Scorching Hot

Woodstown wins two individual events and a relay at Dr. Sander Scorcher, go 1-2 in boys high school 800

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

NEW YORK – The Woodstown track team had another big night in the Big Apple.

The Wolverines won three events and got another athlete qualified for the New Balance Indoor Nationals during the Dr. Sander Scorcher at The Armory in Washington Heights Friday.

Josh Crawford won the boys high school 800 in a 1-2 finish with teammate Karson Chew, they both ran legs on the winning 4×800 relay and Kami Casiano won the girls high school high jump.

“Tonight’s meet was awesome,” Chew said. “We all had a great meet and a great day at The Armory. We’re super excited for the Millrose Games.”

The Wolverines’ 4×800 relay team returns here Feb. 1 for the Millrose.

Crawford won the 800 in 1:54.94 that was the fourth best time in New Jersey this year and 33rd best nationally. Chew was right on his heels, coming in second at 1:55.85 – a U.S. top 50 and N.J. top 10 time – to qualify for the New Balance Nationals.

Crawford went to the front early and Chew came from the outside to quickly pull alongside and they ran out front the rest of the race.

“Being able to PR by three seconds and go 1-2 with Josh is amazing,” Chew said.

Casiano won the high school girls high jump at 5-2, which is the 20th best jump in New Jersey this year.

The boys 4×8 win may have been the most surprising, not because the group wasn’t capable — they won on this track at the Millrose Games Trials — but because the circumstances leading up to it..

They ran 8:08.55 on literally their last legs from a day’s worth of competition and slightly shuffling of the deck.

Jacob Marino led them out with a 2:05 split. David Farrell kept them out front with a PR 2:03. Chew followed with a 2:01 and Crawford brought it home in 1:58.

“The 4×8 wasn’t our prettiest and the only person who really ran well was David,” Chew said. “He put us in the lead of the race by a lot.

“Because we were tired from the 800 we decided to experiment and give me some rest time. Jacob was already tired from his big mile PR beforehand, but he still kept us in the race in second where David took it and through the third lap pulled away to give us first place.”

“They showed grit when most of us weren’t running on fresh legs,” Crawford said.

Aidan Taulane had the best finish among Woodstown’s non-winners. He was a solid fifth in the boys high school shot put (44-1). He missed fourth place by 1.75 inches. The boys 4×200 relay team finished seventh (1:35.01).Lia Covely just missed a top 10 finish in the girls 55 hurdles (9.58).

Photo: Woodstown’s Karson Chew reacts after finishing second to teammate Josh Crawford (L) in the Dr. Sander Scorcher high school boys 800 and learning he qualified for the New Balance Indoor Nationals.