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          ESPNHS Track & XC

          2012 New Jersey MOC: Giordano, Malone lead swarm of record-setters

          The intensity shows as Dana Giordano (3200) and Ben Malone (1600) rip US#1s at the NJ Meet of Champs. John Nepolitan/ESPNHS
          • John Nepolitan
          Feb 25, 2012, 01:52 PM ET

          Coverage of the 2012 New Jersey Meet of Champions

          Sat., Feb. 25, 2012 -- Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex, Toms River NJ

          LINKS: John Nepolitan Photos - Boys | Girls

          Timing Site | Results | DyeStat Elites


          BOYS HIGHLIGHTS

          • 1600 – Stephen Lewandowski (Mountain Lakes) takes the early lead, but is passed by George Kelly (Christian Brothers Academy), who tries to break it open with 550 to go. Ben Malone (Pascack Valley), US#1 in the 1k, is always among the leaders and jumps ahead with a lap to go and wins in a meet record, US #1 4:11.66. Kelly gets 2nd in US#3 4:13.49, and Lewandowski 3rd in 4:15.58

          • 55 HH – Jermaine Collier (Trenton Central) sets a meet record 7.35 in the prelims, then storms within .01 of the state record in the final, hitting US#2 7.19 for the win over Isaac Williams (Willingboro) US#3 7.22.

          • 800 –Allen Eke (Union Catholic) goes to the front and forces the pace, then holds on for meet record, US #3 1:52.24. AJ Chavez (West Windsor Plainsboro South) closes fast for US#4 1:52.67 in 2nd.

          • 3200 – Meet of Champs XC winner Tim Ball (Piscataway) negative splits 4:44/4:26 for US#5 9:10.69.

          • 55/4x400 – Darrell Charles leads a 1-2-3 sweep by Oakcrest, running 6.46 over teammates Fabian Santiago and Reginald Morton (both 6.48). The trio returns to lead Oakcrest to a meet record US#5 3:20.53 4x4.

          • Shot Put – National leader Braheme Days (Bridgeton) wins by over eight feet with a throw of 67’ 8.75”.

          • 400 – Darrell Bush (Woodbury) is buried coming off the final turn, but goes wide and comes up for the win in 49.11.

          GIRLS HIGHLIGHTS

          • 3200 – Dana Giordano (Bernards) closes fast for a US #1 meet record 10:24.73. Mackenzie Barry (West Morris Mendham) led by five seconds with 800 to go, but was overtaken at 3,040 meters. She holds on for 2nd in a US #2 10:27.25 with Megan Lacy (Cherokee) at US #3 in 10:31.06. The top 8 all break 11:00.

          • 55 HH – Stey’ce McNeil (Winslow Township) paces the trials in 8.06 and then wins the final in 7.94, just off her US #2 from the last week’s Group meet. She was the only runner to crack 8.00.

          • Shot – Defending champ Theresa Picciallo (Immaculate Heart Academy) improves her US #4 mark to 47’ 8” to win by over seven feet.

          • PV – After a delay due to an injury to another athlete, Chelsea Vaughan (Southern Regional) clears 12’ 6” to win to move into a tie for US#6.

          • 400/4x400 – Defending champ Olivia Baker (Columbia) gets the lead at the break and powers to the win in 56.31 over Jennifer Edobi (Union) 56.94. The two sophs will have many more battles. Then Baker finds herself in second at the final exchange of the relay, but explodes off the line to take the lead and gives Columbia the 3:57.35 win.

          • 1600 – Liana Marzano (Red Bank Catholic) takes over with 600 to go and wins in 4:58.38, the only runner to break 5:00, making it two straight for Red Bank Catholic runners (Molly McNamara, now at Stanford, won in 2011).

          • 800 – Kali Kendall (Snyder) runs 2:16.59 to win the 2nd section and for the first 400 of the seeded section, it looks like that time may hold up. But Emmy Duffey (Lenape) kicks hard to win in 2:15.12.

          • 55 – Haisha Bisiolu (Union) only had the 4th best time in the prelims, but takes the final in 7.12 to just beat out Amari Hartsfield (Sayerville) and Annie Johnson, who were both timed in 7.14

          • High jump – Kyaira Wright-Harmon (Franklin) and Noel Jancewicz (Robbinsville) both clear 5’ 8”, but Wright-Harmon gets the win.