By Patrick Lanni | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Chris Faytok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
N.J.'s best convene at Franklin Field
With the start of the 123rd Penn Relays less than a day away, it's time to break down every event.
This year, New Jersey. will have a good shot at ending it's two-year title drought on the track while putting together several sensational efforts in the field. From the 4x100 to the shot put, we've got you covered with what to know about this year's competitors as well as information about N.J.'s previous champions.
Check it out below and make sure to keep it here on NJ.com all week long for extensive coverage from Franklin Field in Philadelphia as the meet gets underway Thursday and runs until Saturday.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
4x100: Winslow enters with N.J.'s No. 1 time
WHEN:
• Small Schools: Thursday, 11:10 a.m.
• Large Schools: Thursday, 12:20 p.m.
HOW TO ADVANCE: Eight fastest teams qualify for the Championship of America final, Friday, 2:30 p.m.. The next eight fastest small schools qualify for the small-school final, Friday, 2:25 p.m.. The next eight fastest large schools qualify for large-school final, Friday, 2:27 p.m.. Additionally, the eight fastest Tri-State (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware) teams qualify for Tri-State final, Saturday, 1:45 p.m.
JERSEY OUTLOOK: A Jamaican team has won three years in a row and 10 out of the last 12 Championships of America. That streak will likely continue with three Jamaican teams -- Edwin Allen, Champs Hydel and Holmwood Tech --under 45 seconds. Winslow is N.J.'s fastest team at the moment after running 47.44 at the Woodbury Relays. Also keep an eye on Piscataway (48.88), Summit (48.93) and Rancocas Valley (48.97).
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Willingboro in 1981. The Burlington County school ran 47.63 and is the only N.J. team to ever win this event.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
4x400: Magical moment for Sydney McLaughlin, Union Catholic?
WHEN: Heats begin at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday
HOW TO ADVANCE: Eight fastest teams qualify for the Championship of America final, Friday, 5:47. South Jersey teams are eligible to qualify for the 12-team Philadelphia-Area final, Saturday at 5:15. Team that qualify in the C of A race are not eligible to run in the Philadelphia Area final.
JERSEY OUTLOOK: After finishing third last season, Union Catholic is back to challenge several Jamaican squads. With Olympian and high school phenom Sydney McLaughlin anchoring, anything is possible. Union Catholic ran 3:50.82 this winter and will try to keep things close for McLaughlin, who split 52.12 last year at Franklin Field and ran faster than 11 out of the 16 professionals competing the next day. Winslow is also another contender for the CoA after running 3:51.49 this winter.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Willingboro in 1999. The Burlington County school ran 3:45.74, joining Plainfield, Camden and Lincoln as fellow champions.
PLUS: N.J.'s 44 greatest performances of all-time at the Penn Relays
Chris Faytok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
4x800: Ridge puts national title on the line against Jamaican powers
WHEN:
• Small Schools: Thursday, beginning at 10:30 a.m. (two heats)
• Large Schools: Thursday, beginning at 10:50 a.m. (two heats)
HOW TO ADVANCE: The 12 fastest teams regardless of school size will compete in the Championship of America on Friday at 1:10 p.m.
JERSEY OUTLOOK: Last season, no teams from N.J. qualified for the CoA. That won't be the case this year. Ridge ran 9:01.64 to win New Balance Nationals this winter and will be right in the mix as a championship contender. Three teams from Jamaica -- Edwin Allen, Holmwood Tech and Hydel - are under nine minutes while Shenendehowa (N.Y.) and North Penn are Ridge's top domestic challengers. Two other N.J. teams to keep on the radar are Shawnee (9:24.44) and Seneca (9:24.66).
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Columbia in 2014. With a 2:02.55, anchor Olivia Baker ran the fastest split in meet history to bring the Essex County school across the line in 8:45.37. Columbia also won in 2013. Previous champions were Bernards in 1983 and Summit in 1981.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Distance medley relay: Randolph, North Hunterdon ready to roll
WHEN: Thursday at 6:10 p.m.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: The top 20 applicants qualified for this Championship of America. This year, five teams from N.J. -- North Hunterdon, Randolph, Sterling, Pope John and Lenape -- made the cut.
JERSEY OUTLOOK: The last 19 winners have all broken 12 minutes. This winter, North Hunterdon ran 12:00.45 while Randolph dropped a 12:03.72. Both teams are seeded in the top five and will try to battle it out with top-seeded Patriot (Va.), a team that features a 4:45 miler in Rachel McArthur. Also, don't sleep on Sterling. The South Jersey school has a well-rounded relay and is the sixth-fastest qualifier at 12:04.62.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Roxbury in 2008. The Morris County school ran 11:42.16 and defeated Southern, the defending champion. Red Bank Regional won in 2003 while Columbia won back-to-back titles in 1997 and 1998.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
400-meter hurdles: Essex County rivals are N.J.'s top contenders
WHEN: Thursday at 10:20 a.m.
