Columbia HS girls’ track and field team wins Essex County Relays title for eighth straight season

MAPLEWOOD – For the eighth consecutive season, the Columbia High School girls’ track and field team captured the girls’ team title at the Essex County Relay Championships on Friday, May 6, at Livingston High School.

The Cougars had 80 team points based on the top six finishes in each event. Montclair was second with 60 points.

The Cougars, under first-year girls’ and boys’ head coach Chris Faraone, were led by seniors Jordan Fields, Jasmine Keegan and Cheyenne Trigg.

Fields had a meet-best triple jump of 38-10 3/4 and long jump of 17-08. Keegan had a meet-best discus throw of 117 and was on the second place shot put relay. Trigg was on the second place 4×400-meter relay and 4×800 and the winning anchor on the 4×200.

Others having an exceptional meet were Briana Reckling who anchored three top-three finishes in the 4×400, 4×800 and sprint medley relay; sophomore Ciara French who lead off the winning 4×100 and 4×200; and junior Dahria Lewis who anchored the winning 4×100 and was a member of the winning long jump relay and 4×200.

On the boys’ side, Coobee Darcelin and Martin Battle teamed up for a win in the long jump and Darcelin and Roodly Orvil teamed up for a win in the triple jump.

Also running well was the boys’ 4×1600 which finished sixth, made up of four sophomores in Avery Corechesi, Tim Depue, Edward Martinez and David Ives. The distance medley relay was fourth with Corechesi, Jon Salinardo, Abeynah Charles, and Jared Pangallozzi.  The boys’ 400 hurdles was led by Jereimah Richardson, Ozzie Williams and Malcolm Moore. The boys’ 4×110 hurdles consisted of Richardson, Heath Stephens, Orvil and Soloman. Lastly, a solid run was seen by the boys’ sprint medley relay team of Battle, Richardson, Moore and Venchensard Vital.

The Cougars will gear up for the Super Essex Conference-American Division Championship meet on May 14 at Schools Stadium in Newark.