Irvington HS girls’ track and field team gets off to fine start to season

IRVINGTON – The Irvington High School girls’ track and field team is off to a fine start to the season.

The Lady Blue Knights, under head coach Barnes Reid, defeated North 13th Street Tech in the season opener on April 1 at the IHS Sports Complex. It was the first home meet since 2001.

IHS girls’ head coach Barnes Reid praised North 13th Street Tech.

“North 13th Street was a worthy opponent with a developing track program,” he said. “I commend the athletes and coaches of the school for producing a competitive team in their first year of track.

Reid lauded his team after the win.

“Our girls’ track team is off to an auspicious start with excellent performances from several of our athletes.  Senior Jasmine Draughn led the way in the sprints with first-place finishes in the 400-meter and 100-meter dashes.  She also placed second in the 200-meters.  In the hurdles, sophomore Vicky Molokwu won the 100-meter hurdles and freshman Andrea Jackson won the 400-meter hurdles.  Senior Neandra Shury won the 800-meter run and sophomore Jada Bozeman placed second in the 1,600-meter run.

In the field events, senior Jasmine Williams won the shot put and Deja Bethea won the triple and long jumps.  There were also outstanding performances from other girl athletes at the meet:

400m hurdles: second place, senior Mical Ceus.

100m: third place, sophomore Vicky Molokwe

400m: second place, junior LaShanna James; third place, sophomore Deja Bethea.

100m hurdles: second place, freshman Jackson; third place, sennior Mical Ceus.

800m: third place, freshman Rayna Smith.

Long Jump: second place,  Richele De Los Santos; third place, Mical Ceus.

Shot Put: second place, senior Catherine Santos; third place,  Eugene Fritzlyn.

“We have a young and developing team with many freshmen and sophomore girls,” said Reid. “I am looking forward to excellent performances from all of our girls in their events throughout the spring track season.”

The girls’ team also did well at the Kearny Relays on April 2. The following are their results

400m intermediate relay: fifth place, freshman Andrea Jackson, sophomore Vicky Molokwu, and senior Mical Ceus.

400m relay: sixth place,  Jackson, Molokwu, junior La Shanna James, and Ceus.

800m relay: sixth place, Jackson, Molokwu, James, and  Ceus.

3,200m relay: sixth place, freshman Rayna Smith, sophomore Jada Bozeman, sophomore Khdeejah Hughes, and senior Neandra Shury.

The team’s next meet is April 12 against Montclair and East Orange Campus at Woodman Field in Montclair.