QUALIFIERS: Kishona McCray, Newark Central; Reanda Richards, West Essex; Joshonda Johnson, Absegami; Dakota Gerges, Sayreville; Aminah Muhammad, West Side; Jenna Reid, Middletown North; Mariah Shummette, East Brunswick; Sydney Coppolino, Sterling; Bukola Akinsola, West Orange
JERSEY OUTLOOK: Newark Central's Kishona McCray was N.J.'s top finisher a season ago when she took eighth in 1:02.57. McCray, who won the 100 hurdles at last year's Meet of Champions, will be pushed by Reanda Richards of West Essex, who came on strong last season and owns a personal best of 1:00.83. McCray has run 1:00.63. Jamaica's Gabrielle McDonald from Edwin Allen and Nicolee Foster from Holmwood Tech are the top two seeds.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Shawnee's Mandie Dulin in 1996. Dulin, who ran 59.75, is the only winner from the Garden State.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Mile: Three-time state champ eyes Penn Relays success
WHEN: Thursday at 6:05 p.m.
QUALIFIERS:
• Rachel Vick, Kingsway
• Briana Gess, Haddonfield
JERSEY OUTLOOK: Haddonfield's Briana Gess is the No. 15 seed in a field of 16 runners, but don't sleep on the University of Virginia-bound senior. This spring, Gess will try to win her fourth consecutive 1,600-meter title at the Meet of Champions, a feat only accomplished twice before. Gess recorded her personal best freshman year when she ran 4:45.97 to win her first title at the Meet of Champions. Kingsway senior Rachel Vick is making her Penn Relays debut. She ran 4:54.05 this winter at New Balance Nationals.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Southern's Danielle Tauro won in 2006 with a time of 4:48.51. Five other girls from N.J. have won, including two-time winners Joetta Clark of Columbia -- a future Olympian -- and Washington Township's Michelle Rowen.
Stephanie Maksin | For NJ.com
3,000: Mainland's Alyssa Alridge seeks improvement
WHEN: Thursday at 5:55 p.m.
QUALIFIERS:
• Niamh Hayes, Howell
• Alyssa Aldridge, Mainland
• Anna Campbell, Pope John
• Olympia Martin, Ridgewood
JERSEY OUTLOOK: Jessica Lawson, the No. 1 seed from Corning High, is the favorite, but there are opportunities for N.J.'s top qualifiers. Mainland's Alyssa Aldridge, a two-time winner at the Meet of Champions in cross-country, was 16th last year. She has run 10:24 in the 3,200. Also keep an eye on Howell's Niamh Hayes, who earned the No. 5 seed, and won the 3,200 at this winter's Meet of Champions in 10:31.98.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Oak Knoll's Kathleen McCafferty ran 9:37.15 in 2008, a year after Ashley Higginson from Colts Neck won her second straight title in 9:37.91. Two other runners -- Raritan West's Monal Chokshi in 1992 and North Hunterdon's Jodi Bilotta in 1988 -- also won this event.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
High jump: Better conditions, better results?
WHEN: Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
QUALIFIERS:
• Courteney Campbell, South Brunswick
• Abrianna Barrett, Montgomery
• Meghan O'Malley, Randolph
• Jessica Creedon, Ridge
• Tierra Hooker, Timber Creek
JERSEY OUTLOOK: Cold and rainy conditions put a damper on last year's competition, but the forecast looks better this year around. Can the reigning Meet of Champions winner, Courteney Campbell of South Brunswick, get her season rolling early? Last season, she cleared a personal best 5-8 three different times.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Hillsborough's Sandi Everett cleared 5-8 for the win in 1991. Before that, Randolph's Tanya Smolin was a three-time champion and her meet record of 5-10 1/2 stood from 1984 to 1994.
Chris Faytok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Long jump: Winslow's Tionna Tobias is flying solo
WHEN: Thursday at 1:45 p.m.
QUALIFIERS: Tionna Tobias, Winslow
JERSEY OUTLOOK: Tobias, the No. 13 seed, is the only entrant from New Jersey. She is back for the second year in a row after finishing 12th with a mark of 17-2 and owns a personal best of 18-10 3/4.
LAST N.J. WINNER WAS: Willingboro's Carol Lewis in 1981 when the all-time great and future Olympian won her fourth title with a 20-9 1/4. That mark stood as the meet record until 1999 and is still the No. 2 distance of all time.
Chris Faytok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Triple jump: Robbinsville's Bonvie Fosam leads the way
WHEN: Thursday at 1:45 p.m.
