Wild cards and such

Salem County has athletes in 12 events at Wednesday’s Meet of Champions

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

Schalick’s boys 4×100 relay team cut it close, but it’s getting another chance to qualify for nationals.

The Cougars’ relay made the field for the Meet of Champions as the cut off team in their event, giving Salem County athletes in 12 events at Wednesday’s NJSIAA season-finale at Pennsauken High School.

The quartet of Reggie Allen, Michael Eberl, Zaeshawn Mills and David Stewart ran 42.82 to finish third in the Group I Championship Friday and it was good enough to earn one of seven wild card spots Salem County athletes received.

“I’m glad they got in,” Schalick coach James Turner said. “Our goal is to qualify for the New Balance Nationals.

“We already know that we’re capable of running faster than we did at states. One of our runners was sick and another is dealing with an injury. After reviewing the film, I noticed our handoffs did not go as smooth as they did at the sectional meet. We’re going to work on that Monday. The kids are motivated and excited to have another chance.”

The county’s five Group I state champions – Schalick’s Jordan Hadfield (1600), Pennsville’s Megan Morris (pole vault), Woodstown’s Josh Crawford (800), Salem’s Anthony Parker (long jump) and Woodstown’s 4×800 relay team – as well as Woodstown’s runner-up 4×400 relay team received automatic bids. The best of the rest rest were eligible for wild cards.

Of course, even though they’re qualified, the athletes in multiple events may not compete in all of them Wednesday night. Woodstown’s Crawford isn’t likely to run in the individual 800 to focus on the two relays, Schalick’s David Stewart likely won’t run the 400 hurdles that he’s only recently added to his repertoire in order to be sharp for the 4×100, and Schalick’s Hadfield is still contemplating the 3200.

MEET OF CHAMPIONS
SALEM COUNTY QUALIFIERS
GIRLS
1600: 12. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick (5:01.16)
3200: 20. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick (10:59.56)
Shot Put: 23. Tatiyonna Crawford, Pennsville (36-9)
Pole Vault: 12. Megan Morris, Pennsville (10-6)

BOYS
4×800: 5. Woodstown (7:59.15)
400 Hurdles: 16. David Stewart, Schalick (55.04)
4×100: 27. Schalick (42.82) 
800: 3. Josh Crawford, Woodstown (1:53.44); 15. Cole Lucas, Woodstown (1:55.01)
4×400: 18. Woodstown (3:23.93)
Javelin: 12. Connor Ayars, Pennsville (172-10)
Long Jump: 10. Anthony Parker, Salem (22-5)
Triple Jump: 24. Bryan Garlic, Penns Grove (44-0)