Category: TRACK

Schalick signing day

Cougars recognize 12 senior athletes across eight sports who have signed to continue their academic and athletic careers in college

By Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – The paperwork has long been signed, sent and filed and the high school seniors safely in place for their schools of the future. This was a day to celebrate their decisions.

Schalick High School recognized 12 seniors Wednesday who have signed with colleges to continue their athletic and academic careers.

Schalick track athletes Grace O’Neill (L) and Sophia Longo wait for their turns in the individual portion of the school’s senior signing recognition Wednesday.

The group included five for track and field – Brooke Watt (Rowan), Grace O’Neill (Monmouth), Sophia Longo (Rowan), Katie Little (Rowan) and Alivia Klancic (Stevenson) – golfer Hannah Widdifield (Kean); field hockey’s Ella Shimp (Susquehanna); swimmer Ella Price (College of New Jersey); soccer goalie Carly Hayman (Jefferson); Salem County boys cross country champion Charles Fuerneisen (Mars Hill); boys tennis No. 2 singles Jesus Espinoza Arias (RCSJ-Gloucester); and cheer’s Cianna Gaines (Rowan).

The track signees head off for one last hurrah together this weekend when the Cougars compete in the NJSIAA Group I Championship at Franklin High School.

It’ll be a bittersweet weekend for the seniors. Three of them – Watt, Longo and Little – will continue as teammates at Rowan. Klancic is headed to Stevenson and O’Neill is bound for Monmouth.

“It’s going to be emotional,” O’Neill said. “We’re going to go out there, we’re going to fight hard for whatever we have in us; it’s just going to be an amazing time. I know my last event is going to be the 4×4 and it’s going to be pretty emotional.

“A lot of us have gotten a stronger bond since the season started. It’s amazing we got to do this all together.”

O’Neill considered joining the group of Rowan, but Monmouth offered the academic curriculum she wants to pursue.

“I will miss them so much,” she said. “A lot of the girls on the track team pursuing it at Rowan are some of my best friends so I’m obviously going to be supporting them from afar and I’m sure they’ll be doing the same for me.”

Schalick golfer Hannah Widdifield (R) celebrates her college with boyfriend Ryan Johnson Wednesday. Widdifield is headed to play for Kean’s startup program, while Johnson will enroll in the PGA Golf Management program at Coastal Carolina.

O’Neill was one of the standouts in the Salem County Meet. She PR’d in every event she entered in the Salem County Meet and last weekend qualified for states in the 400 hurdles and discus, where she’s looking to set the school record. She’s on the 4×800 relay with Longo and the 4×400 relay with Klancic.

Among the other signees, Widdifield solidified her position as a trailblazer.

The 2024 county runnerup is the first girls golfer from Schalick to play college golf and one of the first signees of Kean’s start-up women’s program. The Cougars will start competing in the fall of 2024..

“(When) I feel like I’m one of the first on both teams, it just makes me feel like I really accomplished something,” Widdifield said. “I’ve strived to reach my goals and it really worked out well for me. Being the first girl, though, is kind of shocking because I never thought this would happen because I only started playing last year.”

A few hours after the signing recognition, the Cougars held their Spring Sports Award Banquet.

Salem 2nd in sectionals

Salem girls passed by Audubon; Salem County qualifies 28 athletes in individual events, 10 relays for state meet; Rams’ Davenport-White wins second event Saturday, Pennsville’s Ayers, Woodstown’s Hunt also bring home final-day gold

By Riverview Sports News

PENNSAUKEN – Karima Davenport-White won her second event in two days, Anna Buzby wound up qualifying for states in four individual events and the Salem girls track team enjoyed their best finish in the sectionals, despite losing their overnight lead in the South Jersey Group I Meet.

Davenport-White claimed gold for the second day in a row when she won the girls 100 hurdles in a school-record time of 15.30 to go with the long jump title she claimed on Friday. She was one of three Salem County athletes to win events on Saturday’s final day of competition.

The Rams held a lead in the team standings entering the final day, but were passed by Audubon, who finished with 87.33 points, and finished second. They trailed the Green Wave by 8.33 points going into the final event – the 4×400 relay – and didn’t start the race.

Their 71 points, however, were the most they had ever scored in the sectionals and was one point ahead of third-place Clayton.

“It’s always tough, going into the season you’ve got expectations, you’ve got goals,” coach Spencer Jarrett said of the runner-up finish. “It wasn’t what we wanted, but all the girls gave everything they had.”

The Rams advanced five girls in 10 individual events plus one relay, depth that should serve them well at next week’s state Group I state meet in Franklin. In addition to Davenport-White, who plans to sign with Coppin State on Tuesday, Buzby (800, 400 hurdles, pole vault and 400) and Dominique Lewis (shot and javelin) were multi-qualifiers for Salem.

“It’s good to have depth in the state because it gives us a better chance at trying to pull out the victory,” Salem coach Spencer Jarrett said. “We were bummed about not winning the sectional, but it’s OK, because if we get enough girls in the state is very attainable because everything balances out. Points that we might not (get) might come from the people in the central or the north.

“At the past couple states besides Clayton it’s been first to 60. Sixty points and you’re basically knocking on the door for a chance at holding that trophy.”

Davenport-White’s win in the hurdles was a highlight for both the runner and the team. She had been working all season to reach her goal of breaking the record (15.40) and felt it was within reach after running a top-seeded 15.48 in the prelims.

There was a lot that went into winning the race. Running at Pennsauken has always made the Salem senior a little nervous because she fell in the race there her sophomore year. And when it came time to run Saturday she had to beat the clock twice.

She almost missed the start of the race after being sent to the other end of the track. She had to sprint back down to the starting position, ripped off her warmups, collected herself with a deep breath after rushing into the blocks and off she went.

“I was a little winded,” she said. “I ripped off my sweat uniform and got right in the blocks. I took a deep breath and was like, ‘OK, Karima, let’s do this.’”

She fell behind at the start, but recovered quickly, picked up momentum, picked up speed and, eventually, picked up the gold medal blasting the school record by a full tenth of a second.

“It was really important to me,” Davenport-White said. “All season I’ve been working really hard, especially for the hurdles. I wanted to break the school record and I did even better than that, so I’m really excited and I know it’s going to help me in college. It just felt nice knowing that I pushed myself to that point and was able to do something way better and win.”

Overall, Salem County’s five track schools qualified 28 total athletes for 38 individual spots plus 10 relays.

Schalick’s Jordan Hadfield (800, 1600, 3200), Grace O’Neill (400 hurdles, discus) and Brooke Watt (110 hurdles, triple jump) were qualified in multiple events on the girls side. Penns Grove’s Khalim Smith (triple jump, high jump) was a multi-qualifier on the boys side. Every school has at least one qualifier on each side. All six of Schalick’s relays qualified.

Pennsville’s Connor Ayars and Woodstown’s Calista Hunt brought back gold to Salem County Saturday.

Ayars won the javelin with a personal best 162-0 on his final throw of the competition, leading a 1-3 finish for the Eagles in the event with teammate Cole Campbell.

“It was a great finals to watch,” Pennsville coach Mike Healy said. “Connor went into the finals with the farthest throw, then Cole took the lead on his second throw in the final then got passed by (Gloucester’s Jalil Banks at 159-1) with Connor taking it on the last throw.”

Hunt won the girls triple jump with a leap of 34-9.

This story will be updated.