QUALIFIERS:
• Bonvie Fosam, Robbinsville
• Samantha Lopes, Wallkill Valley
• Angelique Williams, Union Catholic
• Dahria Lewis, Columbia
JERSEY OUTLOOK: The triple jump winner has jumped 40 in 20 of the last 22 years. None of N.J.'s entrants have hit that mark but Robbinsville senior Bonvie Fosam is getting close. Coming off a big winter season, Fosam is the No. 9 seed with a personal best of 39-4. With a personal best of 38-8, Columbia's Dahria Lewis is a darkhorse as the No. 18 seed and keep your eye on Wallkill Valley's Samantha Lopes, an emerging junior who added more than a foot to her personal best this winter.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Mount Olive's Keturah Orji went a wind-aided 43-10 1/2 for the win in 2014. Her mark was recalculated to 42-5 1/2, No. 2 in meet history.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Pole vault: Top vaulters are back in action and (hopefully) out of the rain
WHEN: Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
QUALIFIERS:
• Julia Dannenbaum, Pingry
• Jessica Ippolito, Fair Lawn
• Francesca Porambo, Bernards
• Michelle Rubinetti, Demarest
• Leah Saifi, Gov. Livingston
JERSEY OUTLOOK: Despite a strong year for the Garden State, the No. 1 seed, Katie Jones of South Williamsport (Pa.), will have a good chance of breaking the meet record. Jones cleared 13 feet five times this winter, including a personal best 13-9 1/2 to win New Balance Nationals. The meet record is currently 13-1 1/2. Gov. Livingston's Leah Saifi became only the second girl from New Jersey to clear 13 feet this winter and is the No. 3 seed. She'll be joined by a list of contenders including Demarest's Michelle Rubinetti and Pingry's Julia Dannenbaum.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Middletown South's Julianne Toto. Toto cleared 12-5 for the win in 2005.
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
Discus: Palmyra's Tomara Carmichael set to rep N.J.
WHEN: Thursday at 11:15 a.m.
QUALIFIERS: Tomara Carmichael, Palmyra
JERSEY OUTLOOK: As New Jersey's only entrant, Carmichael will try to lead the way as the No. 17 seed in a field of 22 throwers. Carmichael won the Group 1 discus title last spring with a personal best 139-8 and was ninth at the Meet of Champions. She is making her Penn Relays debut.
LAST N.J. WINNER WAS: Delsea's Jocelyn White. White, the only N.J. winner., sent the discus 157-3.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Javelin: Demarest's Jessie Geller makes her return
WHEN: Thursday at 4:45 p.m.
QUALIFIERS: Julianne Foering, Rancocas Valley; Alexa Gardner, Hammonton; Jessica Geller, Demarest; Rachel Kern, Howell; Brielle Smith, Oakcrest; Danielle Steff, Rancocas Valley
JERSEY OUTLOOK: Demarest's Jessie Geller threw a personal best 137-11 to finish third last year. Coming off a 133-7 at the Bergen Relays, Geller will try to remain the top N.J. thrower in the field, but that might be tough with Howell's Rachel Kern in the mix. Kern, who is the No. 9 seed, has broken 140 twice this spring and threw a personal best 144-9 in her season debut.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Red Bank Catholic's Amy Krilla. In 2001, Krill threw the javelin 146-9.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Shot put: National record holder Alyssa Wilson takes center stage
WHEN: Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
QUALIFIERS: Shelby Bigsby, Montclair; Chioma Eluemunor, Morris Hills; Tiaunna Macon, Red Bank Regional; Kate Matrisciano, Whippany Park; Danielle Notarfrancesco, Jackson Liberty; Najeaya Singleton, Vineland; Zyra Thomas, Schalick; Alyssa Wilson, Donovan Catholic
JERSEY OUTLOOK: For the third year in a row, shot put is the marquee event for the Garden State and not just because national record holder Alyssa Wilson is back to defend her title. Wilson, who sent the shot 57-5 1/2, this winter is well ahead of the field, but Jackson Liberty's Danielle Notarfrancesco and Vineland's Najeaya Singleton are seeded right behind her. Montclair's Shelby Rigsby is also the No. 5 seed, potentially creating the Garden State's second straight one-two-three finish.
LAST N.J. WINNER WAS: Donovan Catholic's Alyssa Wilson. Wilson set the meet record last season with a 51-6 1/2. The year before that, Whippany Park's Nickolette Dunbar broke the meet record with a 50-8.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Al Amrhein | For NJ Advance Media
4x100: Deptford enters with N.J.'s No. 1 time
WHEN:
• Small schools: Starting Friday at 10:40 a.m.
• Large schools: Starting Friday at 11:40 a.m.
HOW TO ADVANCE: Eight fastest teams qualify for the Championship of America, Saturday, 1:50 p.m.. The next eight fastest small schools qualify for the small-school final, Saturday, 1:53 p.m.. The next eight fastest large schools qualify for large-school final, Saturday, 1:55 p.m.
