Track titleists

Schalick girls, Woodstown boys win division titles in West Deptford Relays, for Wolverines it’s a first; Schalick’s boys win their division in Bridgeton

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WEST DEPTFORD – The wildfire that was raging on the other side of the interstate wasn’t the only thing blazing around the West Deptford Relays Saturday.

The Schalick girls and Woodstown boys both raced to team titles in their respective divisions that carried some historical significance.

The Cougars won it for the second year in a row, scoring 73 points and edging county rival Salem by three for the Division I girls crown. The Wolverines won their first West Deptford Relays title in school history, scoring 93 points to win by a comfortable margin over Glassboro for the Division II boys title.

And in some ways the victories were as surprising as they were historic.

The Cougars won with a squad reduced in half due to college visits and other spring break obligations.

“To be honest, I don’t know how (they pulled it off) going into it,” Schalick girls coach Missy Pine said. “We’re on spring break so I’m very short-staffed … so I don’t know how we pulled this off. The girls who showed up stepped up and just did an amazing job.

“In talking to the coaches from Salem, they were in a similar situation, so I think we were actually both shocked it was so close at the end. I wasn’t like oh my God you’ve got to beat that girl from Salem or they weren’t saying that to their athletes either. We were just wanting our girls to do the best that they could today under the circumstances.”

Sophomore Naveah Robinson won the girls javelin outright with a throw of 101-5 and the Cougars had the best 4000 DMR in Division I with Sarah Torpey, Karlie Bakley, Ava Melnick and Emma Wilbur running 15:39.50. They also finished second in the 4×1600, 400 Hurdles Relay, 800 SMR and discus, and third in the high jump and shot.

The Salem girls, meanwhile, kept it close by winning five events within their division and finishing second in one other. Ramiyah Jones won the individual long jump at 15-4. 

“It was a nice surprise,” Pine said. “Going into it I had the mindset that we don’t have a chance on earth of this at all – I just don’t have enough people with me. I just couldn’t believe it.”

Woodstown’s boys, meanwhile, got a nice surprise from an atypical source. The Wolverines have been built around their middle and long distance runners and were locked in a tight battle until the field events posted. The points they got from their throwers and jumpers put them way over the top.

“We scored across the board, but it was the throwers and jumpers who really put the butt-whippin’ in,” new Woodstown boys coach Tom Mason said. “I’m the happiest for them. They and the hurdlers I needed to work to get production out of them and we’re talking 38 points 

Aidan Taulane won the shot (45-1.25) and discus (145-7). Andrew White (5-10) and Elijah Caesar (5-6) went 1-3 in the high jump and 4-3 in the triple jump. White finished third in the long jump and Noah Chiu was third in the javelin. Put together for a relay, they won the high jump, second in the long jump and triple jump.

The runners, meanwhile, gave their typically strong performance. They won the 4×800 outright, were tops in Division II in the 4×1600 and finished second in the distance medley and shuttle hurdle relays. They were actually running second after the first two legs of the 4×800, but Karson Chew handed anchor Josh Crawford the baton with a 100-yard lead and then Crawford proceeded to nearly lap the field.

“For me, it brought back the tension of a close meet,” said Mason, who came out of retirement to help advance the program. “When all those points came in, it was like, phew. It’s good for the kids, it’s good for the school, they’re going to get their first title.” 

The meet was staged in the backdrop of a raging brush fire across the interstate from the school that prompted some parents to call the meet “The Campfire Relays.” Heavy smoke could be seen rising above the area and debris from the blaze fell in the venue.
“I don’t know if it affected anybody,” Pine said. “My athletes knew it smelled and were putting their shirt over their nose, but none of my athletes got dramatic about it. I really didn’t see anybody, but it may have affected somebody’s performance.”

Salem’s boys and Woodstown’s girls both were solidly second in their respective divisions.