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I SECTIONALS
(Salem County state qualifiers)
Saturday’s finals
BOYS
Final team scores: Glassboro 122, Woodbury 81, Gloucester City 63, Audubon 52, Riverside 44, Clayton 27, Paulsboro 23, Haddon Twp. 22, Woodstown 21, Burlington City 20, Salem 18, Pennsville 16, Schalick 13, Penns Grove 12, Gateway 11, Palmyra 9, Maple Shade 2, Buena 2.
100 hurdles: 2. Anthony Parker, Salem, 14.81
4×800: 2. Woodstown 8:14.38; 4. Schalick 8:32.88; 5. Salem 8:34.69
1600: 6. Matthew Tozer, Schalick, 4:40.53
4×400: 5. Schalick 3:30.75
Javelin: 1. Connor Ayars, Pennsville, 162-0; 3. Cole Campbell, Pennsville, 158-3
Long jump: 3. Khalim Smith, Penns Grove, 21-1.25
Pole vault: 6. Salvatore Longo, Schalick, 11-0

GIRLS
Final team scores: Audubon 87.33, Salem 71, Clayton 70, Woodbury 68, Schalick 66, Haddon Twp. 32.33, Maple Shade 29, Woodstown 29, Riverside 26, Glassboro 24, Gloucester City 20.33, Pennsville 10, Buena 6, Wildwood 6, Pitman 6, Gateway 4, Penns Grove 3.
400: 3. Anna Buzby, Salem, 59.69
100 hurdles: 1. Karima Davenport-White, Salem, 15.30; 3. Brooke Watt, Schalick, 15.74
4×800: 2. Woodstown 10:10.95; 4. Schalick 10:35.55
200: 5. Rhionna Timmons, Salem 26.63
1600: 2. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick, 5:18.57; 4. Lillian Norman, Woodstown, 5:41.27
4×400:  3. Schalick 4:13.81
Discus: 2. Grace O’Neill, Schalick, 132-0
Triple jump: 1. Calista Hunt, Woodstown, 34-9; 4. Brooke Watt, Schalick, 34-3; 6. Molly Curtis, Woodstown, 33-0
High jump: 3. Kami Casiano, Woodstown, 5-0

Salem County State Qualifiers
Boys
Connor Ayars, Pennsville: javelin
Cole Campbell, Pennsville: javelin
Joshua Crawford, Woodstown: 800
DaviYonn Jackson, Salem: triple jump
Salvatore Longo, Schalick: pole vault
Cole Lucas, Woodstown: 800
Jacob Marino, Woodstown: 3200
Ethan McLean, Schalick: discus
Anthony Parker, Salem: 100 hurdles
Khalim Smith, Penns Grove: triple jump, long jump
David Stewart, Schalick: triple jump
Matthew Tozer, Schalick: 1600

Girls
Anna Buzby, Salem: 800, 400 hurdles, pole vault, 400
Kami Casiano, Woodstown: high jump
Molly Curtis, Woodstown: triple jump
Karima Davenport-White, Salem: long jump, 100 hurdles
Allyson Green, Schalick: javelin
Jordan Hadfield, Schalick: 800, 3200, 1600
Calista Hunt, Woodstown: triple jump
Lillian Norman, Woodstown: 1600
Meely Horace, Penns Grove: 100
Dominique Lewis, Salem: shot, javelin
Megan Morris, Pennsville: pole vault
Grace O’Neill, Schalick: 400 hurdles, discus
Ava Rodgers, Salem: shot
Daivonnah Thomas, Penns Grove: 100
Rhionna Timmons, Salem: long jump
Brooke Watt, Schalick: 100 hurdles, triple jump

Relays
Salem: boys 4×800, girls 4×100
Schalick: boys 4×100, 4×800, 4×400; girls 4×100, 4×800, 4×400
Woodstown: boys 4×800, girls 4×800

Salem sound at sectionals

Rams hold slim lead in girls team standings after first day; 3 county girls win titles, 18 athletes and three relays qualify for states, meet concludes Saturday

By Riverview Sports News

PENNSAUKEN – Karima Davenport-White won the long jump, four of her Salem teammates and a relay qualified for the state meet in eight other events and the Rams grabbed a slim lead in the team standings Friday after the first day of the South Jersey Group I Sectional Track and Field Meet.

The Salem girls picked up 53 points in the nine events scored and hold a two-point lead over Audubon. Woodbury is third with 39 points. The meet wraps Saturday.

Davenport-White won the long jump by four inches with a personal best 17 feet, one-half inch.

Teammate Anna Buzby qualified for states in three individual events, finishing second in the 800 and 400 hurdles and fourth in the pole vault. Dominique Lewis finished second in the shot and sixth in the javelin.

Ava Rodgers and Rhionna Timmons qualified for state with fourth-place finishes in the shot and long jump, respectively. The Rams’ 4×100 relay team also advanced with a second-place finish.

“The girls did an amazing job,” Rams coach Spencer Jarrett said. “Their energy was unmatched. It was a team effort, everyone picking up each other’s slack — how a team should be.”

Davenport-White was one of three Salem County girls to win sectional championships Friday. Schalick junior Allyson Green won the javelin with a personal best 108-0 and Pennsville junior won the pole vault with a personal best 9-6.

Schalick’s Jordan Hadfield qualified for states in two events (3200, 800), while teammate Grace O’Neill (400 hurdles) and Penns Grove’s Meely Horace and Daivonnah Thomas both qualified in the 100. Schalick’s 4×100 relay team also qualified.

On the boys side, Woodstown’s Cole Lucas and Salem’s Pop Jackson were the highest Salem County finishers and the triple jump was clearly the best event.

Lucas finished second in the 800 (1:59.66) and Jackson finished second in the triple jump (45-0).

There were three Salem County athletes qualifying for state in the triple jump. In addition to Jackson, Penns Grove’s Khalim Smith was third (44-8) and Schalick’s David Stewart was fifth (44-4).

Woodstown’s Joshua Crawford (400) and Jacob Marino (3200) and Schalick’s Ethan McLean (discus) and 4×100 relay team also qualified for the state meet.

Glassboro leads the boys team standings with 64 points. Woodstown is sixth (13), Salem is T-10 (8), Penns Grove is T-12 (6) and Schalick is 14th (5).

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I SECTIONALS
(Salem County state qualifiers)
BOYS
Team scores: Glassboro 64, Gloucester 31, Woodbury 29, Riverside 24, Audubon 17, Woodstown 13, Paulsboro 12, Clayton 11, Burlington City 10, Salem 8, Gateway 8, Penns Grove 6, Palmyra 6, Schalick 5, Haddon Twp. 2, Buena 2.
4×100: 5. Schalick 43.59.
800: 2. Cole Lucas, Woodstown, 1:59.66; 4. Joshua Crawford, Woodstown, 2:01.59
3200: 6. Jacob Marino, Woodstown, 10:23.29
Discus: 6. Ethan McLean, Schalick, 136-2
Triple jump: 2. DaviYonn Jackson, Salem, 45-0; 3. Khalim Smith, Penns Grove, 44-8; 5. David Stewart, Schalick, 44-4

GIRLS
Team scores: Salem 53, Audubon 51, Woodbury 39, Schalick 30, Clayton 29, Haddon Twp. 19, Glassboro 12, Riverside 10, Pennsville 10, Maple Shade 9, Buena 6, Wildwood 6, Penns Grove 3, Gloucester City 2.

