EAST ORANGE (updated Tuesday June 14, 12:08 p.m.) – When it comes to hurdling, Cory Poole can’t be beat.
At least in New Jersey.
The East Orange Campus High School junior won both the 110-meter high hurdles and 400-meter intermediate hurdles at the 48th annual state track and field Meet of Champions at Central Regional High School in Bayville, June 8.
Poole won the 400 intermediate hurdles in 52.50. He then won the 110 high hurdles in 13.71 to break his own Essex County record, No. 10 in meet history.
Poole became the first EOCHS boys’ track athlete to win a Meet of Champions title since 2003 when current EOCHS head boys’ track coach Lance Wigfall won the 400-meter dash in his senior year. Wigfall also won the indoor Meet of Champions 400 title in 2003.
In addition, Poole became the third boys’ athlete to win both hurdles events at the Meet of Champions. The others were Phillipsburg’s Justin Gaymon in 2005 and Trenton’s Jermain Collieri in 2012.
For Poole, it was a measure of redemption after he had to miss last year’s Meet of Champions and this past indoor Meet of Champions because of injury.
It was a 1-2 finish for the Jaguars in the 110 intermediate hurdles, as sophomore Akeem Lindo followed Poole in finishing second in 14.41.
Poole had a chance to win a third gold medal. He and his teammates took second in the meet-concluding 4×400-meter relay, even though they tied Northern Valley/Old Tappan with the same time, 3:15.43. After a video review, NV/Old Tappan was awarded first place after its anchor runner lunged across the finish line.
The EOCHS 4×400 relay runners were sophomore Immyouri Etienne, Akeem Lindo, junior Willesley Lindo, who is Akeem’s brother, and Poole.
On the girls’ side, the EOCHS 4×100-meter relay team finished 15th out of 40 teams in 49.36. Seniors Adelia Francis and Mary Pierre-Louis; sophomore Kevaray Gilette and freshman Mellica Gordon comprised the team.
In a tweet to the Record-Transcript, Poole said: “I’m just happy to have had made history at the MOC (Meet of Champions) by winning both hurdle titles, especially because I didn’t get to run last year. I was a little upset for the 4×400, but I was told about my 47.0 split and quickly got over it and I want to thank my coaches for getting me where I am right now. It’s been a great season!”
Poole was a member of the U.S. World Youth team last summer.
The Jaguars will gear up for the New Balance Nationals, June 17-19, at North Carolina A&T.in Greensboro, N.C.
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