By Wayne Witkowski
Matawan Regional High School’s girls and boys repeated their sweep of team titles in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Central Jersey, Group II championships May 27 at Bernards High School.
Sam Anderson had the best day of any of the Huskies, scoring in four running events for the girls’ team, including a winning time of 57.69 in the 400 meters. She also finished third in the 100 (12.89) and 200 (26.0) and was fourth in the 800 (2:19.78).
Teammate Rachel Kenny was second in the 800 in 2:16.96 — one of three events in which she scored. Kenny also was third in the 1,600 in 5:07.07 and fifth in the 3,200 in 11:30.65.
Their efforts led the Huskies to a comfortable lead in the team standings over Governor Livingston High School, 112-74½.
Matawan’s boys’ team also easily outscored Governor Livingston, 103-60½, for the team title behind David Alston, who scored in three events — highlighted by a winning measure of 6-6 in the high jump. Alston was third in the 110 hurdles in 14.83 and fourth in the long jump at 21-3.
Donald Small won the shot put, throwing 50-11¾, and Michael Pepe finished first in the discus at 149-0. Thomas Kalieta finished second in the 400 in 48.35 in his bid to return to the NJSIAA Meet of Champions.
The Group II championships are this weekend. All event scorers automatically advance to the group meet.
Kalieta was second in the 400 at the Group II championships at Northern Burlington County Regional High School last year. Alston was third in the high jump, fourth in the long jump and fifth in the 110 hurdles at that meet.
Anderson will look to defend her 400 title at the Group II meet, where she and Kenny last year finished second and fourth, respectively, in the 800 meters.
Roxanne Ramos also had a big day for the girls’ team at the sectional meet, winning the discus with a throw of 111-0 and finishing fifth in the shot put at 33-2. Emma Garofalo was sixth in the discus at 92-0.
Victoria Zuppa (115-3) and Aniyah Moore (103-8) went first and second in the javelin. Mae Carroll was third in the pole vault, clearing 10-6, and teammate Isabella Viggiano was sixth at 9-6.
Khoryn Bannis had the third best distance in the triple jump at 34-1¾. Cassandra Daniele rounded out the scorers for Matawan’s girls, finishing third in the 800 behind Kenny in 2:19.56 and fifth in the 1,600 in 5:17.58.
The Huskies’ girls’ 4×800 relay won in 9:42.64 and the 4×400 was third in 4:09.76.
Just like the girls’ team, the boys had a show of strength in the javelin, where Tim Carney (145-0), William Casagrande (114-1) and Kyle Nusbaum (142-1) finished third, fourth and fifth.
Liam Nappi was third in the 400 hurdles in 55.23, Zach Hall was fifth in the 200 in 22.64 and Jacob Labinger was sixth in the pole vault, clearing 12-6. Labinger got the final scoring spot based on misses ahead of teammate Anthony Ferrara, who also cleared that height.
The Huskies’ three boys’ relays all scored points, with the 4×400 winning in 3:19.65, the 4×800 finishing second in 8:08.27 and the 4×100 placing third in 43.77.