MHS soph is fifth in 3,200 meters
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
SOUTH PLAINFIELD — Jillian Prentice keeps coming up big in big races.
The Montgomery High School sophomore did it at the end of the fall, and she did it in Thursday’s Meet of Champions. Prentice obliterated her school record to finish fifth in the girls’ 3,200 meter in 10:42.61.
”It definitely ends my season on a high note,” Prentice said. “For cross country season, my last meet at Footlocker was one of my best meets. To end my track season like this makes my track season that much better.”
Prentice’s previous best of 10:59, set two weeks before at the sectional meet, would have had her in just 15th place Thursday, but she responded to the talented field when it pushed the pace early, then kicked hard over the final 400 meters to lead in the second pack. Both the race winner Melanie Thompson of Voorhees and runner-up Kathleen McCafferty of Oak Knoll broke the former meet record.
”I know I couldn’t really go out with them,” Prentice said. “I knew to let them go and anyone else to go with. We took it out much faster than I usually do. We took it out in 5:17. I’m used to going out in 5:30. It was a big change, but I tried not to think about time and go with the people I knew I could stay with.
”I figured in order to do a good time, I had to go out faster than I’ve been doing,” she added. “I’ve been doing around that time for a few years, so I figured it wasn’t too bad that I went out in that time.”
Prentice led a strong Montgomery contingent, all seven of which were making their first trip to the MOC. Matt Tholis was the lone senior of the Cougars, and he finished 11th in the boys’ javelin. The rest of the MHS representatives will have the chance to return next year.
Junior Jessica Perone was 13th in the 400 hurdles, sophomore Laura Ng tied for 17th in the pole vault, freshman Fiona Paladino tied for 13th in the high jump and sophomore Carlee Rosenthal was 28th in the javelin.
Princeton High School had a pair of senior representatives at the MOC. John McCormack placed 18th in the boys’ javelin while Megan Wiseman was 22nd in the long jump. Both will continue their careers in college.
Prentice is looking forward to next year as well after finishing up her sophomore year so well. Her final 3,200 of the season was better than she had dreamed in both time and place.
”I kind of wanted to get beneath 11 minutes,” Prentice said. “I wasn’t sure. I wasn’t seeded top eight originally. I thought it was a goal I could make and I got fifth. I’m happy about that.”
Prentice went through the first mile only seconds slower than she had run the open mile less than a week before. She came back in the second mile and responded with a huge best to an appreciative crowd that saw 14 girls break 10:54.
”She ran phenomenally today,” said MHS coach Jim Goodfriend. “I always thought she could go faster than 10:59. If you’re going to run fast, tonight’s a good time. It’s packed. It’s a perfect night. The race is stacked.”
Said Prentice: “The last straightaway here is so loud. It gives you this jolt of adrenaline. You hear everyone cheering. The atmosphere is great.”
Even she couldn’t believe what that excitement helped to produce.
”Honestly, no, I did not think I could go quite this fast,” Prentice said. “I figured I could maybe go low 50s, maybe high 40s. I think I was in the lower 40s. This is beyond what I could imagine. . . for this year.”
But not what the Cougars thought possible. They have seen Jillian Prentice deliver before in big races, and Thursday she came through with another masterful performance to finish her sophomore year.
”She’s really talented,” Goodfriend said. “And today, she ran a really smart race. She did everything she should. She looked great. It’s probably the best race she’s run in her life.”