WEST ORANGE – Senior Timothy VanCauwenberge won both the 110-meter high hurdles (14.51) and the 400-meter intermediate hurdles (54.80) and the 4×800-meter relay team won first place to help lead the West Orange High School boys’ track and field team to an impressive third-place finish in the boys’ team standings at the state North Jersey Section 1, Group 4 Championships at Randolph HS, May 27-28.
Senior Joseph Onubogu, sophomores David Robinson and Ebizie Anuamadi and junior Liam Cunningham won the 4×800 in 8:03.61.
VanCauwenberge, Onubogu, Anuamadi and senior Christopher Smith took fourth in the 4×400-meter relay in 3:25.48.
VanCauwenberge was second in the high jump (6 feet-2 inches); Onubogu was second in the 800-meter run (1:57.79); senior Lawson Nzegwu was fourth in the 400 intermediate hurdles (15.15); and senior Daniel Pierre took third in the pole vault (13-0).
The Mountaineers had 60 points. Ridgewood was first with 103 points and Morristown was second with 69 points among the 17 scoring teams.
On the girls’ side, junior Bukola Akinsola was second in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles (1:05.86) and fifth in the 100-meter high hurdles (15.59).
Akinsola, senior Jamie Maul, freshman Kayla Charles and sophomore Angeline Fields finished second in the 4×400-meter relay in 4:01.30.
Field was fourth in the 400-meter dash (58.72) and senior Obianamu Okani took fifth in the discus (101-11).
With those top-six finishes, the WOHS girls’ team finished 10th with 24 points among the 18 scoring teams. Ridgewood won the girls’ team title.
The top six finishers in each event at the sectionals qualified for the state Group 4 Championships at Egg Harbor, June 3-4.