahway, 4:10.56; 2. BRIAN BOLER, Delbarton, 4:11.48; 3. RYAN BEEGLE, Chatham, 4:12.24; 14. Kenneth Relovsky, Passaic Tech, 4:24.10; 19. Andrew Garcia, Kinnelon, 4:27.19.

3,200: 1. Jimmy Wischusen, Union Catholic, 9:05.80; 5. BRIAN BOLER, 9:11.48; 7. LUKE PASH, Ridgewood, 9:13.51; 8. OWEN HOREVAY, Lakeland, 9:13.77; 14. Hisham Ettayebi, Clifton, 9:26.15; 17. Bryce Teto, Paramus, 9:29.06; 25. Aidan Morrow, Hasbrouck Heights, 9:49.42; 26. Alexander Krack, Chatham, 10:08.79.

55 HH: 1. Yashahya Brown, Washington Twp., 7.22; 13. Dely, 7.83; 16. Adrian Laing, Paramus Catholic, 7.87; 18. Jack Attali, Demarest, 7.92.

Shot put: 1. Joshua Huisman, St. Rose, 62-0 3/4; 2. NICHOLAS FRATTINA, Mount Olive, 56-1 1/4; 7. YOUSEF ELZAHABY, Kennedy, 51-9 1/2; 11. Jack Small, Old Tappan, 50-4 1/2; 13. Justin King, Bergen Catholic, 50-3 3/4; 22. Arsham Bayrami, Fort Lee, 47-1 1/4; 24. Winston Calvo, Wayne Valley, 46-6; 28. Adrian Pierre, Delbarton, 43-6; 29. Randy Worthington, Secaucus, 39-8.

High jump: 1. Damarion Potts, South Brunswick, 6-6; 4. DYLAN BONSER, Wallkill Valley, 6-2; 11. Joshua Justin, Passaic Tech, 6-0.

Long jump: 1. Potts, 23-0 1/2; 4. LIAM PANEQUE, Demarest, 22-1 1/2; 7. ROSS, 21-8 1/4; 10. Tristen Miscia, Morristown-Beard, 21-6 1/2; 11. Austin Zhu, Randolph, 20-22; 12. Zack Mountain, Vernon, 20-5; 16. Trashon Dye, Passaic Tech, 20-0.

Triple jump: 1. Damian Scouloukas, Hunterdon Central, 46-0; 2. CONNOR MARKOVSKI, Morris Hills, 44-0; 4. JOSHUA YOON, Cresskill, 43-7 1/2; 8. ADLEY DORESTANT, Mount Olive, 42-9 1/2; 12. Jason Lessieu, Bergen Catholic, 42-0; 17. Christian Mercado, Wayne Valley, 40-2; 18. Attali, 40-1 1/2.

Pole vault: 1. Scouloukas, 15-0; 2. MATT AONO, Ridgewood, 14-6; 3. NATHAN PARK, Old Tappan, 14-6; 5, CADE ZEOLLA, West Morris Central, 13-6; 6. JOHN ROBINSON, Morris Knolls, 13-6; 7. TYLER DEMARCO, Old Tappan, 13-6; 11. Ben Mandler, Pascack Hills, 13-6; 12. Caleb Park, Old Tappan, 13-6; 14. Ian Kearney, Northern Highlands, 13-0; 20. Ted Joel, Chatham, 12-6; 24. Liam O'Meara, Ridgewood, 12-0.

4-x-400 relay: 1. Pennsauken, 3:15.83; 10. Chatham, 3;25.94; 13. Ridgewood, 3:26.98; 23. Morris Knolls, 3:31.16.

4-x-800 relay:1. CHATHAM (Adam Pettijean, Reilly Byrne, Leo Valenzuela, Charles Henne), 7:54.36; 15. Indian Hills, 8:14.74; 16. River Dell, 8:18.50.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Winter track: Highlights from the State Meet of Champions