Irvington HS boys shuttle hurdles team runs No. 1 time in nation at Essex County Relays

IRVINGTON, NJ — The shuttle hurdles team took first place and set the fastest time in the nation this season to lead the Irvington High School boys indoor track and field team at the Essex County Relays held at the Ocean Breeze Complex in Staten Island, N.Y., on Sunday, Jan. 12.

Matthias Litus, a junior, who split 7.5; senior Jared Manifold, 7.1; sophomore Jaheim Burke, 8.1; and senior Dwight Henry, 6.9, clocked a total time of 30.17.

The 4×200-meter relay team finished in fourth place in 1:31.8, qualifying for nationals. The team consisted of sophomore Cashieve Blair, Litus, Manifold and Henry.

Litus leaped 5-foot-9 and sophomore Tamir Marsette leaped 5-3 to finish fourth in the team high jump event. Litus had the fourth-highest jump of the meet.

Overall, the Blue Knights finished fifth in the team standings. St. Benedict’s Prep won the team title.

On the girls’ side, the 4×800-meter relay took eighth place in 13:23.12 to lead Irvington.

Essex County Relays

Boys team scores

1. St. Benedict’s Prep 38. 2. Montclair  37. 3. Seton Hall Prep 35, 4. East Orange Campus 28. 5.  Irvington 18. 6. West Side 17. 6. West Orange 17. 8. Columbia 15. 9. Caldwell 10. 10. Shabazz 8.  10. Livingston 8. 12. Belleville 6. 13. Millburn 5. 14. Bloomfield 4. 15. Verona 3.

Girls team scores

1. Montclair 52.  2. West Essex 34. 3. Columbia 33. 4. Livingston 28. 5. West Orange  22. 6. East Orange Campus 22. 7. Bloomfield 16. 8. Shabazz 13. 9. Newark Tech 8.  10. Mount Saint Dominic Academy 7. 11. Verona 6. 12. Millburn 4 . 13. Nutley 2. 14.  Caldwell 1.