Molly McNamara is focused on running fast. A week after posting her fastest 1,600 meters (4:49.02) in winning the Monmouth County championship, the Red Bank Catholic High School senior turned in her swiftest 800 ever, 2:08.92, in capturing the Shore Conference crown Saturday at Neptune High School.
The Stanford University-bound McNamara captured the Shore Conference 800- meter title on Saturday on her own, clocking 2:08.92. An opening-quarter 62 by McNamara had everyone else running for second as she won by close to nine seconds.
After winning her 1,600 at the county championships, McNamara explained that because it’s her senior year, she wanted “to do everything right. My training has been great.”
Well, with two personal bests in two championship races, it would seem she is doing everything right. RBC’s Meghan McMullin broke her own school record in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles (1:02.91) in finishing second .
Speed is Mike Andre’s game, and the Ocean Township High School junior has the ability to carry that speed from 100 meters up to 400 meters. At the SC meet, the Spartan speedster limited his running to the 400 and 4×400. He won the 400 as he did at the county championships, clocking 48.78.
Andre and teammates Brian Chittum, Mike Acquaro and Graham Harvey teamed up to win the 4×400 in 3:21.63.
Long Branch High School’s Miles Shuler-Foster reversed his 100-200 finish at last week’s Monmouth County Championships, winning the 200 and taking second in the 100.
Shuler-Foster, the reigning Meet of Champions 100-meter champion, was beaten in the century by Brick Memorial’s Jihaad Howard in a photo (10.76-10.78). In winning the 200, Shuler-Foster, headed to Rutgers University on a football scholarship, turned in his fastest time of the season, 21.60.
Speed is Aiyana James’ forte as well. The Red Bank Regional sprinter won the girls’ 100-meter dash in 12.63. She reversed her loss to Marlboro’s Kimberly McKinnon at last week’s county championships.
Monmouth Regional standout Stephanie Skove continues to own the pole vault. She was one of three vaulters to clear 11-0 on Saturday and won the championship on fewer misses.
The Shore Conference meet was the final tune-up before the NJSIAA state sectionals are held on Friday and Saturday. With the meet held over one day rather than the scheduled two days (inclement weather forced the cancellation of Friday’s programs), many athletes limited their schedules in order to be ready for the state sectionals.
Central Jersey Groups II and III will compete at Monmouth Regional High School while Groups I and IV go to Hillsborough High School. South Jersey Non- Public A (RBC) is at South Plainfield.