4×100: 3. Salem 50.85; 4. Schalick 51.70
800: 2. Anna Buzby, Salem, 2:20.17; 3. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick, 2:22.33
400 hurdles: 2. Anna Buzby, Salem, 1:06.15; 5. Grace O’Neill, Schalick, 1:08.36
100: 5. Meely Horace, Penns Grove, 12.65; 6. Daivonnah Thomas, Penns Grove, 12.68
3200: 2. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick, 11:10.90
Shot: 2. Dominique Lewis, Salem, 35-7.5; 4. Ava Rodgers, Salem, 33-2
Javelin: 1. Allyson Green, Schalick, 108-0; 6. Dominique Lewis, Salem, 100-8
Long jump: 1. Karima Davenport-White, Salem, 17-0.5; 4. Rhionna Timmons, Salem, 16-7.25
Pole vault: 1. Megan Morris, Pennsville, 9-6; 4. Anna Buzby, Salem, 8-6

Running into the Hall

Record-setting Penns Grove track star Faleesha Dowe to be inducted into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame tonight

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE – When Faleesha Dowe was an up-and-coming track star at Penns Grove High School she remembers often walking past the display for the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame and hoping someday she might be good enough to be one of those faces on the wall. She got the same feeling when looking at the list of the track records in the gym.

DOWE

“Someday” arrives tonight when the legendary Red Devils track star joins that list of luminaries she once looked up to as the newest inductee into the Penns Grove Athletics Hall of Fame in ceremonies at the school.

“I’m excited, I’m really excited,” she said. “I just found out a few weeks ago. My parents, they already knew and tried to keep it a surprise from me. This is phenomenal. I’ve always told myself I wanted to get up there and it’s finally happening. I’m happy I made it up there. This is a big accomplishment for me. 

“This is the high school I went to. There are records up there that have been up there for years before I even was born. It was just something I always wanted to be up there with. I used to always look at the pictures of everybody who was up there and was like I want to be good enough to be inducted and be up there.”

Make no mistake, she is. All those records she used to admire as an up-and-coming track star, many have been replaced with her name.

She set 11 personal records during her four-year run with the Red Devils (2011-14) and five school records she either set or helped set still stand.

She has enough gold medals to fill a treasure chest. She won eight Tri-County Conference titles, 13 Salem County titles, 15 Group I sectional titles and nine state titles with the Red Devils. And those were just for outdoor track. She won eight sectional and four more state titles indoors.

She set or broke her own records 16 times in the those championship races. She won 27 other times in the major relays of the day.

After Penns Grove she took her talents to Delaware State and still holds the Hornets’ record in the women’s heptathlon.

“Faleesha was one of those natural talents early on,” said Marcus Dowe, her first cousin, Penns Grove track coach and one of those faces on the Athletic Hall wall. “She had an early start running in AAU, so she didn’t have the typical four years other athletes had. By the time she got to high school we already knew she had potential.

“As a freshman she was already acclimated. We knew she could run, we knew how she could run and it was just the next level of training and competition we were looking forward to. I couldn’t wait until she got to high school. When she came to New Jersey the conversation always was there what the potential could be. Looking at the record board we were like ‘one day this could be you.’ That was just about one record we were looking at, it wasn’t the 11 she holds right now.

“From that 2012 to 2014 year, it’s just Dowe, Dowe, Dowe, Dowe, Dowe, all the way through. Like they wrote when she was still in high school, ‘the Dowe is up’ when we won our second (of three) state title.”

All the records are meaningful to Faleesha, but one holds a special place in her heart – the 54.75 400 she ran at the state meet as a senior

“That was the first time I broke the state record,” she said. “I remember the race vividly. There was really only one girl I had competition with. I was in Lane 4 and she was in Lane 5. I just knew if I passed her within the first 150 then I knew the race was mine. 

“Once I passed her I picked up the speed and I heard my dad yelling I’ve got to move because I’m trying to get the record and once I heard that I picked up the speed a little bit more and ended up breaking the record.”

Another race that brings a smile is the 4×4 relay she ran as a junior with cousins Kianje and Jaye Pollard and Courtney Smith that broke the Group I state record that had stood for nearly 30 years (3:52.87).

“At the time we were on the map, but we weren’t on the map,” Faleesha said. “Before I came here we had a good team, they had some decent runners, but they didn’t have a good team. Once I came and linked with my cousins and we were on the team together that’s when Penns Grove really became big when it came to track.

“When we went places people knew who we were. I’m glad we were able to put Penns Grove on the map for being such a tiny school with like 400 students. It felt good to be up there with the big dogs and really get recognized as a small town.”

Now, at 28 and living in Texas, she is a site coordinator for a national security company. She doesn’t do track any more – the knee surgery she underwent her junior year in college saw to that — and she misses it. 

“I do miss it,” she said. “I’ve been saying I want to get back into track, but my knee is not the same. If I could run again I definitely would. I still have another year of eligibility for college to run if I wanted to. 

“If I could find a good trainer who would help me build my knee back up so where the pain wouldn’t bother me then I definitely would run track again because I do miss it.”

But for now it’s all a bunch of happy memories, memories they’ll all get to relive and celebrate tonight. The inductee is proud and excited. The coach can’t wait.

“To be able to see your own cousin up there every day walking by that was a little bit of extra motivation, like one day you can be up there right next to me,” Marcus said. “Now her face and her name will go up there and I’m going to try to get it put next to mine.”

Wednesday roundup

Woodstown girls lose close one in SJ Group I lacrosse tournament, Salem County athletes show out at TCC Showcase, Schalick golf clinches share of division title

GIRLS LACROSSE
South Jersey Group I Tournament
No. 1 Glen Ridge 17, No. 16 Middle Twp. 1
No. 8 Delaware Valley 10, No. 9 West Deptford 8
No. 12 Haddon Twp. 9, No. 5 Woodstown 7
No. 4 Shore 18, No. 13 Haddon Heights 12
No. 3 Madison 16, No. 14 Sterling 2
No. 11 Lower Cape May 12, No. 6 Cinnaminson 9
No. 10 New Providence at No. 7 Bernards (Thursday)
No. 2 Rumson-Fair Haven 18, No. 15 Dayton 2

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – A 5-12 tournament match-up always has the potential to be a trap game for the favorite and it turned out that way for the Woodstown girls lacrosse team Wednesday.

Haddon Twp., a No. 12 seed despite having twice as many wins and almost 100 more power points than the Wolverines, scored three straight goals in a little over 14 minutes in the second half to pull away from a tie game and eventually score a 9-7 upset in the opening round of the South Jersey Group I girls lacrosse playoffs.

Six players scored goals for the Hawks (15-3), with Sage Looram, Mady Maronski and Amelia Tomashek each scoring two. Loorem also had a pair of assists. The Hawks hadn’t won a first-round game since 2021, but they were one of two double-digit seeds to win Wednesday.

Delaney Walker scored three goals for Woodstown (7-9) – giving her 55 for the season – while Emma Morgan and Blair Baldi had two apiece. All three goal scorers are sophomores.

“I think we were feeling the pressure,” first-year Woodstown coach Erin Renshaw said. “They’re a good team, so I was expecting the game that we got. I just think a good team like that is going to capitalize on our little mistakes.”

