Scheduling conflicts has thrown a wrench into the track & field Meet of Champions (MOC) this season. Several prestigious National Meets have drawn many of New Jersey’s top athletes away from the MOC.
Westfield Blue DevilsAvery Keith, Alex Valencia and Ryan Daly have opted out of the MOC as well as most of the Union Catholic girls. In the Group 4 meet, Keith recorded the best time in the state in the 3,200 at 8:57.74 and was the top seed in the event for the MOC. He was also fifth in the 1,600, while Valencia was third and Daly was 11th. Valencia and Daly were seeded 3-5 in the 800.
For the remaining Blue Devils at the MOC, Manny Gayanilo finished seventh in the 400-hurdles with a time of 54.12. Union Catholic Viking Jimmy Wischusen crossed first in the 3,200 at 9:06.57. The Union Catholic girls had many listed in the top-5 seeds so the doors were wide open for others to step forward. Scotch Plains-Fanwood Raider Delaney Farley finished fifth in the 100 dash with a time of 11.86 and Blue Devil Sean O’Brien finished seventh at 11.97.
Raiders Mia Tromble, Keira Kelly, Keziah Acedieu and Farley finished third in the 4×100 at 48.31. Blue Devil Gabby Demeter placed in a tie for third in the high jump with a clearance of 5-4 and Cranford’s Sanaa Wright was 12th at 5-2. Blue Devil Priscilla Dayon took fifth in the javelin with a toss of 120-0.
Blue Devils Anna Kylish, Olivia Thornton, Regan Stevens and Lina Wright finished 10th in the 4×800 at 9:33.14. Raider Sarah Sicoli placed 13th in the pole vault at 10-6. Cranford Cougar Bella Alvarez-Gomez finished 13th in the 400-hurdles.
