WEST ORANGE, NJ – The West Orange High School boys’ track and field team won the team championship at the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group 4 State Championships held at Clifton, May 25-26.
The Mountaineers, under first-year head coach Jason Jackson, had 59 team points, edging second-place Ridgewood, which had 54 points, among the 20 schools, to win its first sectional title since 2007. Ridgewood was the two-time defending champion.
Elijah McLaren won the 110-meter hurdles in 14.24 and the 4×100-meter relay team (43.34) and the 4×400-meter relay team (3:25.28) each finished in first place to lead WOHS. McLaren, Jefferson Cajuste, Nalima Fisher, and Jordan White comprised the 4×100. Ebizie Anuamadi, David Robinson, Justice Remar,and Cajuste comprised the 4×400. McLaren also took second place in the triple jump at 44 feet-4 ½ inches.
Anuamadi took second in the 800-meter run in 1:55.99 and placed fourth in the 1,600-meter run in 4:26.07.
The 4×800 relay finished fourth in 8:16.90. Nalima Fisher finished fifth in the 100-meter dash in 11.45; Jefferson Cajuste took sixth in the 400-meter hurdles in 57.52; Dylan Gotay was sixth in the pole vault at 11-6 and Jesus Rosas was sixth in the discus at 144-5.
On the girls’ side, the Mountaineers finished third overall in the team standings with 79 points. Ridgewood was first with 96 points and Randolph was second with 85.5 points.
Abigail Vital won both the 100-meter hurdles (14.56) and the 400-meter hurdles (1:03.96) and took second in the 200-meter dash (25.54) to lead the Mountaineers. The 4×100 relay also finished in first place in 49.61.
Kayla Robe took second in the 400-meter dash in 59.56 and finished fifth in the 400 hurdles in 1:07.56. Jacquelynne Idowu was second in the triple jump at 36-2. Christy St. Hilaire was third in the 200 dash in 25.72. The 4×400 relay placed third in 3:59.69. Davionna Phillips was sixth in the 400 dash in 1:00.32. Tyra Brooks took fourth in the high jump at 5-0; Karen Odoemene was fourth in the discus at 118-6; and Denae Hill was fifth in the shot put at 36-7 ¼.
The top six finishers in each event will advance to the NJSIAA Group 4 State Championships at Franklin HS, June 1-2.
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