McLaughlin, Wilson light up the Meet of Champs

New Jersey Meet of Champions Highlights

Sydney McLaughlin became the 12th fastest quarter-miler in history on Wednesday and broke Olivia Baker's New Jersey state record by running 51.87 seconds to win the 400 meters at the New Jersey Meet of Champions in Bayville. 

Not to be outdone, another junior, shot putter Alyssa Wilson scored a new PR with 55 feet, 3.50 inches. It's the sixth farthest throw in history and national record holder Raven Saunders owns the top five. Senior Nickolette Dunbar of Whippany Park threw 52-3.75 for second place. 

Wilson, of Monsignor Donovan, also won the discus with 152-9.

McLaughlin of Union Catholic, who is targeting a run to the Olympic Trials in the 400-meter hurdles also won that event in US#1 56.23 seconds. She is the World Youth champion in that event.

Another US#1 came in the boys final when Cory Poole from East Orange ran 52.50. Poole also ran 13.71 to win the 110 hurdles.

Other highlights included a competitive boys 3,200 meters, where four runners ran under 9:10. Junior Matt Grossman of Millburn edged Joshua Clark of Highland Regional, 9:06.25 to 9:06.70.

In the boys 1,600 meters, Christian Brothers Academy's Drake Anzano, yet another junior, won it with 4:08.96. Seven guys ran under 4:14.

Dodley Thermitus of Elizabeth, a junior, won the boys triple jump with 49-7.25.

Kaitlyn Salisbury, a senior from Hawthorne, won both the long jump (19-10) and the triple jump (39-10.75). Those marks were both personal bests. She also placed second in the 100 meters (12.01).

Junior Cade Antonucci of Holy Spirit won the javelin with a throw of 205-8.

Luke Grodeska from St .Rose won the shot put with 65-10.75.

River Dell, with twins Colin and William Daly, won the 4x800 relay title with 7:40.57.

Junior Briana Gess from Haddonfield won the 1,600 meters for the third straight year with 4:50.09. She edged Ciara Roche of Freehold by less than a second.

In the girls 3,200 meters, Kaitlyn Mooney of Southern Regional ran a huge 13-second PR to capture the title in 10:28.25. Mooney placed 14th at the indoor MOC in the same event back in Februrary. She was 38th at the MOC cross country championships last November.

Thomas Kalieta of Matawan was a double winner in the 200 (21.57) and the 400 (47.83).

In Groups action last weekend...

- Christian Brothers Academy won the Non-Public A team title with 122 points for its 20th state title.

- The Weequahic boys (70 points) and Mountain Lakes girls (45) won the Group 1 team titles.

- Old Bridge won the Group 4 boys title with 52 points. Southern Regional scored 40 to take the girls win.

- In Group 3, Pennsauken scored 40 points to win the boys championship; Winslow scored 66 points to take the girls title.

- In Group 2,  the River Dell boys scored 63 points to win; the Sterling girls won for the first time with 63 points.