By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
SOUTH PLAINFIELD — Princeton High School’s Michelle Bazile and Tim Brennan made big improvements over last year to medal highly with their final throws at the Meet of Champions on Wednesday, while Jacob Rist opened the door to a big future in his first appearance at the state’s biggest meet.
Bazile was tied for 11th coming into the girls discus out of Group III, but vaulted to second place with a throw of 129-feet-9.
”I was not expecting that,” said the PHS junior, whose was off of her personal record 139-3 from Penn Relays. “It was a pleasant surprise.
”My throw was all right. It was 129. In practice I usually throw more than that, but in meets I’m not really consistent with what I throw, so this 129 was all right for me.”
More significant was the silver medal a year after she placed 15th in her first trip to the MOC.
”It was worlds better than last year,” Bazile said. “I’m so glad I performed the way I did today because coming into this meet I was thinking, I’m not going to have a repeat of last year. I wanted to do better than last year. It’s great to finish where I did.”
Bazile also placed 14th in the shot put with a throw of 38-3½ in her first trip to the MOC for shot put. Her experience helped somewhat in the discus.
”I was still nervous,” she said. “I had to calm myself down before each throw so I wouldn’t go in there all jittery and mess up a throw.”
Brennan also had a big finish. The Dartmouth College-bound senior saved his best throw for last when he uncorked a throw of 180-feet-9 to place third in his final MOC.
”My goal has been 180 throughout my entire season,” Brennan said, “and to finally get it on my last throw and get it exactly 180 is the best feeling in the world.
”The 180 has always been my goal,” he added. “I value that more than coming in third. From my third-place finish in the state championship for Group III, then to finish third again at a much more competitive meet, it’s a great feeling.”
Brennan threw well throughout the meet. He almost hit 178 on his second throw, was at 176 for his third throw, then after two shorter throws in the finals, he saved his best for last.
”Last year, I felt accomplished,” Brennan said. “I threw 152-3 at counties, and I was content, but this put me over the edge. I was extremely happy with my final throw. It’s a great way to end my NJISAA season.
”After winning the county championship, sectional championship and coming in third at both the state championship and Meet of Champions, I’m extremely content with this season.”
Brennan still has the New Balance Nationals, where he will throw the discus and the hammer, which he believes will be his best event.
”My future will be in the hammer,” Brennan said. “I’d only practiced maybe six weeks out of the year, and last year I came in 13th in the national championships. If I could train that whole time with a coach since I don’t have one now, good things would come.”
Good things look to be on the horizon for Jacob Rist. The PHS sophomore made another big drop to run a personal-record 9:32.90 for fifth in the unseeded heat, 22nd overall, at the MOC. His day didn’t end there as he turned around quickly to run 8:03.68 with Joe Gray, Matt Wong and Conor Donahue in the 4×800. It was their best time of the season.
”Just being able to run here is an honor,” Rist said. “To come here and be seeded 29th — right in the middle of the race — and to run an 8-second PR, I couldn’t ask for anything more. Also to get here on the wild card for the 4×8, I’m just so happy to be here.”
Rist made strides as a freshman, when he reached the Group III state meet before placing 17th. He spent the winter working on his form, never running a personal best in the season, but making sure that his form was improved. It paid off this spring as he advanced from groups as a wild card and showed he belonged with a solid running in his first trip to the MOC.
”It was in the back of my mind that it was definitely a possibility,” Rist said. “After last year, when I stumbled at the end, I was afraid it was going to happen again. Coming here and being able to run the way I did, I’m very happy.”
