By Warren Rappleyea
South Brunswick High School’s Courteney Campbell cleared 5-6 in the high jump to win the NJSIAA Meet of Champions (MOC). The South Brunswick junior made the height on her first try, giving her a sweep of both the indoor and outdoor titles.
Campbell, who only began competing in the high jump last season, won the overall Group IV championship in late May. She reached her goal of hitting the 5-8 mark at the Central Jersey, Group IV championship, where she finished third on misses as two other girls hit 5-8. Earlier in the year, Campbell won the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) title.
South Brunswick coach Stefan Moorhead was justifiably proud of Campbell. The coach encouraged Campbell to try and high jump and brought her along slowly at first. Campbell admitted she was scared of the event but quickly changed her mind.
“She has put in a lot of hard work to get where she is, and there’s really no telling how far she can go,” Moorhead said. “She has a great combination of talent and work ethic.
The Lady Vikings’ Daniella Izzo also medaled at the MOC, taking seventh place in the pole vault by tying her personal best of 11-0. Izzo won the overall Group IV and Central Jersey, Group IV championships, hitting the 11-0 mark in each.
At the Group IV championships, where South Brunswick finished fourth, Desirae Osley finished third in both the 200 and 400 meters. South Brunswick’s other medal winners came in the throws. Olivia Scattergood was fifth in the discus and Miranda Irizarry finished sixth in the javelin.
On the boys side, Nic Botett finished third in the discus and fourth in the shot put at the MOC. Botett won the shot put at the Group IV meet and was second in the discus. Botett won both events at the Central Jersey, Group IV meet.
Michael Sangimino finished seventh in the javelin at the MOC after taking second place in the overall Group IV competition and first place in Central Jersey, Group IV.
While he didn’t have his best showing at the MOC, Vikings junior Harmodio Cruz had a solid year. He has been near the top in most meets and ended up taking second in the 400 and third in the 200 at the Group IV meet, where he turned in personal bests in both events.
“Harmodio had a really good season but he didn’t win anything,” said South Brunswick coach Wilfredo Rivera, whose team won the GMC Red Division and the GMC championship. “He has matured so much as an athlete and as a person. That will really help him next year.”
North Brunswick Township High School’s Shelby Francis took fifth place in the 400 hurdles at the MOC. Francis, who will compete for LaSalle University next season, won the event at both the Group IV and Central Jersey, Group IV meets.