Florence, NB also qualify athletes for top meet
By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
Alicia Carthan extended her year of athletics another week by qualifying for today’s Meet of Champions.
The Bordentown Regional High School junior qualified for the MOC that will be held at Old Bridge today by finishing second in the Group II girls shot put at 38-7½ Saturday. She was 10th in the discus at 103-feet. The top six finishers in each event at the Group II meet, plus the next six best wild card finishers from all groups, move on to the MOC.
”I know what I’m in for,” Carthan said. “I took it a little lightly last year. I know how much competition there is. Hopefully I can take that into consideration and do better Thursday.”
Carthan will be joined by Scotties teammate Kelly Yanucil, who also returns to the MOC, this time in two events. The sophomore placed third in the javelin at 124-9, and she was fourth in the discus with a throw of 111-2.
”It makes me feel pretty happy,” Yanucil said. “I was pretty confident.
”I think since I’ve been there last year, it won’t make me as nervous,” she added. “Last year, I was only a freshman and I didn’t know what was going on.”
Northern Burlington will have three representatives at the MOC. David Prater was fourth in the Group III boys triple jump at 43-2¼, a new personal record, to advance automatically. Mike Ukaegbu placed seventh in the 110 hurdles in 15.41 to just miss the automatic berth, but advanced as a wild card entry. Northern Burlington senior Chinwe Nwankwo was sixth in the Group III girls javelin with a personal-best throw of 123-7.
The Greyhounds’ Preston Towns tied for 10th in the HJ at 6-feet. Tosin Adeyemo was 12th in the triple jump. Reece Cooke was 17th in the 400 hurdles.
In the Group I state meet, Florence High School’s Curtis Thompson was third in the javelin at 175-7, seven feet better than his sectionals throw, to reach the MOC in his freshman year. Aaron Salaga was 12th in the javelin. Donnell Cole was ninth in the 100 meters and 15th in the 200 meters. Kyle Groover placed 11th in the shot put and 13th in the discus.
On the girls side, Drew Bristol was third in the 100 hurdles in 15.19 seconds to move on to the MOC. She was 10th in the long jump. She also took 16th in the 200 meters. Claudia Shafer tied for ninth in the javelin.
Yanucil set a new personal-best for the javelin, a distance that is seeded 13th for the MOC. That throw helped her enjoy quite a group meet, one that she hopes to build on now.
”I think we’re all pretty confident about the next round too,” Yanucil said. “It pretty much just tops my season all off. It shows that I worked hard for it.”
Carthan has already come through field hockey and basketball years that were encouraging. Now, she’s reached the ultimate in outdoor track and field.
”It’s a pretty good opportunity,” Carthan said. “I’m lucky I even made it that far. I’m trying to do a lot better than last year. I didn’t place last year. That’s my new goal.
”I’m pretty happy with how much I’ve accomplished so far,” she added, “but I think I can push myself a little more.”
Carthan has been nearing the 40-feet mark, which would break her own school record. And with one more year to go, she fully expects to reach it.
”I’m pretty happy with all my seasons,” Carthan said. “I had a minor setback in field hockey coming back from a minor neck sprain and concussion. Other than that, it’s been a good year.
”I’m just going to be trying to get myself ready during the summer. I’m not going to have much of a summer break. I’m going to try to prepare for my three sports and do more than I did the past three years.”
Bordentown’s Saudiq Musari was 19th in the Group II boys 800 meters in 2:04.81.