The Wolverines had the Hawks on the run early, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first nine minutes of the game. Haddon Twp. fought back to tie it 3-3 and the teams traded goals to tie it at 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6.

The Hawks took the lead with 5:14 left in the third quarter, then added goals with 11:16 and 6:09 left in the fourth quarter to go up 9-6.

“Yes, we are young, but I think it was just our little mistakes,” Renshaw said. “We’ve got to work more on getting the ball out of the defensive end. We had some trouble with that today.

“I think we were forcing some things and not taking our best shots, not taking our best options. I think that kind of killed us. If we can’t handle possession, get on the ball, we can’t score.”

The Wolverines did have three 8-meter opportunities in the final five minutes to potentially close the gap, but cashed in on only one with 3:07 to play. The missed second opportunity was particularly demoralizing.

“One thing I will say about my girls is they will play every minute,” Renshaw said. “I know we had some turnovers but they’re still going 100 percent to get the ball back.

“As a first-year coach I am completely happy with the how they played (this season). I think our growth is what I’m most proud of and how we are as a team. I will take the team I have over a team that is packed with elite girls who just think they can roll over another team. My team will fight and they will play with heart.” 

TRACK

FRANKLINVILLE – Schalick junior Jordan Hadfield won two events and led a group of four Salem County athletes who won five events at the Tri-County Showcase at Delsea Wednesday.

Hadfield won the 800 in a personal best 2:18.61 and the 3200 in 11:30.95. She didn’t run the 1600, which opened the door for Woodstown’s Lillian Norman to win in a PR 5:29.46.

The county produced two winners on the boys side.

Penns Grove senior Khalim Smith won the triple jump with a PR and state top 25 jump of 44-9. He beat runnerup DaviYonn Jackson of Salem by eight inches. 

“He was a sleeper coming into the year, but not anymore,” said Damian Ware, the Red Devils’ jumpers coach.

The triple jump was Salem County’s best event. In addition to Smith and Jackson going 1-2, freshmen David Stewart of Schalick and KaRon Ceaser were third and fourth, respectively.

Pennsville’s Connor Ayars completed the county’s champions group by winning the javelin with a PR of 159-6.

“This was the best I’ve seen Connor look,” Eagles coach Mike Healy said. “Not only did he PR, but he was consistently throwing in the 150s for all his throws, which was great to see.

“Between Connor and Cole (Campbell) finishing fourth, they’ve been our most consistent athletes and have been putting in a ton of work.”

The county also had four event runner-ups – Woodstown’s boys 4×800 relay and Salem’s Jackson, Anthony Parker (400 hurdles) and Rhionna Timmons (long jump) – and 25 top fives.

The meet was not team scored.

TCC SHOWCASE
BOYS WINNERS
4×100: Washington Twp. (Ajani Dwyer, Yashahya Brown, John Santos, Jack Schuck), 41.77.
4×800: Deptford (Abu Jabbie, Sean Nieves, Anthony Schilling, Lucius Davis), 8:15.04.
400 Hurdles: Alexander Osayemi, Clayton, 55.20.
1600: Ty Blackman, Glassboro, 4:33.91.
400: Dante McGrenehan, Delsea, 49.05.
100: Ajani Dwyer, Washington Twp., 10.45.
800: Daniel Torres, Washington Twp., 1:57.44.
110 Hurdles: Yashahya Brown, Washington Twp., 13.64 (USA Top 25).
200: Ajani Dwyer, Washington Twp., 21.29 (NJ Top 10).
3200: Aziz Muhammad-Kane, Highland, 9:56.04.
4×400: Williamstown (Alexander Hollimon, Kobinah Amissah, Sam Bruno, Gordon Pinnock), 3:27.39.
High jump: Jayden DeLeon, Highland, 6-7 (NJ Top 10).
Pole vault: Marcus Hood, Deptford, 14-6 (NJ Top 10).
Long jump: Benny Liles III, Kingsway, 22-6.50.
Triple jump: Khalim Smith, Penns Grove, 44-9 (PR, NJ Top 25).
Discus: Damere Lassiter, Glassboro, 171-2 (NJ Top 10).
Javelin: Connor Ayars, Pennsville, 159-6 (PR).
Shot put:  Jonathan Harris, Delsea, 61-7.50 (NJ Top 10).

Top 5 finishers (Salem County)
4×800: 2. Woodstown (Karson Chew, Joshua Crawford, Cole Lucas, Jacob Marino) 8:19.91.
400 Hurdles: 2. Anthony Parker, Salem, 55.26 (PR, NJ Top 25).
1600: 4. Matthew Tozer, Schalick, 4:44.48 (PR); 5. Cole Lucas, Woodstown, 4:52.94.
800: 5. Steve Chomo, Schalick, 2:03.25 (PR).
110 Hurdles: 5. Anthony Parker, Salem, 15.25
4×400: 4. Penns Grove (Theus Berrios, Kylee Goodson, Bryan Garlic, Knowledge Young), 3:32.83.
High jump: 5. Reggie Allen, Schalick, 6-0.
Triple jump: 2. DaviYonn Jackson, Salem, 44-1; 3. David Stewart, Schalick, 43-7 (PR); 5. KaRon Ceaser, Penns Grove, 43-0.50.
Discus: 4. Jackson McFarland, Pennsville, 129-8 (PR).
Javelin: 4. Cole Campbell, Pennsville, 147-11.

GIRLS WINNERS
4×100: Kingsway (Jonnelle Lewis, Camryn Stanard, Kennedy Brathwaite, Naveya Hall), 49.57
4×800: Washington Twp. (Kaylee Russen, Taylor Stuart, Rachael Wilson, Hannah Saleh), 10:02.57.
400 Hurdles: Nyla Jones, Timber Creek, 1:01.87.
1600: Lillian Norman, Woodstown, 5:29.46 (PR).
400: Nayla Jones, Timber Creek, 56.36 (NJ Top 10).
100: Ryan Jennings, Timber Creek, 11.56.
800: Jordan Hadfield, Schalick, 2:18.61 (PR).
100 Hurdles: Nyla Jones, Timber Creek, 14.55 (NJ Top 10).
200: Ryan Jennings, Timber Creek, 24.36 (NJ Top 10).
3200: Jordan Hadfield, Schalick, 11:30.95.
4×400: Timber Creek (Amaya Jones, Autumn Cato, Jordyn Cato, Taylor Gaines), 4:06.85.
High jump: Alanna Woolfolk, Clayton, 5-6 (NJ No. 1).
Pole vault: Cali Lacovara, Washington Twp., 10-6.
Long jump: Guerlande Pierre, Timber Creek, 17-0.
Triple jump: Riley Gramble, Washington Twp., 33-11.25.
Discus: Hannah Nuhfer, Delsea, 146-10 (NJ Top 10).
Javelin: Paige Franklin, Williamstown, 114-1.
Shot put: Hannah Nuhfer, Delsea, 38-5.75.

Top 5 finishers (Salem County)
4×100: 3. Schalick (Brooke Watt, Calleigh Schalick, Gia Martellacci, Zoe Jenkins), 51.65.
400 Hurdles: 4. Anna Buzby, Salem, 1:07.94; 5. Grace O’Neill, Schalick, 1:08.55.
1600: 4. Helen Lillia, Schalick, 5:49.02 (PR).
100: 5. Daivonnah Thomas, Penns Grove, 12.83 (PR).
Pole vault: 3. Megan Morris, Pennsville, 8-6.
Long jump: 2. Rhionna Timmons, Salem, 16-6.
Triple jump: 3. Brooke Watt, Schalick, 33-4.50; 5. Calista Hunt, Woodstown, 32-9.Javelin: 3. Allyson Green, Schalick, 99-0; 5. Alivia Klancic, Schalick, 91-11.
Shot put: 5. Ava Rodgers, Salem, 34-0.

