HSG 400 hurdles (10:00am) - Running for NJ will be the top two 400 hurdles from a year ago including defending outdoor Meet of Champions winner Julie Alexander (Hopewell Valley) and runner up at the MOC Melissa Bellin (Rumson-Fair Haven). Look for those two to be the top Jersey finishers and give Nikita Tracey (Edwin Allen, JA), who ran 57.41 earlier in the year a run. Both Alexander and Bellin have similar PR’s with Alexander having run slightly faster, 1:00.60 to 1:00.72. Both ran those Pr’s at last year’s MOC. Alexander finished 3rd (1:01.60) a year ago and is looking to do better. Look for those two to make a run under 1:00.00. Other NJ competitors include Amber Allen (Passaic County Tech) whose 55.35 indoors at the Eastern States could serve well for the Junior Hurdler, Jennifer Sant Anna (Pascack Hills) and Jade Wilson (Neptune) will also be competing Considered to be one of the deepest fields ever brought together because of the 1-2 punch from Arcadia (CA) in Kori Carter and Turquoise Thompson
HSG 4x800m (10:30am – 11:00am) – New Jersey’s record holder, Southern Regional is opting for the Distance Medley, so this opens the door for a few other locals. Top NJ contender, Voorhees will be led by 5 time defending MOC champion, Lanie Thompson (pictured to the left). Voorhees ran 9:19.47 indoors for 2nd in NJ. Other local teams competing are: Lenape (9:23.71i), Randolph (9:30.41i), Hillsborough (9:31.30i), Hunterdon Central (9:36.10), Senca (9:36.41i), Bernards (9:38.20i), Red Bank Catholic (9:39.54i), also Hopewell Valley, Notre Dame, Millville and Columbia…click on headline for more
HSG 4x100m (11:10am – 12:10pm) – Last year Jackson Memorial stole the show for NJ by making the Tri-State final after running 47.79 for a Shore Conference record. That time led NJ the entire year. Already this year there are five teams to dip under the 50.00 barrier. Woodbridge (49.14), Teanceck (49.64), Bloomfield (49.73), Hopewell Valley (49.84) and Jackson Memorial (49.99). With some nice weather, and some smooth handoffs any one of these teams could crack a final.
HSG 4x400m (1:25pm – 4:15pm) – No team in NJ has run under 4:00 minutes yet this season. Most likely because of the weather. Teaneck is the state’s leader at 4:01.20 with Marlboro (4:03.0) and Rahway (4:03.0) right on their heels. Those three along with perennial 4x400 powerhouse Camden could all dip under 4:00
HSG Distance Medley COA (6:55pm) – One of the showcase events for Thursday evening. This one is easy to call if Jillian Smith, anchor for Southern Regional (defending indoor National Champions) was 100%. However, it is very likely she will not be 100%, but expect her to toe the line. Last year Southern Regional didn’t have a solid leadoff leg and it got them into trouble. They battle back each leg and handed off to Smith with some work to do. Even the superwoman that she is could not make up the deficit the top three teams put on. Look for Chelsea Cox to lead off the foursome and put Southern right into the mix. A strong leg from Erin Horelman could prove the difference in this race. If Southern is anywhere near the lead or in the lead, never count out Smith, even if she’s not 100%. One thing that’s for sure if Smith can duplicate her 4:42.x performance from last year, you can bet on Southern Regional. Other top finishers should include Haddonfield, Immaculate Heart, South Brunswick, West-Windsor Plainsboro South, Marlboro, and Ridge
HSG Mile Run Championship (7:10pm) – This one is most certain to be won by an outsider (one whose not from New Jersey) especially with US #1 1600m Chelsea Sveinsson (TX) in the field. 3rd a year ago running 4:43.51. NJ competitors will look to PR and they include: Molly McNamera coming off a huge indoor season, capping it off with a sub 5:00 1600 at the MOC (4:58.79). Caitlin Orr (Lenape), Maria Ruiz (Williamstown) and Chelsea Delaney (St John Vianney) will all toe the line.
HSG 3000m Championship (7:15pm) – This race is certainly deeper than the mile, with 10 Foot Locker finalists showing up on the entries. NJ entrants (and Foot Locker finalists) include: Lanie Thompson (Voorhees) and Chelsea Ley (Kingsway) both coming off superb indoor campaigns. Thompson has won a meet of champions title in 5 consecutive seasons and Ley has won the 5000m at the last two National Championships, both of which are still NJ class records (Ley owns the frosh, soph, and junior class records in the 5000m) The Penn Relays mile champ from 2008, Stephanie Morgan (OH) will join a very deep field along with the #’s 2-3-5 finishers from last year, Emily Jones (MA), Thompson as stated above, and Shelby Greany (NY). The 2009 NIN mile champ, Emily Lipari (NY) will also be among those entered.
Field Events
HSG Shot Put (10:00am) – The defending champion, Emily Vannoy (MD) is returning to claim victory once again in 2009. However, Shanon Watt (Jackson Memorial) and Lisa Stuto (Brick Twp) could have something to say about that. Both threw over 42-0 this indoor and Watt has a PR of 44-10 from last year’s MOC.
HSG Javelin (12:00pm) – Competitors in the javlelin are: Shannon Sullivan (Immaculate Heart), Chanel Johnson (Hamilton West), Victoria Imbesi (Hamilton West), Teresa Kirkpatrick (Pascack Hills), Tayler Siegrist (Madison Boro), Barbara Simovic (Southern Regional), Lindsey Minch (Pennsville), Julianna Grandal (Cranford), Hannah Mayer (Northern Highlands), Deanne Tiplady (Toms River North), Jessica Donoghue (Seneca), Dana Keister (Abesegami)
HSG Pole Vault (1:00pm) – Returning from last year’s pole vault are the #’s 2-3, Victoria Worthen (PA) and NJ’s top vaulter Chrissy Finkel (Montville). Finkel is the defending indoor MOC champion having vaulted 12-6.5 and has a PR of 12-7.5. Another top vaulter to look out for is New Jersey’s own Nicole Pompei (Hanover Park), the reigning outdoor MOC champion jumping a PR of 12-6. Other vaulters from NJ competing will be Emily Urciuoli (Clifton), Michelle Favre (Saddle Brook), Kelly Burke (Cranford), Catherine Shih (Bernards), Laura Ng (Montgomery), Kristen Weigel (Pennsville), Lauren Bednarz (Toms River South), and Davielle Brown (Watchung Hills)
HSG Triple Jump (1:45pm) – The defending champion, Ada Unachukwu (Marlboro) a Michigan-bound senior, will return in 2009 to claim victory once again. Unachukwu comes into the relays with a PR of 40-0, stemming from a 2nd place finish at last year’s outdoor MOC. Unachukwu will have her hands full with fellow NJerseyian Ebony Young who hails from Hillsorough, who also has a PR of 40-0. Look for these two to battle for a crown.
HSG Discus (Friday @ 9:00am) – Representatives from NJ include Chloe Early (Delaware Valley), Chelsea Cioffi (Pitman) and Alana Pantale (Wayne Valley). All have Personal bests ranging from 123-2 to 120-10