WEST DEPTFORD RELAYS
DIVISION ONE
GIRLS
Team scores: SCHALICK 73, SALEM 70, Pitman 62, Florence 46, PENNSVILLE 43, Clayton 42, Buena 30
EVENTS
(Event winners and Salem County scorers)
4×1600: 1. Pitman 26:06.84; 2. Schalick 29:57.38 (Ava Melnick, Emma O’Neill, Emmalynn Robinson, Brooke Lubek) 
400 Hurdles: 1. Buena 2:32.0; 2. Schalick 2:40.22 (Brooke Valentine 1:15.27, Paetyn Wallace 1:24.55)
800 SMR: 1. Salem 2:02.68 (Raniyah Parsons-Smith, Dayana Jones, Amaia Massengill, Brooklynn Jackson); 2. Schalick 2:04.00 (Phoebe Alward, Karlie Bakley, Jaelynn Jarmon, Brooke Valentine)
400 DMR: 1. Schalick 15:39.50 (Sarah Torpey, Karlie Bakley, Ava Melnick, Emma Wilbur)
4×200: 1. Salem 1:48.07 (Raniyah Parsons-Smith, Amaia Massengill, Anyzha Williams, Dynastie Tucker); 4. Pennsville 2:04.09 (Aubrey Manorowitz, Annabella Manning, Polina Wright, Molly Gratz); 6. Schalick 2:10.77 (Angelia Deaver, Lailani Hernandez, Emilia Kachai, Willow Davis)
4×100 SHR: 1. Buena 1:19.87; 2. Salem 1:21.60 (Kiani Taylor-Gresham, JiYonna Seals, Tahirah Davenport-White, Jaryn Weathers)
4×800: 1. Pitman 11:13.24
4×100: 1. Salem (Raniyah Parsons-Smith, Amaia Massengill, Anyzha Williams, Dynastie Tucker) 49.97; 4. Schalick (Karlie Bakley, Phoebe Alward, Jaelynn Jarmon, Brooke Valentine) 56.17; 5. Pennsville (Laura Tamberella, Sophie Bohn, Polina Wright, Molly Gratz) 57.16
Shot Put: 1. Clayton 61-2.75; 2. Pennsville 61-2 (Tatiyonna Crawford 32-8.5, Rolande Delva 28-5.5); 3. Schalick 53-4.25 (Olivia Lunemann 28-3.25, Sebrina Bradford 25-1); 4. Salem 52-9 (Ava Rodgers 29-5, MarJziah Bundy 23-10.5)
Discus: 1. Pennsville 200-8 (Tatiyonna Crawford 113-7, Rolande Delva 87-1), 2. Schalick 198-0 (Sebrina Bradford 110-4, Olivia Lunemann 87-8)
Javelin: 1. Schalick 181-11 (Navaeh Robinson 101-5, River Wojcik 80-6); 4. Salem 142-4 (MarJziah Bundy 71-11, Gabriella Johnson 70-5); 5. Pennsville 121-11 (Devon Sebell 71-0, Izzy Saulin 50-11)
Long Jump: 1. Salem 29-6.75 (Ramiyah Jones 15-4, Jaryn Weathers 14-2.75); 2. Pennsville 26-0.25 (Sophie Bohn 13-0.25, Annabella Manning 13-0); 4. Schalick 22-2 (Emma O’Neill 11-3, Lailani Hernandez 10-11)
Triple Jump: 1. Salem 63-0.75 (Ramiyah Jones 32-11.5, Brooklynn Jackson 30-1.25)
High Jump: 1. Florence 9-2; 2. Pennsville 9-0 (Kallie Morrison 4-8, Aubrey Manorowitz 4-4); 3. Schalick 8-6.25 (Navaeh Robinson 4-4.25, Jillian Wriggins 4-2); 4. Salem 8-6 (Zyonnah Forman 4-4, Carlysia Pierce 4-2)

BOYS
Team scores: Audubon 130, SALEM 86, Clayton 47, Florence 44, Pitman 42, Bishop Eustance 29, PENNSVILLE 12, Buena 8
4×1600: 1. Audubon 19:47.64; 4. Salem 22:05.72(Jean-Pierre Pozo IV, Gavin Cronrath, Andrew Dale, Dominic Finfinger)
400 Hurdles: 1. Evan Calhoun, Audubon 59.45; 2. Timoth Gregory, Salem 1:02.42; 3. Jerry Seals, Salem 1:02.54
800 SMR: 1. Audubon 1:38.72
4000 DMR: 1. Audubon 11:30.11; 3. Salem 12:47.08 (Andrew Dale, Gavin Cronrath, Joshua Gilbert, Jean-Pierre Pozo IV)
4×200: 1. Salem 1:32.39 (Xavier McGriff, Timothy Gregory, RaShar Stevenson, Jameek Clayton); 5. Pennsville 1:40.60 (Marcus Forman, Danny Knight, Carter McGlinn, Lyriq Turner)
4×110 SHR: 1. Audubon 1:12.98; 2. Salem 1:13.77 (Gradin Buzby, Jerry Seals, Pierre Taylor-Gresham, Timothy Gregory)
4×800: 1. Audubon 8:46.12; 4. Salem 9:45.94 (Joshua Gilbert, Gavin Cronrath, Andrew Dale, Dominic Finfinger)
4×100: 1. Clayton 44.58; 2. Salem 44.78 (Jameek Clayton, Timothy Gregory, Xavier McGriff, RaShar Stevenson); 5. Pennsville 49.08 (Carter McGlinn, Chase Johnson, Marcus Forman, Willie Forman)
FIELD EVENTS
(Top individual finishers)
Shot Put: 1. Jailon Fletcher-Wilson, Salem 45-11; 2. Connor Wariwanchik, Pennsville 42-2; 4. Jermiah Robinson, Salem 38-9
Discus: 1. Dylan Hoff, Audubon 121-5; 2. Giovanni Traini, Salem 106-7
Javelin: 1. Noah Battillo, Audubon 114-7; 5. Javion Sydnor, Salem 99-5; 6. Jacob Kimani, Pennsville 94.5
Long Jump: 1. Leaire Williams, Florence 19-8.75; 5. Jerry Seals, Salem 18-9
Triple Jump: 1. Jeremiah Carroll, Florence 42-1.50; 3. Donovan Weathers, Salem 37-5.75; 4. Jerry Seals, Salem 35-7
High Jump: 1. Donovan Weathers, Salem 6-0; 3. Kaden Robinson, Salem 5-8
Pole Vault: 1. James Moran, Audubon 10-6