GOLF
SCHALICK 162, DELSEA 174, OVERBROOK 224: Senior Ryan Johnson parred his final hole to shoot a 3-over-par 38 and win medalist honors as Schalick clinched a share of the Tri-County Conference Diamond Division title.

As a co-champion (with Woodstown), the Cougars will send a full contingent of players to the Tri-County Championships Tuesday at Pitman GC. All five division winners will send full groups, while everyone else will send two players.

The Cougars also counted a 39 from Seth Fisher, a 42 from Anthony Sepers and a 43 from Lance Creighton.

KINGSWAY GIRLS 188, SCHALICK 200: Kingsway’s Carly Kuminka birdied her first hole, one-putted her first two and shot 5-over-par 40 to win medalist honors by seven strokes. Hannah Widdifield shot Schalick’s low round (48).

BOYS TENNIS
South Jersey Group I Tournament
BUENA 5, PENNS GROVE 0
Jake Harris (B) def. Alex Ramirez Martinez, 6-0, 6-0
Dominic Longona (B) def. Angel Perez Herrera, 6-1, 6-1
Stephen Pepper (B) def. Stuart Mondragon, 6-1, 6-0
Matthew Lillia-Gabe Ridolfo (B) def. Anthony Pacheco-Ricardo Vichi, 6-0, 6-0
Joshua Sharpe-Michael Letushko (B) def. Adam Gonzalez-Rene Ruiz, 6-0, 6-2
Records: Penns Grove 4-10, Buena 18-3.

Regular season
WOODSTOWN 5, OVERBROOK 0
Tim Schwienbacher (Wo) def. Andrew Weaver, 6-2, 7-5
Drew Stengel (Wo) def. Logan Milas, 6-1, 6-3
Erich Lipovsky (Wo) def. Colin Campbrell, 6-3, 6-0
Joseph Kurpis-Luke Shaw (Wo) def. Connor Kustera-Alan Marcos, 6-4, 3-6, 10-3
John Farrell-Nichols DiTeodoro (Wo) def. Jose Paz-Gabe Martinez, 6-1, 6-2
Records: Overbrook 5-15, Woodstown 12-6.

This week’s schedule

First round of South Jersey Group I baseball, softball tournaments, TCC track showcase and Salem-Cumberland golf championships highlight the Salem County sports schedule for the week of May 20-25. All events start 4 p.m. unless noted.

MONDAY, MAY 20
BASEBALL
Clayton at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Woodstown
Schalick at Sterling
SOFTBALL
Clayton at Pennsville
Middle Twp., OLMA at Schalick
Penns Grove at Woodstown (2)
Bridgeton at Salem
GOLF
Salem-Cumberland County Tournament, Centerton CC, 8 a.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Deptford Twp. at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Pennsville at Williamstown, 3:45 p.m.
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Pitman at Schalick
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Haddon Heights
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Clearview at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.

TUESDAY, MAY 21
BASEBALL
Wildwood at Pennsville
SOFTBALL
Salem at Gloucester Catholic
BOYS TENNIS
Schalick at Pennsville
Woodstown at Delsea, 3:45 p.m.
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. Washington Twp., Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick boys vs. Pennsville, Sakima CC

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22
SOFTBALL
South Jersey Group I Tournament
First-round games
No. 16 Camden Academy Charter at No. 1 Audubon
No. 9 Paulsboro at No. 8 Palmyra
No. 12 Cape May Tech at No. 5 Maple Shade
No. 13 Glassboro at No. 4 Pennsville
No. 14 Clayton at No. 3 Haddon Twp.
No. 11 Schalick at No. 6 Woodstown
No. 10 Gateway at No. 7 Pitman
No. 15 Salem at No. 2 Buena
BOYS TENNIS
Overbrook at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
TRACK
TCC Showcase, Delsea, 3:30 p.m.
GOLF
Schalick girls vs. Kingsway, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick boys vs. Overbrook, Centerton CC, 4:15 p.m.

THURSDAY, MAY 23
BASEBALL
South Jersey Group I Tournament
First-round games
No. 16 Camden Academy Charter at No. 1 Audubon
No. 9 Buena at No. 8 Haddon Twp.
No. 12 Maple Shade at No. 5 Woodstown
No. 13 Gateway at No. 4 Pennsville
No. 11 Paulsboro at No. 6 Schalick
No. 14 Glassboro at No. 3 Pitman
No. 10 Cape May Tech at No. 7 Wildwood
No. 15 Penns Grove at No. 2 Gloucester
GOLF
Woodstown vs. Highland, Town & Country, 3:45 p.m.
TRACK
Penns Grove at Woodstown

Push for the playoffs

Penns Grove baseball starts its run towards a playoff spot, Schalick’s Sparks collects 100th career hit, Pennsville’s Palverento spins second straight no-hitter and more

MONDAY BASEBALL
Penns Grove 13, LEAP 3
Pennsville 9, Salem 1
Cumberland 2, Schalick 0

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE – Everyone knows the surest way to jinx a no-hitter is to talk about a no-hitter while a no-hitter is going on.

Penns Grove freshman Dylan Hyatt was cruising along with a no-no two outs into the third inning Monday against LEAP Academy. No sooner had somebody around the dugout slipped and said something about the gem then – BOOM – it was gone.

Hyatt gave up a solid double to Dwayne Perez and coach Chuck Weigle went to get him, not for any punishment but to save him to pitch later in what is a big week for the Red Devils’ playoff hopes. Luckily, they had a big lead at the time and went on to win 13-3 in five innings.

Hyatt threw 49 pitches, setting him up to be able to pitch against LEAP again Wednesday at Rutgers Camden. He struck out five and didn’t walk any, but hit three. He faced three hitters in the first thanks to a pickoff, walked the leadoff man in the second and then struck out the  next three.

“I pulled him right after he gave up the hit to save his arm for the rest of the week,” Weigle said. “He’s got potential to be good., the potential’s there. He’s one of the better arms that I’ve seen as a freshman coming through this school in the past few years.”

It’s a big win for the Red Devils (3-12) to start a big week. They have eyes on a South Jersey Group I playoff spot and they’re currently No. 17 in power points – 11 behind cutline-riding Clayton – with three games to play before Saturday’s cutoff date: Group 3 Camden Eastside (2-6), LEAP (1-11) and Wildwood (10-8).

Their playoff push took a hit when they lost Friday’s game with Clayton to weather, but they have an opportunity to make a move this week. Clayton has three road games left before the cutoff at Wildwood, (10-8), Pennsville (13-7) and Glassboro (5-11).

Understandably, the Red Devils will be doing “a lot” (with emphasis) of scoreboard watching over the next four days.

They haven’t been in the playoffs since 2021.

“It would be awesome for these guys to make it,” Weigle said. “The last few seniors, get them another game in before they graduate, and for the handful of freshmen that we have, I think that’d be a great experience; get them in there, get them playing (and) impacting them wanting to come back and play.”

