Correction: Bukola Akinsola did not qualify for the Meet of Champions.
WEST ORANGE (updated Monday June 6, 9:52 a.m.) – West Orange High School seniors Timothy VanCauwenberge finished sixth and Daniel Pierre tied for sixth in the boys’ 400-meter intermediate hurdles and pole vault, respectively, at the state Group 4 track and field Championships at Egg Harbor, June 3-4. The meet consisted of the top six finishers in each event at the state sectionals the previous weekend.
VanCauwenberge clocked 54.97 in the 400 intermediate hurdles. Pierre leaped 12 feet-6 inches in the pole vault. Those were the lone top-six finishes for WOHS. Van Cauwenberge and Pierre automatically qualified for the state Meet of Champions at Clearview Regional HS in Bayville on June 8. The top six finishers in each event, plus wild-card berths, qualified for the Meet of Champions.
VanCauwenberge also tied for 10th in the high jump at 6-2.
Senior Joseph Onubogu took 13th in the 800-meter run in 1:56.71 for the Mountainners.
Onubogu, sophomores David Robinson and Ebizie Anuamadi and junior Liam Cunningham took 15th in the 4×800-meter relay in 8:09.15. Onubogu, VanCauwenberge, senior Christian Smith and Anuamadi took 17th in the 4×400 in 3:28.18.
The WOHS girls’ team did not have any top-six finishes, but had good efforts. Junior Bukola Akinsola was 15th in the 400 intermediate hurdles in 1:05.83. Sophomore Angeline Fields was 20th in the 400-meter dash in 59.95. Senior Obianamu Okani took 2oth in the discus at 91-4. Akinsola, senior Jamie Maul, Fields and freshman Kayla Charles took 21st in the 4×400 in 4:10.00.
VanCauwenberge qualified for the Meet of Champions in the 110 high hurdles and high jump, but will probably compete in the hurdles, according to WOHS boys’ head coach Joe Picataggio.
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