DIVISION TWO
GIRLS
Team scores: West Deptford 102, WOODSTOWN 86, Glassboro 46, Gloucester City 44, Eastside Camden 35, Gateway 30, Camden 26, Camden Catholic 12
4×1600: 1. Woodstown (Annika Dubler, Kiera Porch, Arianna Mott, Abby Marino) 25:27.09
400 Hurdles: 1. Woodstown 2:35.17 (Lia Covely 1:13.09, Abby Marino 1:22.08) 
800 SMR: 1. West Deptford 1:55.76; 5. Woodstown (Kamiyah Brunson, Maria Holmes, Annabel Laford, Krysten Dussault) 2:15.08
400 DMR: 1. West Deptford 14:49.38; 2. Woodstown (Annika Dubler, Arianna Mott, Kiera Porch, Abby Marino) 14:51.06
4×200: 1. Eastside Camden 1:52.14; 4. Woodstown (Krysten Dussault, Kamiyah Brunson, Maria Holmes, Lia Covely) 1:59.51
4×100 SHR: 1. Gateway 1:16.28; 4. Woodstown (Lia Covely, Kami Casiano, Kailyn Kennedy, Arianna Mott) 1:24.75
4×800: 1. Camden Catholic 10:48.64; 3. Woodstown (Kyrsten Dussault, Arianna Mott, Lia Covely, Abby Marino) 11:28.38
4×100: 1. West Deptford 53.54; 5. Woodstown (Kamiyah Brunson, Maria Holmes, Kyrsten Dussault, Annabel Laford) 57.00
Shot Put: 1. Glassboro 70-11.75; 3. Woodstown 51-0.25 (Sara Lodge 28-6.75, Nathalia Lopez 22-5.5)
Discus: 1. Glassboro 267-6, 3. Woodstown 148-4 (Sara Lodge 98-2, Nathalia Lopez 50-2)
Javelin: 1. Eastside Camden 154-3; 4. Woodstown 122-3 (Autumn Yates 68-5, Elliana Norman 53-10)
Long Jump: 1. Glassboro 28-10.75; 2. Woodstown 27-2 (Kami Casiano 13-9.50, Kailyn Kennedy 13-4.50)
Triple Jump: 1. Gateway 58-0.25; 2. Woodstown 57-0.50 (Kailyn Kennedy 28-6.50, Kami Casiano 28-6)
High Jump: 1. Woodstown 9-4 (Kami Casiano 5-0, Kailyn Kennedy 4-4)
Pole Vault: 1. Glassboro 14-6

BOYS
Team scores: WOODSTOWN 93, Glassboro 68, Gloucester City 61, Gateway 51, West Deptford 48, Overbrook 41, Camden 36, Haddon Heights 24, Camden Catholic 12.
EVENTS
4×1600: 1. Woodstown 19:40.03 (Jacob Marino, Torsten Duva, Pacey Hutton, David Farrell).
400 Hurdles: 1. Zacchaeus Harrigan, Glassboro 1:01.04
800 SMR: 1. Overbrook 1:34.51; 2. Woodstown 1:34.87 (Kyle Reitz, Ricky Watts, Karson Chew, Josh Crawford)
4000 DMR: 1. Glassboro 11:13.87; 2. Woodstown 11:33.86 (Michael Turner, Pacey Hutton, Nicholas Law, Matthew Melniczuk)
4×200: 1. Camden 1:31.52; 3. Woodstown 1:33.10 (Anthony Costello, Kyle Reitz, Ben Lippincott, Elijah Caesar)
4×110 SHR: 1. Glassboro 1:11.60; 5. Woodstown 1:27.03 (Riley Smith, Lucas Whitacre, Jackson Perry, Michael Turner)
4×800: 1. Woodstown 8:16.00 (Jacob Marino, Daniel Farrell, Karson Chew, John Crawford)
4×100: 1. Camden 43.89; 4. Woodstown 45.54 (Ricky Watts, Anthony Costello, Ben Lippincott, Kyle Reitz)
FIELD EVENTS
(Top individual finishers)
Shot Put: 1. Aidan Taulane, Woodstown 45-1.25
Discus: 1. Aidan Taulane, Woodstown 145-7; 6. Patrick Patterson, Woodstown 112-1
Javelin: 1. Greg Harris, Gloucester City 138-9, 3. Noah Chiu, Woodstown 128-4
Long Jump: 1. Jaiden Mitchell, Overbrook 21-4; 3. Andrew White, Woodstown 20-0
Triple Jump: 1. Marley Crowl, Glassboro 40-7; 3. Elijah Caesar, Woodstown 37-9.75; 4. Andrew White, Woodstown 37-8
High Jump: 1. Andrew White, Woodstown 5-10; 3. Elijah Caesar, Woodstown 5-6
Pole Vault: 1. Greg Harris, Gloucester City 10-0