In addition to his pitching, Wyatt went 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Chase Wills, the projected starter in Thursday’s game with Wildwood, went 3-for-3 with four RBIs. Ethan Brooks had two doubles and two RBIs and Elijah Crespo had a triple and drew three walks.

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 1 POWER POINTS
(Top 16 teams qualify for playoffs)
1. Audubon (15-7) 486, 2. Gloucester (16-6) 449, 3. Pitman (16-5) 421, 4. Pennsville (13-7) 409, 5. Woodstown (12-8) 382, 6. Schalick (10-9) 312, 7. Cape May Tech (10-9) 311, 8. Haddon Twp. (7-12) 3-7, 9. Buena (6-16) 289, 10. Wildwood (10-8) 265; 11. Gateway (8-12) 244, 12. Paulsboro (6-15) 240, 13. Maple Shade (7-11) 234, 14. Glassboro (5-11) 189, 15. Salem (4-12) 166, 16. Clayton (3-12) 147, 17. Penns Grove (3-12) 136, 18. Camden Academy Charter (8-3) 128, 19. LEAP (1-11) 51.

PENNSVILLE 9, SALEM 1: Peyton O’Brien went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and four Pennsville pitchers combined to hold the Rams to four hits. Starting pitcher Jacob Grant also had three hits for the Eagles, which Chase Burchfield, the fourth of the Pennsville pitchers, drove in a pair of runs.

Chase Davis had three hits for Salem and drove in the Rams’ only run.

The Eagles (13-7, 5-0) travel to Pitman (16-5, 6-1) Tuesday for a game that should decide the Tri-County Classic Division title. Pennsville won the earlier meeting 11-1.

CUMBERLAND 2, SCHALICK 0: The Colts pushed across runs in the first and fifth innings and two pitchers kept the Cougars off the scoreboard on four hits.

Josh Bondine drove home both of the Colts’ runs, the first with a bases-loaded walk and the second on a two-out single. Kameron Fiorani scored both runs.

The Cougars (10-9) threatened a couple times in the game, but couldn’t get the timely hit. J.T. Fleming opened the game with a double, but was stranded after two hard line-outs to short and a fly to left. They also had runners in scoring position in the third and seventh.

SOFTBALL
Atlantic Tech 6, Schalick 3
Cinnaminson 2, Woodstown 1
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Pennsville 19, Salem 0

PENNSVILLE 19, SALEM 0: Savannah Palverento homered and pitched a four-inning no-hitter, coming within a full-count walk with one out in the third inning of a perfect game. She threw 47 pitches, 30 for strikes.

It was Palverento’s second straight no-hitter, having blanked Wildwood over five innings in her last start. She has not allowed a hit in her last 9 1/3 innings.

“Savannah has done a great job working the last two games,” Eagles coach Beth Jackson said. “She had one at-bat get away from her tonight and walked the girl, otherwise she’d have had a perfect game. She’s been working hard to improve her pitching game; she just started a couple years ago.”

Her homer was an inside-the-parker that scored three runs in the Eagles’ nine-run second inning.

Avery Watson had two hits and three RBIs; Cara Hoyt drove in three runs; Reagan Wariwanchik and Bella Farina had two hits apiece and Kylie Harris has two hits and two RBIs.

CINNAMINSON 2, WOODSTOWN 1: Kayla Meenan raced home from third on an infield grounder with one out in the bottom of the tenth to decide the game. Meenan was placed at second base as the ghost runner, was sacrificed to third and came home on Delaney Kroll’s grounder to third.

The Wolverines (10-7) loaded the bases with none out in the top of the tenth, but couldn’t get them home as the Pirates framed two strikeouts around a force out at the plate.

Cinnaminson (16-7) scored an unearned run in the fourth inning and the Wolverines tied it in the sixth when Tulana Mingin came around on Ellie Wygand’s sacrifice.

ATLANTIC TECH 6, SCHALICK 3: The Cougars took an early lead with three runs in the third inning, but the Redhawks scored five over the last three innings to get the win.

Schalick senior Taylor Sparks picked up her 100th career hit in the game with a single in the fourth inning. She is now 100-for-218 for her four-year career (.459). Abby Willoughby, Ally Shrimp, Cloe Elliott, Rachael Irizarry and Lucianna Virga also had hits for the Cougars.

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 1 POWER POINTS
(Top 16 qualify for playoffs)
1. Audubon (11-4) 406, 2. Buena (14-5) 389, 3. Pennsville (13-4) 367, 4. Haddon Twp. (13-6) 351, 5. Woodstown (10-7) 310, 6. Pitman (10-7) 287, 7. Maple Shade (10-5) 286, 8. Palmyra (8-8) 229, 9. Paulsboro (9-7) 223, 10. Cape May Tech (8-10) 192, 11. Glassboro (5-13) 189, 12. Clayton (5-11) 186, 13. Schalick (7-7) 167, 14. Gateway (4-10) 156, 15. Salem (4-12) 145, 16. Wildwood (2-11) 114, 17. Camden Academy Charter (6-4-1) 110, 18. LEAP (5-11) 72, 19. Penns Grove (0-8) 52.

GOLF

BRIDGEWATER TWP. — Schalick sophomore Jaxon Weber shot 92 at Raritan Valley Country Club in his first experience in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions.

The South Jersey Group I medalist, playing as an individual, got off to a slow start, making 8 on his first hole (No. 5), but he came right back with a par. He parred five of his last seven holes on the back nine, including three in a row (14-16), and six of his last 10 overall.

SCHALICK GIRLS 230, OLMA 230: Schalick’s Hannah Widdifield was the medalist at White Oaks CC (51), with the only birdie in the round on the 400-yard par-5 third. The Cougars won the team playoff by two shots (Cali Fisler 61 and Sarah Pagnanelli 61 to a 61-63 for OLMA.

BOYS TENNIS
CINNAMINSON 3, SCHALICK 2
Evan Kozuch (C) def. George Gould, 6-3, 6-3
Drew Harvey (C) def. Jesus Espinoza, 7-5, 4-6, 10-7
Davi De Brito Melo (C) def. Conor O’Toole, 6-3, 7-6 (7-1)
Rocky Monticolo-David Santana (S) def. Nathan Costa-Colby Warwick, 6-2, 6-4
Kaden Barnes-Cayden Brzozowski (S) def. Michael Crandall-Daman McGee, 6-4, 3-6, 10-7
Records: Cinnaminson 9-4, Schalick 10-6.

WEST DEPTFORD 4, PENNSVILLE 1
Nate Bassett (WD) def. Gabe Schneider, 6-1, 6-3
Maddox Efelis (Pv) def. Carter Watson, 6-2, 6-7 (4-7), 10-7
Andrew Eagle (WD) def. Brody Wiggins, 6-4, 6-3
Chase Struzynski-Aiden Bardon (WD) def. Noah Bohn-Noah Flitcraft, 6-2, 6-2
Carter Weber-Allen Eastlack (WD) def. Sawyer Humphrey-Luke Chamberlain, 6-2, 6-2
Records: Pennsville 14-3, West Deptford 14-3.

CLEARVIEW 5, WOODSTOWN 0
Andrew Crawford (C) def. Tim Schwienbacher, 6-2, 6-3
Nanda Guntupalli (C) def. Drew Stengel, 6-1, 6-1
Gabe Bruno (C) def. Erich Lipovsky, 6-0, 7-6 (7-1)
Travis Lyons-Joey Lindenbaum (C) def. Ben Stengel-Joseph Kurds, 6-3, 6-1
Tucker Chestnut-Jackson Dickler (C) def. Mason Shimp-Luke Shaw, 6-1, 6-1
Records: Woodstown 10-4, Clearview 13-3.

