Connor Saker of Jackson Memorial High School is back in the NJSIAA track and field Meet of Champions and is one of seven student-athletes and a relay team from Jackson’s two high schools to advance to the season finale tonight, June 9, at Lombardi Field at Old Bridge High School, Middlesex County.
Competing in the discus, Saker threw a personal best 181-10 to claim second place in last weekend’s Group IV state finals.
Saker’s throw was 23 feet behind the winning throw of East Brunswick’s Sam Mattis, the defending champion.
Saker placed 22nd in the discus with a best throw of 143-5 at the 2010 NJSIAA Meet of Champions.
His Jackson Memorial teammate Greg Caldwell advanced to the Meet of Champions in the 800-meter run with a fourth-place finish in Group IV (1:54.19).
Two Jackson Memorial senior girls each qualified in two events.
Hurdler Chanel Rogers won both of her events in the Group IV meet. She was timed in 14.83 to win the 100-meter hurdles, and her winning time of 1:01.74 in the 400- meter intermediate hurdles was the fastest time in all of the group meets.
Jaguars’ distance runner Jenna Dubrow posted a pair of fourth-place finishes in the 1,600 (4:59.01) and the 3,200 (10:56.27) at the Group IV meet to earn her ticket to the Meet of Champions.
Samantha Osadacz advanced to the Meet of Champions in the triple jump with a best effort of 35-91/2.
As for Jackson Liberty High School, John Pangborn was fourth in the Group III high jump at 6-2, and the boys 4×400-meter relay team clocked a fourth-place time of 3:22.01 to advance to tonight’s state Meet of Champions.
The Lions’ relay team includes seniors Micaisse Germe and Jordan Boothe, and juniors Byron Daniels and Kindall Whack.
For the Jackson Liberty girls, Anijaah White advanced to the Meet of Champions in the triple jump with a fourth-place effort of 35-63/4.