Strong performances in the longest events and the shortest events led the South girls’ track team to a Group IV state championship on February 14. The Pirates’ 39 points left them with a sizable lead over second place Hunterdon Central with 30 points.
Christina Rancan carried the Pirates’ distance runners with a first place finish in the 1,600 meters in 4:59.06, more than five seconds ahead of the second place finisher. Teammate Deirdre Casey took sixth in 5:09.96. Rancan also took third in the 3,200 meters in 11:01.56. Casey took fourth in the 800 meters in 2:16.66.
Kathryn Schoenauer dominated the sprints, with a first place finish in the 55-meter hurdles in 8.27 seconds. She also took fourth in the 55-meter dash in 7.39 seconds.
Schoenauer and Casey teamed up with sisters Edlyn and Edwina Gulama to end the Pirates’ day with a fourth-place finish in the 4×400 meter relay in 4:04.74.
While High School North did not have any top six finishers, Yuzki Oey placed 18th in the 3,200 in 12:01.56 and Margaux Powell placed 18th in the 400 meters in 1:03.17.
The South boys were not far behind their female counterparts, taking second place in Group IV on the strength of the distance runners.
Cross country star Nikhil Pulimood continued his dominance on the track with a first-place finish in the 3,200 meters in 9:19.52. He also took second in the 1,600 in 4:20.98, less than a second behind the top finisher. Teammate Tim Bason followed closely behind, taking third in the 1,600 in 4:21.83 and fifth in the 3,200 in 9:33.89.
North’s top finisher was Kian Jackson, who took fourth in the 1,600 in 4:23.6
Jackson and South’s runners will compete in the Meet of Champions on Saturday, February 21 at the John Bennett Indoor Sports Complex in Toms River.