This week’s schedule

Several milestones are on tap for the Salem County sports calendar for the week of May 12-18: Schalick’s Taylor Sparks is one hit away from career No. 100, Woodstown’s Andrew Pedrick is two hits away from 100, Woodstown’s Tulana Mingin in four hits from school’s all-time hits record; all events 4 p.m. unless noted

SUNDAY, MAY 12
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Region XIX Tournament
Salem CC at Northampton, 2 p.m.

MONDAY, MAY 13
BASEBALL
LEAP at Penns Grove
Salem at Pennsville
Schalick at Cumberland
SOFTBALL
ACIT at Schalick
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Salem at Pennsville
Woodstown at Cinnaminson
GOLF
Haddon Heights vs. Woodstown, Town & Country, 3:30 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic vs. Schalick, Centerton CC
Schalick girls vs. OLMA, White Oaks CC
BOYS TENNIS
Cinnaminson at Schalick
Pennsville at West Deptford
Woodstown at Clearview
BOYS LACROSSE
Egg Harbor Twp. at Woodstown
TRACK
Pennsville at Schalick, 3:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, MAY 14
BASEBALL
Camden Eastside at Penns Grove
Overbrook at Schalick
Pennsville at Pitman, Alcyon Park
Pleasantville at Salem
Woodstown at Glassboro
SOFTBALL
Glassboro at Woodstown
Schalick at Overbrook
Pitman at Pennsville, Pennsville LL, 6 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Buena at Woodstown
Glassboro at Schalick
Middle Twp. at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Pitman
GIRLS LACROSSE
Mainland at Woodstown
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Highland, 3:45 p.m.
GOLF
Woodbury vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15
BASEBALL
Buena at Woodstown
Clayton at Pennsville
Glassboro at Schalick
Penns Grove vs. LEAP at Rutgers Camden, 6 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Clayton at Pennsville
Salem at Gloucester Catholic
Woodstown at Penns Grove
GOLF
Pennsville vs. Gloucester Catholic, Westwood GC, 3:30 p.m.
Schalick girls vs. Kingsway, River Winds GC
TRACK
Tri-County Showcase, Delsea, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Schalick at Triton
Woodstown at Pitman
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Camden Academy Charter, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Millville at Woodstown
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Gloucester Catholic

THURSDAY, MAY 16
BASEBALL
Overbrook at Pennsville
Salem at Schalick
Wildwood at Penns Grove
SOFTBALL
Penns Grove at Clayton
Schalick at Salem
GOLF
Schalick vs. Cumberland, Running Deer GC
BOYS TENNIS
Wildwood at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick at Penns Grove

FRIDAY, MAY 17
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Region XIX/North Atlantic District Tournament
Middlesex vs. RCSJ-Gloucester, 11 a.m.
Salem-Northampton winner vs. Brookdale, 11 a.m.
Second round, 3 p.m.
BASEBALL
Cumberland at Pennsville
Delran at Schalick, 4:15 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Penns Grove at Woodstown
Highland at Pennsville
Schalick at Cape May Tech
GOLF
Pennsville at Delran, 4:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Clayton at Schalick, 3:15 p.m.
Overbrook at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Timber Creek, 3:45 p.m.

MAY 18
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Region XIX/North Atlantic District Tournament
Elimination game, 11 a.m.
Championship game, 3 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE
West Deptford at Woodstown, 10 a.m.

Schalick tracks down sweep

Cougars win boys, girls titles in Salem County Track & Field Championships for first time since 2018; Schalick’s Hadfield wins four events

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM — It’s well established that Jordan Hadfield is an incredible runner. She’s an incredible teammate, too.

The Schalick junior had already put in a demanding day at the Salem County Track and Field Championships Wednesday, winning three events, including two with about a five-minute break in between, but when her team needed her to give a little bit more she didn’t hesitate and answered the call.

With the girls meet in the balance, Hadfield accepted the assignment of running the third leg of the Cougars’ 4×400 relay team. They needed to put some distance between themselves and host Salem both on the track and in the standings and they did just that.

Hadfield and Co. won the race and extended the Cougars slim lead. When Brooke Watt won the triple jump in the final event of the day, the Cougars claimed the team title for the first time since 2021.

“It’s a really good experience doing it for the team,” Hadfield said. “When you need it most, the adrenaline is there, you’re just ready to do it and it’s what it needs. A really good race. Not normally a 400 runner, but I was today.”

Hadfield had already won the 1600, 800 (with a PR) and 3200 – the last two with only the time of the boys 800 for a breather – and hadn’t really intended to run the relay unless the Cougars needed it. They needed it and there she was lining up to run the third leg.

And it was the third leg not the anchor because it wasn’t certain with all she had already done she could provide the last lap kick if the Cougars needed one. But she was willing to do what she could. She ran on the 4×4 relay once before, at the Penn Relays earlier this spring, but that was an the anchor because the seniors were on their senior trip.

Schalick’s girls were leading by three points when the 4×400 runners took the track. Hadfield took the baton from Grace O’Neill to start the third leg with a four-second lead. When she passed it to Gia Martellacci for the anchor leg, the Cougars led by 11 seconds. 

“Once the adrenaline is going and it’s for the team title, it’s what you have to do,” Hadfield said. “You’re just all about the excitement. Everyone’s yelling around the track. You know your teammates want it and you have to do it for them.”

Hadfield ran the second-fastest split of the Schalick foursome, a 1:01.40. The Cougars won the race in 4:12.60 and beat Salem to the line by almost 10 seconds, adding two more points of their lead.

“She’s not only an incredible athlete, she’s just an incredible person,’ Schalick girls coach Melissa Pine said of Hadfield. “She would do anything asked of her.

“You look at her and you don’t think oh my gosh she’s an amazing athlete, like she just doesn’t look like one, but she goes out and is unbelievable every time and has that fierce competitiveness in her.

“I explained (the situation) to her, but I knew if it came down to it that I needed her to run that leg because Jordan doesn’t like to come in second. I put her in there and she did just an unbelievable job.”

The Schalick girls won eight events, ended up with 120 total points and wound up beating Salem by 11 for the title. The boys, meanwhile, ran away with their title to complete the sweep. They scored 94 points and won by 20, giving the Cougars their first sweep of the meet since 2018.

Hadfield was one several multiple winners in the meet.

Salem’s Karima Davenport-White (100 hurdles, long jump), teammate Anna Buzby (400, 400 hurdles) and Penns Grove’s Meely Horace (100, 200) all won twice on the girls side. 

Horace’s specific two wins – both in PRs (12.67 in the 100 and 26.28 in the 200 – earned her the title of fastest female in the county. It’s a moniker she rather enjoyed.

“I love the thought of me being the fastest in Salem County,” she said. “Everybody knows me for basketball (she’s a 1,000-point scorer), so it feels good to show them that I can do more than play basketball.”

Members of the Schalick track team give David Stewart a ride on their shoulders after the freshman’s big day helped the Cougars win the county championship. On the cover, girls coach Melissa Pine brings her side’s title trophy back to the team.

