Cory Poole.
EAST ORANGE, NJ – East Orange Campus High School senior Cory Poole, regarded as the state’s best track and field athlete, recently announced his decision to attend Syracuse University.
Poole is expected to sign a National Letter of Intent during Signing Day on Nov. 9, according to EOCHS head track coach Lance Wigfall, who was thrilled for Poole on his decision to continue his career at Syracuse.
“This is his first decision in becoming a young man,” Wigfall said. “For me, it’s just supporting him all the way.”
Poole won both the 110-meter high hurdles in 13.71 and 400-meter intermediate hurdles (52.50) at the state outdoor Meet of Champions in June to cap the outdoor track and field season. His 13.71 broke his own Essex County record.
Poole was named the Gatorade New Jersey Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year.
Earlier in the outdoor season, Poole won four gold medals to lead the Jaguars to a repeat Essex County Championship team title. He set meet records in the 110 hurdles (13.96) and 400 hurdles (51.91). Both records stood since 1984. Poole also won the 400-meter dash and was on the winning 4×400-meter relay.
Poole then won the same four events to help the EOCHS boys’ team to a tie for the state North Jersey Section 2, Group 4 Championships team title with Elizabeth. It was the second straight year that he won the sectional 400 dash, 110 hurdles and 400 hurdles.
At the state Group 4 Championships, Poole repeated as 110 hurdle and 400 hurdles champion as the Jaguars finished second overall, two points shy of Old Bridge.
Following the Meet of Champions, Poole competed at the New Balance Nationals in Greensboro, N.C., in which he took second in the 400-meter hurdles in 51.56; led the EOCHS 4×400 relay to third in a county-record 3:12.82; and was on the winning Swedish Relay team that ran 1;54.88.
Poole then competed at the USATF Junior Outdoor Nationals in Clovis, Calif, in which he took fourth in the 400-meter hurdles finals in 51.91.
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