BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
To her title of state champion can be added Tiffany Grant, All-American.
The Ocean Township High School senior followed up her NJSIAA Outdoor Meet of Champions victory with a fourth place in the 400-meter dash at the Nike Outdoor Nationals over the weekend in Greensboro, N.C., to earn All-American recognition. The top six finishers in each event received All-American certificates.
“This was my first All-America,” she said. “It’s the perfect way to end it. This was my last chance.”
Grant was clocked in 54.68 at the national final, again finishing ahead of all the New Jersey sprinters.
“I didn’t get the time I wanted, but I felt I had a strong race,” she said. “I kept my form to the finish.”
The All-American certificate capped a brilliant outdoor season by the Spartan, who did not lose a race at 400 meters all year, and backed up her 2005 MOC crown with a repeat victory.
Grant said that there is a completely different atmosphere at the national championships than at any state meet.
“It’s a whole different adrenaline,” she said. “Everyone is so friendly and they’re all amazing athletes. You try to pick up a few things talking to them.”
There was more of a feeling of accomplishment at North Carolina than at the MOC for Grant because at the nationals, the pressure was all off.
“I’ve met my expectations and others’ expectations,” she said. “It’s a great relief.”
It’s now on to the next level for Grant, who leaves in mid-August for Georgia Tech and the start of her collegiate career.
Before looking ahead, she looked back at her four years at Ocean Township.
“It’s been an amazing four years,” she said. “From my freshman year to my senior, I got better each year. I learned a lot from my teachers and friends.”
Georgina Nembhard, Grant’s junior teammate, finished 13th in the girls 100-meter dash, dipping under 12.0 once again with her 11.98. She was 16th in the 200 (24.75).
Grant’s 400-meter boy counterpart, Charles Cox, also earned All-American recognition in North Carolina. The junior, fresh off his big MOC win, finished sixth, clocking 47.20. Like Grant, he was the highest finishing New Jersey sprinter.
Raymond Davis, Cox’s teammate, just missed out on All-America finishing eighth in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. He clocked 53.69 in finishing fifth in his heat, the highest seeded.
Rumson-Fair Haven’s 4×400 relay didn’t gain All-American status, but the girls continued their torrid running, lowering the school record by half a second to 3:56.16. Gabby Kelly, Melissa Bellin, Jaime Carroll and Sara Robinson won their heat in 3:56.16 and finished in 14th place overall. This could just be the tip of the iceberg for this team. All are underclassmen.
Red Bank Regional’s distance stars Christina Nelson and Tom Friscia ran the final races of their scholastic careers in Greensboro.
Nelson was 20th in the girls one-mile (5:08.03) that was won by Shore Conference rival Danielle Tauro, who set a state and national junior class record, with her 4:39.25.
Friscia was 17th in the boys 800 (1:53.72).