Schalick’s Stewart shows out

All five competing schools produced winners in the boys meet, but Schalick had the most prolific. Freshman David Stewart signaled his arrival on the county track scene by winning three individual events and finishing fourth in the deep triple jump.

STEWART

“It’s kind of exciting to see that all year long,” Cougars coach James Turner said. “A lot of people don’t know who he is because he hasn’t had any FAT times on MileSplit very much. It’s been kind of fun to see us go against different teams in dual meets and see him be successful and have that success at an early age. He’s surprising himself and he’s surprising other teams around us.”

Stewart won the 100 in 11.28, the 400 in 52.25 and the long jump in 21-4.50 – all PRs. His triple jump 42-11.25 also was a PR and less than two feet behind the winning jump.

“Being from Schalick we don’t really get recognized that much because were a little school, but I just wanted to come down here to compete, to show people where we’re from,” he said. “Today was a day I was trying to show everybody who I was. People were maybe doubting me because I’m a freshman and I’m young, but I wanted to show people I’m … good.

“I didn’t really have high expectations for the long jump, but I went out with confidence and did what I had to do and it just happened. In the running events I ran with confidence because that’s really what I do.”

Pennsville won the three throwing events, Schalick took three of the four jumping events in addition to Stewart’s exploits, Woodstown won the three distance races, Salem the hurdles and Penns Grove the relay. Salem’s Anthony Parker (both hurdles) and Woodstown’s Cole Lucas (800, 1600) were double winners.

Schalick won six events total to end Salem’s three-year hold on the boys title and help Turner win his first county crown as the Cougars coach.

“For us, the whole rebuilding process for the last few years has been to this year we want to (make a mark in) relays and we were able to do that and we knew we had a good chance at winning the Salem County Championship and that’s one puzzle piece to build us back to where we want to be,” Turner said. “We might not be sectional champ contenders but we’re one step closer to at least putting our footprint in the sand at sectional champs.

“This year our goals for sectionals are to have our relays qualify for state and then a few individuals get there as well because last year the only people who went to the state were the 4×8 (relay).”

Hadfield and Parker were the Outstanding Track Athletes of the meet. Stewart and Watt were the Outstanding Field Athletes.

GIRLS MEET
TEAM SCORES: Schalick 120, Salem 109, Woodstown 47, Penns Grove 44, Pennsville 15.

EVENTWINNERRESULT
400 HurdlesAnna Buzby, Salem1:05.91
100Meely Horace, Penns Grove12.67
1600Jordan Hadfield, Schalick5:30.64
400Anna Buzby, Salem59.76
100 Hurdles
Karima Davenport-White, Salem15.70
800Jordan Hadfield, Salem2:20.09
3200Jordan Hadfield, Salem12:42.29
200Meely Horace, Penns Grove26.28
4×400Schalick4:12.60
High JumpKami Casiano, Woodstown4-10
Pole VaultMegan Morris, Pennsville9-0
Long Jump
Karima Davenport-White, Salem16-1.75
Triple JumpBrooke Watt, Schalick33-6.75
DiscusGrace O’Neill, Schalick125-6
JavelinAllyson Green, Schalick104-5
Shot PutAva Rodgers, Salem35-2.50

BOYS MEET
TEAM SCORES: Schalick 94, Salem 74, Woodstown 67, Penns Grove 55, Pennsville 43.

EVENTWINNERRESULT
400 HurdlesAnthony Parker, Salem56.09
100David Stewart, Schalick11.28
1600Cole Lucas, Woodstown4:42.41
400David Stewart, Schalick52.25
110 HurdlesAnthony Parker, Salem14.75
800Cole Lucas, Woodstown2:00.65
200Anthony Parker, Salem22.80
3200Jacob Marino, Woodstown10:42.48
4×400Penns Grove3:33.00
High JumpReggie Allen, Schalick6-2
Pole VaultSalvatore Longo, Schalick11-0
Long JumpDavid Stewart, Schalick21-4.50
Triple JumpDavonte Jackson, Salem44-7.25
DiscusJackson McFarland, Pennsville123-5
JavelinConnor Ayers, Pennsville146-4
Shot PuntDaniel Saulin, Pennsville41-7.75

This week’s schedule

Here is the sports schedule for Salem County high school and college teams for the week of May 6-11; all events 4 p.m. unless noted

Monday

COLLEGE BASEBALL
RCSJ-Gloucester at Salem CC, 3:30 p.m.
BASEBALL
Glassboro at Schalick
Penns Grove at Overbrook
Salem at Wildwood
Woodstown at Camden Academy Charter
SOFTBALL
Overbrook at Penns Grove
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville
Schalick at Glassboro
Wildwood at Salem
GOLF
GCIT vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Glassboro at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Triton, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Clayton
Schalick at Bridgeton
TRACK
Penns Grove at Overbrook
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Triton at Salem Tech

Tuesday

BASEBALL
LEAP at Penns Grove
Schalick at Clayton
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Triton
Pitman at Salem
Woodstown at Gloucester Catholic
GOLF
Schalick, Woodstown in NJSIAA Sectionals, Cream Ridge GC
BOYS TENNIS
Pennsville at Schalick, 3:45 p.m.
Cumberland at Woodstown
BOYS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Haddon Twp., 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday

BASEBALL
Overbrook at Woodstown
Salem at Clayton
Schalick at Penns Grove
Wildwood at Pennsville
SOFTBALL
Penns Grove at Schalick
Wildwood at Pennsville
Woodstown at Overbrook
GOLF
Cumberland girls vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 3:30 p.m.
Northern Burlington boys vs. Schalick, Centerton CC, 4:15 p.m.
Middle Twp. vs. Pennsville, Sakima GC, 4:30 p.m.
TRACK
Salem County Championships, Salem, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Delsea at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Pennsville at Pitman, 3:45 p.m.
Clayton at Schalick
GIRLS LACROSSE
Woodstown at Kingsway, 6 p.m.

Thursday

BASEBALL
Woodstown vs. Schalick, Elmer LL, 6:30 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Clayton at Salem
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Pennsville at Clayton
Woodstown vs. Schalick, Elmer LL, 6:30 p.m.
GOLF
Salem Tech, Pennsville, Clayton at The Birches, 3:45 p.m.
Timber Creek vs. Woodstown, Town & Country GC, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick vs. Deptford, Pitman GC
BOYS TENNIS
Woodstown at Haddon Heights
Williamstown at Penns Grove
GIRLS LACROSSE
Clearview at Woodstown

Friday

BASEBALL
Haddon Heights at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Clayton
Woodstown at Salem
SOFTBALL
Pennsville at Overbrook
Salem at Woodstown
Wildwood at Penns Grove
GOLF
Woodbury vs. Pennsville, Sakima GC, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE
Clearview at Woodstown
BOYS TENNIS
GCIT at Pennsville
Schalick at Wildwood, 4:15 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Washington Twp., 3:45 p.m.

Saturday

COLLEGE BASEBALL
Region XIX Tournament
(All doubleheaders starting at noon)
Salem CC at Northampton
RCSJ-Cumberland at Middlesex
Ocean at Brookdale
(Game 3, if necessary, Sunday, noon)
BASEBALL
Lee Ware Tournament
Woodstown vs. Camden Catholic, 10 a.m.
Paulsboro vs. Cherry Hill East, 10 a.m.
Consolation game, noon
Championship game, noon
GIRLS LACROSSE
Lower Cape May at Woodstown, 10 a.m.