EAST ORANGE, NJ –The East Orange Campus High School boys’ indoor track and field team, under head coach Lance Wigfall, won the team title for the third straight year at the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group 4 state Championships on Feb. 9 at the Bennett Center in Toms River.
The Jaguars had 72.2 points based on the top six finishes in each event. Elizabeth was second with 32 points.
Senior Akeem Lindo won both the 55-meter dash in 6.51 and the 55-meter hurdles in 7.33, and took second in the 400-meter dash in 50.05.
Senior Immyouri Etienne won the 400-meter dash in 50.03. In the 55 hurdles, Al-Tariq Dunson was second in 7.60 and fellow senior Ibrahim Fobay was fourth in 7.79.
The 4×400 relay finished first in 3:26.65.
Sophomore Matthew Parchment was sixth in the high jump at 5 feet-4 inches, and senior Treymont Carter was third in the shot put at 46-10 ¾.
On the girls’ side, EOCHS finished eighth in the team standings. Senior Kevaray Gilette won the 55 hurdles in 8.67. Senior Brittany Francis was fourth in the 55 dash in 7.45 and sophomore Iyana Alexandre took fifth in the shot put at 34-5 ½.
The top six finishers in each event qualified for the NJSIAA Group 4 state Championships on Feb. 17 at the Bennett Center.
The EOCHS boys’ team has swept team titles at the major meets this season. In addition to the North 2, Group 4 meet, the Jaguars won the Super Essex Conference, the Essex County Relays, the Essex County Championships, and NJSIAA Group 4 state Relays.
Said Wigfall: “This past weekend it was a team effort to put us in a good position to come back and win the State Group Meet. Throughout the season, everyone was able to stay healthy and humble and focus on the prize of just doing our best as we have fun as a collective group of student-athletes and coaches. I’m just humbled by all means that I am in this position leading the way with a great coaching. On behalf of the staff we would just like to thank the East Orange School District Administration for support in every step of the way and as well as the opportunity to continue our fun-filled success story being the mentors and leaders for the boys’ and girls’ track and field program here in East Orange.”
Second-year head girls’ coach Rolanda Bruce has been impressed by the girls’ team’s progress.
“We are every impressed in how the girls’ team rallied for 16 points with Kevaray Gilette leading the way by winning her first indoor state sectional title in the 55 hurdles, Iyana Alexandre placing fifth in the shot put and Brittany Francis placing fourth in the 55 meters, which gave the Lady Jaguars enough to place eighth overall in the state sectional meet. We have some ways to go, but we are rebuilding the program and setting things up for the future seasons to come.”
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