Shore Regional High School’s Kevin Mazzella has been at least one step ahead of the competition all spring.
The Blue Devils runner continued his winning ways at the NJSIAA Group I championships May 29-30 at Egg Harbor Township High School. Mazzella added the Group I state title to all his other first places this spring and put himself in the discussion of the state’s top 800-meter runners.
Mazzella ripped off a school record 1:54.54 in winning his first group championship. He has used his sub-50- second 400-meter speed to his advantage late in races.
At the June 3 season-ending Meet of Champions (MOC) at Frank Jost Field in South Plainfield, Mazzella was seeded fifth. He was less than a second behind Shane McNamara of Manasquan High School, who won the Group II championship in 1:53.67.
After his new personal best and school record, Mazzella helped Shore Regional’s 4×800 relay team qualify for the MOC with its fifth-place finish. The top six finishers from each event qualified for the MOC.
Joining Mazzella on the 4×800 team were Jordan Sperling, Drew Maher and Robert Gruskos. They finished with a time of 8:21.38.
The Groups II, III and Non-Public A championships were held at Frank Jost Field, where Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s Charlie Volker continued to prove that the gridiron isn’t the only athletic arena where he can excel. The Princeton University-bound football standout won the Group II 100-meter dash in 10.97 and then finished third in the 200 (22.24).
Red Bank Catholic (RBC) High School sprinter Abby Collins sped to a state title in the girls Non-Public A 100 dash in 12.53.
Medal winners in Group II were Rumson Fair Haven’s girls 4×800 relay team of Hannah Anderson, Rachel Lehnert, Brittany Hofferberg and Melissa Rowland, who took fifth (9:45.66).
Group III medal winners were Ocean Township High School’s Jeff Andre, who was fourth in the 400 (49.47), and Red Bank Regional High School’s Sean Patterson, who was third in the 400 hurdles (54.82) for the boys.
For the girls, Red Bank Regional’s Lauren Sapone took fifth in the 1,600 (5:00.34). Red Bank Regional’s Sarena Dixon (43-6) and Ocean Township’s Michelle Mazza (40-10) went second and third in the shot put, and Ocean Township’s Ali Chomsky was sixth in the javelin throw (119-8).
Non-Public A medal winners from RBC were MaryKate McNamara, second in the 1,600 (5:07.13); Eryn Mills, third in the 3,200 (11:24.27); the 4×100 relay of Carly Friend, Franki Zoppi, Collins and Samantha Spallanzani, sixth (51.31); the 4×800 relay team of Julia Cangialosi, Megan Cronk, Michelle O’Mally and Gabriella Ferrigine, fourth (9:42.72); Fidele Jules, second in the shot put (43-3¾) and sixth in the discus (103-3); and Rachel Kershner, fourth in the javelin throw (113-7).