Nottingham High senior track & field star Shamali Whittle was ready to go for some big-time records at this year’s NJSIAA Meet of Champions or New Balance Nationals after winning the 100 and 200 meters in the Group 3 sectional and state meets, but the University of Georgia-bound sprinter did not run in either the MOC or Nationals due to a hip flexor.
But Hamilton Township still came up with a gold medal winner at the MOC, as Hamilton West senior Jeremy Ellis won the high jump title on his final jump.
The hip flexor was a bad break for Whittle, who could not risk further damage prior to college.
“He had been on cruise control, not trying to run fast and break records,” said his father, Coach Curtis Whittle. “He hoped that (the Nationals) would have been the weekend he would have just gone fast. But we had to shut him down and start getting him ready for college.”
Whittle graduates as the greatest sprinter in Nottingham history. He holds the state record in the 200 meters with a FAT (Fully Automatic Time) mark of 20.75. After setting several Group III records, he broke the 100 and 200 Group II marks in both the sectionals and states this year.
Whittle also owns Nottingham indoor records in the 55, 200 and 300, and outdoor marks in the 100 (10.48), 200 (20.55) and 110 hurdles (13.86).
With Whittle sidelined, Hamilton Township still managed to produce a state champion, as Hamilton West senior Jeremy Ellis high jumped 6-6 in his final high school attempt to take first place in the Meet of Champions. It is only the second year of doing the sport for Ellis.
The jump was two inches less than a career best for the basketball shot blocker, who finished third in the Group III meet at 6-4 and won the Central Jersey Group III meet with a PR of 6-8.
Apparently some wisdom from jumps coach Gerry Van Slooten and some intimidation by head coach Danielle Grady helped Ellis recover from a so-so state meet. “He was nervous,” Grady said. “It seemed like he forgot how to jump. Not lifting his knees, not arching his back and using his arms to get over the bar.
“Coach Van Slooten gave him a talk, I gave him the death stare. We let him know that he is the best in the state when he has great practices and then brings that work to the competition.”
Apparently, that all worked out well.
“He had a game plan, and that was to put everything together,” Grady said. “Every technical improvement that was made. He said, ‘I know I got this,’ and he became high jump state champ.”
Jeremy Ellis with his medal for winning the Central Jersey III high jump event. (Facebook photo.),