DIVISION THREE
GIRLS
Team scores: Kingsway 136, Cherry Hill West 64, Millville 53, Highland 49, Seneca 25, Bridgeton 24, Atlantic City 17, Pleasantville 14
BOYS
Team scores: Highland 97, Millville 86, Kingsway 72, Washington Twp. 64, Seneca 46, Cherry Hill West 45, Pemberton 20, Camden Tech 2

Bridgeton Relays

BRIDGETON – Schalick’s boys used their deep balance and an MVP performance by David Stewart’s to win the Division I title in the historic Bridgeton Relays.

The Cougars won one overall race and four Division I events to score 88 points and edge Woodbury by four.

“It’s always hard to gauge where you stand since field events don’t fully update until the end,” Schalick coach James Turner said. “Our focus was just making sure we had someone in every event to give ourselves a shot. Even in events where we finished fourth or fifth we still picked up key points. Those points ended up being the difference.

“I told the guys carry yourselves like you’ve been here before. We expect to win and we wanted to show the rest of the field that we’re still the team to beat.”

At the top, the Cougars won in the 1600 shuttle medley relay with Stewart (400), Dezyun Purnell (200), Jacob Carter (200) and Steve Chomo (800) hitting the tape in 3:46.65. Chomo closed a 20-meter gap down the stretch to nip Mainland Region (3:46.70) at the wire.

The Cougars also were the top Division I team in the triple jump and 110 shuttle hurdle relay. In addition to running legs on the SMR and SHR, Stewart was second overall in the 400 hurdles and fourth overall in the long jump.

Among their other top individual performances in the field events, Caleb Jenkins finished second in the pole vault and Jack Benfer was third in the discus.

BRIDGETON RELAYS
Division I team scores: SCHALICK 88, Woodbury 84, Cedar Creek 70, Middle Twp. 55, Sterling 40, Pleasantville 40, Haddon Twp. 38
Division 2 team scores: Winslow 58, Cumberland 45, Bridgeton 38, Mainland 29, Triton 22, Vineland 18.

EVENT WINNERS
(Overall race winners, Schalick in top 6)
4×1600: 1. Sterling 20:48.85; 6. Schalick 23:22.48
400 Hurdles: 1. Elijah Deanley, Winslow 57.49; 2. David Stewart, Schalick 58.50
4×100: 1. Winslow 43.09
4000 DMR: 1. Sterling 11:11.39; 6. Schalick 12:16.90
4×110 SHR: 1. Winslow 1:08.21; 2. Schalick 1:08.84
4×200: 1. Winslow 1:30.71
4×800: 1. Woodbury 8:43.55
1600 SMR: 1. Schalick (David Stewart, Dezyun Purnell, Jacob Carter, Steve Chomo) 3:46.65
4×400: 1. Pleasantville 3:29.06
Shot Put: 1. Kyle Stephens, Haddon Twp. 47-2.25; 5. Ethan McLean, Schalick 40-10
Discus: 1. Jayden Barnett, Bridgeton 199-10; 3. Jack Benfer, Schalick 117-9
Javelin: 1. Terrance Washington, Winslow 162-01; 5. Gary Simonini, Schalick 137-05
High Jump: 1. Andrew Kratee, Winslow 6-4
Long Jump: 1. Dallas Rowell, Mainland 21-11.5; 4. David Stewart, Schalick 21-5.5
Triple Jump: 1. Dereon Johnson, Cumberland 41-10
Pole Vault: 1. Bobby McIlvaine, Haddon Twp. 11-6; 2. Caleb Jenkins, Schalick 11-6