WEST ORANGE, NJ – The West Orange High School girls’ indoor track and field team won the team title at the Essex County Relay Championships on Jan. 3 at Ocean Breeze Sports Complex in Staten Island, N.Y.
The Lady Mountaineers, under the guidance of first-year head coach Jason Jackson, used a great balanced effort. The team scored in all eight relays.
“Every single student-athlete contributed to this win,” said Jackson, who also is the head boys’ coach.
West Orange had 48 team points. Montclair and Columbia tied for second with 40 points.
“To only win by eight points over two very good programs (Columbia and Montclair) shows how important every point was,” Jackson said.
West Orange finished in the top three in five out of the eight events.
Tyra Brooks and Destini Hunter combined to take second in the team high jump.
Abigail Vital, Christy St. Hilaire, Tiara Wilson, and Kayla Robe won the 4×400-meter relay.
Daniella Hull and Aion Ashby combined to take second in the shot put relay.
The distance medley relay team of Samara Charles, Maxine Nzegwu, Kathy Lopez-Jacobs, and Alina Chant took second.
The 4×800-meter relay team also took second, consisting of Franceska Jean-Jacques, Charles, Tatianna Exius, and Lopez-Jacobs.
Coach Jackson said the team’s great mix of youth and experience proved key in winning the team title.
Jackson added he is “so excited for the girls and how hard they’ve worked since late November. I’m mindful that there is still plenty of work to be done and areas where we can make some improvements. Hopefully this is the beginning of something great for our program.”
On the boys’ side, Seton Hall Prep finished third with 26 points behind St. Benedict’s Prep with 44 points and winner East Orange Campus with 64 points. West Orange finished sixth with 15.5 points
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