Angelina Perez Cruises To All-Time Jersey Record In 3,200 Meters

By Mary Albl of DyeStat 

Angelina Perez showed once again why she’s one of the best distance runners in the country. At the Group 2 and 4 New Jersey state meet, June 10-11 at Franklin High School (Somerset, NJ) the Lakeland senior clocked 9:53.29 in the 3,200 to break the Group 2 meet record of 9:59.34 set in 2021 by Charlotte Bednar of Lawrenceville. The University of Florida-bound distance runner’s time was US#3. Perez also won the 1,600 in 4:48.68. 

Rumson-Fair Haven went 1-2 in the 400 with ninth gade sprinter Clemmie Lilley winning in 56.57, while teammate and senior, Chloee Dotts was runner-up in 57.60 and finished second in the 200 (25.37) and fourth in the 100 (12.60). Rumson-Fair Haven scored 64 points to win the team title. 

Sophomore Jianna Molin of Hamilton North swept the 100 and 200. 

Anaias Hughes led the Willingboro boys to a dominating win in Group 2 as the team scored 86.5 points. Hughes won the 110 hurdles (14.35) and high jump (6-04). Teammate CJ Johnson won the shot put (56-11.75) and was second in the disc (162-9). 

Haddonfield went 1-2 in the distance events, as Seth Clevenger won the 1,600 (4:11.9) and 3,200 (9:08.92), while teammate George Andrus was second in 4:17.37 and 9:09.38. 

Shamali Whittle of Hamilton North won the 100 (10.49) and 200 (21.17). 

In the field, Max Zuckerman of Pascack Hills cleared 15-6 to win the pole vault. 

Group 4

Senior Christopher Serrao won the 110 hurdles (13.77) and was second in the 400 hurdles (54.41) as East Brunswick won the Group 4 boys title. 

In the field, senior Robert Paneque of Jackson Memorial won the javelin in a US#7 throw of 208-6.

In the pole vault, Hillsborough’s Kevin O'Sullivan (16 feet) and Brian O’Sullivan (15-6) went 1-2 in the pole vault.

Southern Regional’s Fabian Gonzalez won the shot put (60-3.25) and discus (185-9)

Evan Corcoran of Kingsway won the 100 (10.71) and 200 (21.62).

Senior Cashieve Blair of Irvington had a busy day on the track, as he won the 400 (47.93), placed third in the 200 (21.90) and fifth in the 100 (10.91).

The Scotch Plains-Fanwood girls scored 48 points to hold off Cherokee (44 points) for the Group 4 title. Senior sprinter Julia Jackson led the way winning the 100 (12.00), 400 (53.61) second in the 200 (24.29).

Cherokee’s Nicole Clifford won the 800 (2:11.12) and 3,200 (10:45.24) and was fifth in the 1,600. 

Millville’s Leah Howard threw a US#13 mark of 148-2 in the javelin to pick up the win.

Group 1

Scott Hubbard won the 800 (1:56.15) and 1,600 (4:17.54) as Audubon edged out Saddle Brook, 44 points to 43 points to claim the Group 1 title at Pennsauken High. 

Aidan Scaturro of Shore Region claimed 200 (22.32) 400 hurdles (55.58) and was runner-up in the 110 hurdles (14.86).

Senior Clyde Liverpool of  Boonton won the 100 dash (10.70) and 110 hurdles (14.77). 

In the girls Group 1 race, Clayton dominated, scoring 101.50 points for the title. Senior Arianna Sharpe led the way, winning the 100 (11.99), 200 (24.55) and 400 (54.30). 

In the 400 hurdles, Clayton’s Amirah Sharpe won with a time of 1:02.29. The 4x400 also ran 3:50.41 to win by nearly 20 seconds. 

Group 3

Andrew Littlehales of Delsea Regional guided his team to a Group 3 title as he won the 1,600 (4:17.71) and 3,200 (9:12.75). 

In the hurdles,  Bryce Tucker, a junior from Pennsauken won the 110 (14.42) and 400 (53.82). Tucker currently holds US#12 time of 53.29. 

Premier Wynn of Pennsauken won the 400 in a time of 47.86.

In the field, senior Daye Karibi-Whyte of Teaneck won the disc (178-5), while Jason Nwosu of Delsea Regional claimed the shot put (63-2.50), and Austin Hudak of Hammonton, a senior, claimed the javelin title with a throw of 194 feet. 

In the girls action, Winslow Township’s Jaia James won the 100 (11.94) and 200 (25.05).

In the distance events, Lily Oliver of Toms River South won the 800 (2:14.89) and 1,600 (4:57.75).

In the field, Faith Bethea of Snyder won the triple jump, soaring 40-4. 

Non-Public A

The Union Catholic girls and boys swept the Non-Public A titles. The girls were paced by Peyton Hollis’ win in the 800 (2:09.63) and 1,600 (4:53.91). In the 800, Union Catholic swept the top 3 spots. Union Catholic also swept the 100 and 400 hurdles and the 4x100, 4x400 and 4x800 relays. In the field, Union Catholic’s Jada Mia Puryear won the shot put (39-10) and discus (143-4).

Other highlights included Christiana Nwachuku of Kent Place winning the 100 (11.70), 200 (24.76) and 400 (55.09). 

The Union Catholic boys were led by  Nick Givan who won the 400 (47.78), 110 hurdles (14.43) and 400 hurdles (52.48) Myles Plummer won the 800 (1:51.3) and finished fourth in there 1,600 (4:10.69). Union Catholic went 2-4 in the 1,600. Teammate Shane Brosnan won the 3,200 (9:09.08) and finished third in the 1,600 (4:10.14)

St. Peter's Prep  Fitzroy Ledgister won the 100 (10.39), 200 (21.29) and long jump title (23-6.50).

In the field, freshman phenom Benjamin Shue of Bergen Catholic extended his freshman class national record in the discus to US#13 throw of 198-5 and claimed the shot put with a throw of 60-9.

Non-Public Group B

Morris Catholic sophomore Vonya Gould won the 200 (27.24), 400 (59.55) and long jump (17-9.50) to lead her team to a Non-Public B title.

St. Rose junior Tilly O'Connor completed the distance sweep winning the 800 (2:23.34), 1,600 (5:18.02) and 3,200 (11:38.74).

Brian Theobald guided St. Rose to a team title, winning the 800 (1:56.54) and 1,600 (4:30.40) and 3,200 (9:49.08).

 Isiah Udofia of Montclair Kimberley Academy had an impressive day picking up four golds as he won the 100 (10.77), 200 (21.84), long jump (23-4.25) and triple jump (45-6.25).

In the field Joe Licata of Gill St. Bernard's School won the discus (161-11) and shot put (60-8.50).

Team Champions

Group 1: Audubon boys 44.50 points; Clayton girls 101.50 points - RESULTS

Group 2:  Willingboro boys 86.50 points; Rumson-Fair Haven girls 64 points - RESULTS

Group 3: Delsea Regional boys 64 points; Old Tappan girls 51.50 points - RESULTS

Group 4:  East Brunswick boys 56 points; Scotch Plains-Fanwood girls 48 points - RESULTS

Non-Public A: Union Catholic boys 139 points; Union Catholic girls 200 points - RESULTS

Non-Public B: St. Rose boys 94 points; Morris Catholic girls 83 points - RESULTS