Zyaire Clemes
Trenton Central's Zyaire Clemes would help the NJSIAA boys track team to a win over their counterparts from the PIAA in Bruce Buratti's mythical matchup.
(South Jersey Times File Photo | LORI M. NICHOLS)
It's time for the mythical end-of-the-season Pennsylvania versus New Jersey track and field meet, that annual event that matches the top athletes from both states under a dual meet format.
We took the performances from the PIAA Championships on May 24-25 in Shippensburg, Pa., and matched them up against the top finishers at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions in South Plainfield, N.J. on June 5.
New Jersey routed Pennsylvania 89-52 in both the boys and girls meets. A few disclaimers: For starters, weather conditions are a huge factor here and clearly benefits New Jersey.
The PIAA meet was contested under severe weather conditions that featured temperatures in the high 40s with rain and wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour. On the other hand, the Meet of Champions was contested in temperatures in the 70s with little wind.
So the results are certainly skewed. But who cares? It's more fun to match up the two states and see the strengths and weaknesses of both commonwealths, at least for this spring.
Only one local athlete, PIAA Class AAA champion Nolan Hay of Parkland, who wins the long champ, figures in the meet. North Hunterdon star Morgan Harvey does not because we have to throw the intermediate hurdles out of the scoring; Pennsylvania contests its races over 300 meters while New Jersey's intermediate races are over 400 meters. There's no way to convert the two distances.
Coming up shortly: How Pennsylvania and New Jersey match up with the rest of the U.S. in high school track and field. You may be surprised.
NEW JERSEY 89, PENNSYLVANIA 52
100
— 1. Clay Allen, Pa, 10.72; 2. Julius Rivera, Pa, 10.74; 3. Jabrill Peppers, NJ, 10.80. (Pa. 8-1).
200
— 1. Peppers, NJ, 21.13; 2. Zyaire Clemes, NJ, 21.29; 3. Colin Winslow, NJ, 21.90. (NJ 10-8).
400
— 1. Clemes, NJ, 46.50; 2. Jamaad Muse, NJ, 46.67; 3. Jermaine Griffith, NJ, 47.21. (NJ 19-8).
800
— 1. Isaac Clark, NJ, 1:50.12; 2. Jacob Clark, NJ, 1:50.73; 3. Dylan Capwell, NJ, 1:51.66. (NJ 28-8).
1,600
— 1. Rob Napolitano, BC, 4:12.82; 2. Chris Marco, NJ, 4:12.88; 3. Mike McClemens, NJ, 4:14.29. (NJ 37-8).
3,200
— 1. Kyle Levermore, NJ, 8:55.41; 2. Jack Boyle, NJ, 8:55.94; 3. Jimmy Daniels, NJ, 9:00.30. (NJ 46-8).
110 hurdles
— 1. Wellington Zaza, Pa, 13.66; 2. Todd Townsend, Pa., 14.06; 3. Sydney Scruggs, NJ, 14.15 (NJ 47-16).
400 relay
— 1. Timber Creek (NJ) 41.50. (NJ 52-16).
1,600 relay
— 1. Union Catholic (NJ) 3:15.07. (NJ 57-16).
3,200 relay
— 1. Bensalem (Pa) 7:47.82 (NJ 57-21).
Shot put
— 1. Jon Yohman, Pa, 61-8½; 2. Josh Owotunde, NJ, 61-1; 3. Jason Coon, Pa, 59-10. (NJ 60-27).
Discus
— 1. Braheem Days Jr., NJ, 199-6; 2. Evan Arnott, Pa, 195-11; 3. Owotunde, NJ, 188-10. (NJ 66-30).
Javelin
— 1. Chris Mirabelli, NJ, 214-6; 2. Cole Profitt, Pa, 201-0; 3. Eric Williams, NJ, 195-9. (NJ 72-33).
Long jump
— 1. Nolan Hay, Pa, 24-2; 2. Nkosi Jones, Pa, 23-3¼; 3. Antwan Dickerson, NJ, 23-2.75. (NJ 73-41).
Triple jump
— 1. Zaza, Pa, 49-10¼; 2. Dominique Irons, NJ, 48-10; 3. David Njoku, NJ, 47-6¼. (NJ 77-46).
High jump
— 1. Njoku, NJ, 6-10; 2. (tie), Zachary Davis, NJ, and Zach Pressel, Pa, 6-8. (NJ 84-48).
Pole vault
— 1. (tie), Eric Geider, NJ; Vincent Esposito, Pa; and Michael Closs, NJ, 15-0. (NJ 89-52).
NEW JERSEY 89, PENNSYLVANIA 52
100
— 1. Jody Ann Evans, Pa, 11.79; 2. Alyssa Wise, Pa, 11.85; 3. Lanae Newsome, Pa, 12.04. (Pa. 9-0).
200
— 1. Olivia Baker, NJ, 23.95; 2. Bria Saunders, NJ, 24.51; 3. Haisu Bisilou, NJ, 24.64. (Pa. 9-9).
400
— 1. Baker, NJ, 53.84; 2. Brionna Petus, NJ, 54.70; 3. Faleesha Dowe, NJ, 54.95. (NJ 18-9).
800
— 1. Madison Holleran, NJ, 2:08.87; 2. Corinne Myers, NJ, 2:09.74; 3. Julia Ashley, NJ, 2:10.83. (NJ 27-9).
1,600
— 1. Josette Norris, NJ, 4:41.61; 2. Elizabeth Lansing, NJ, 4:45.36; 3. Kylene Cochran, NJ, 4:51.24. (NJ 36-9).
3,200
— 1. Sarah Disanza, NJ, 10:15.02; 2. Mackenzie Barry, NJ, 10:23.15; 3. Courtney Smith, Pa, 10:24.06 (NJ 44-10).
100 high hurdles
— 1. Amy Hicks, Pa, 14.07; 2. Emily Lelis, Pa, 14.18; 3. Markeeta Thomas, Pa, 14.30. (NJ 44-19).
400 relay
— 1. Winslow Township (NJ) 47.27. (NJ 49-19).
1,600 relay
— 1. Columbia 3:46.86 (N.J.) (NJ 54-19).
3,200 relay
— 1. Freehold Township 9:10.69. (N.J.) (NJ 59-19).
Shot put
— 1. Jess Woodard, NJ, 47-1¼; 2. C. McCartney, Pa, 45-5½; 3. Carrie Wasdyke, NJ, 44-8.75. (NJ 65-22).
Discus
— 1. Woodard, NJ, 161-1; 2. Sam Black, Pa, 133-9; 3. Carter Green, Pa, 133-0. (NJ 70-26).
Javelin
— 1. Lisa Sesink-Clee, NJ, 149-10; 2. Jenna Lucas, Pa, 147-1; 3. Christine Streisel, Pa, 144-11. (NJ 75-30).
Long jump
— 1. Marshay Ryan, Pa, 19-10; 2. Mary Holmberg, Pa, 19-10; 3. Keturah Orji, NJ, 19-2. (NJ 76-38).
Triple jump
— 1. Orji, NJ, 42-6½; 2. Ryan, Pa, 41-1¼; 3. Iana Amsterdam, NJ, 40-½. (NJ 82-41).
High jump
— 1. Cyre Virgo, Pa, 5-11¼; 2. (tie), Abby Jones, Pa, and Noel Jancewicz, NJ, 5-8. (NJ 89-43).
Pole vault
— 1. Brooke Mancuso, Pa, 12-6; 2. Lexi Masterson, Pa, 12-0; 3. Amanda Beninghoff, Pa, 12-0. (NJ 89-52).