JERSEY OUTLOOK: It's been 13 years since any American team has won the race and that streak will likely continue this year as several Jamaican teams are ahead of the pack. Still, there are several teams from New Jersey like Deptford (42.36), St. Peter's Prep (42.49), Pennsauken (42.67) and Seton Hall Prep (42.75) could emerge with some notoriety.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Montclair in 1984. The Essex County squad ran 41.31.
George McNish | For NJ Advance Media
4x400: East Orange wants to overcome last year's near miss
WHEN: Heats are Saturday, starting at 9:10 a.m.
HOW TO ADVANCE: The eight fastest teams qualify for the Championship of America final, Saturday at 5:30 p.m. South Jersey teams are eligible to qualify for the 12-team Philadelphia Area final, Saturday at 5:10. Teams qualifying for the Championship Final may not run in the Philadelphia Area Final.
JERSEY OUTLOOK: Last season, East Orange finished ninth out of 574 teams in the 4x400 and missed the Championship of America by .28 seconds. The Essex County school won the event at New Balance Nationals this winter in 3:16.09 and is back for redemption at Franklin Field. There are four other teams -- CBA (3:22.04), Franklin (3:22.43), Matawan (3:22.64) and Egg Harbor (3:23.92) -- under 4:24 and Pope John sitting at 4:24 flat.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Winslow in 2004. The Camden County school ran 3:11.30 to join a long list of N.J. champions dating back to 1917 when Newark Central won the 440-yard title.
Larry Murphy | For NJ Advance Media
4x800: Can Old Bridge's Rey Rivera outshine Jamaicans?
WHEN:
• Small Schools: Friday, beginning at 9:20 a.m. (two heats)
• Large Schools: Friday, beginning at 9:40 a.m. (two heats)
HOW TO ADVANCE: The 12 fastest teams regardless of school size will compete in the Championship of America on Saturday at 4.
JERSEY OUTLOOK: All four runner's from St. Jago's championship-winning team are back to defend their title as one of several Jamaican teams that will be running at the front of the pack. There are several strong contenders from New Jersey including Egg Harbor (7:48.92), Old Bridge (7:49.96) and St. Benedict's (7:50.48). Look for Georgetown-bound senior Rey Rivera, who is on the brink of breaking 1:50, to help seperate Old Bridge from the mix.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Pleasantville in 2013. The Atlantic County school stopped the clock in 7:40.11 as anchor Jacob Clark recorded the second fastest split in meet history with a 1:49.2.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Distance medley relay: Three top teams in the mix
WHEN: Friday at 5:55 p.m.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: The top 18 applicants qualified for this Championship of America. This year, seven teams from N.J. -- CBA, Princeton, McNair, West Windsor-Plainsboro North, Morris Hills, Don Bosco and Bergen Catholic -- made the cut.
JERSEY OUTLOOK: With three out of the top six seeds, it could be an exciting year for the Garden State. Question is can any of New Jersey's top three teams -- CBA (10:19.20), Princeton (10:19.73) or McNair (10:22.44) -- challenge the top three seeds? California's Bellarmine is the No. 1 seed but Pennsylvania's Carlisle set the national indoor record in March when it ran 9:56.18.
LAST N.J. WINNER WAS: St. Benedict's in 2012. Thanks to a 4:05 anchor by Edward Cheserek, the Newark prep school stopped the clock in 10:07.76. Bernards and CBA have each won the event three times.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
400-meter hurdles: East Orange's Cory Poole set to contend
WHEN: Saturday at 9 a.m.
QUALIFIERS: Jamil Adams, Winslow; Tim Jacoutot, Christian Brothers; Akeem Lindo, East Orange; Boaz Madeus, Nottingham; Cory Poole, East Orange; John Owens, West Windsor-Plainsboro North and Anthony Steets, West Essex
JERSEY OUTLOOK: After finishing fifth last season, Poole is back seeking gold. The University of Florida commit will enter with a personal best of 51.56. He is the No. 2 seed behind Jamaica's Timor Barrett from St. Jago, but Poole, who has run at the Junior World Championships is no stranger to the spotlight. Can any of N.J.'s other qualifiers get down to 51 seconds? Nottingham's Boaz Madeus has run 52.86 while East Orange's Akeem Lindo, Anthony Streets of West Essex and Tim Jacoutot from CBA are hovering in the high 53-second range.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Trenton's Jermaine Collier. Collier ran 53.11 for the title in 2011. Additionally, four other hurdlers from N.J. have won this event, including Camden's Dwight Ruff, who holds the meet record from when he ran 50.47 in 2001.
Tom Brenner | For NJ Advance Media
Mile: Can N.J. duo break free from the pack?
WHEN: Friday at 6:09 p.m.
QUALIFIERS: Mulual Mu, Trenton and Elliot Gindhi, Ocean Township
JERSEY OUTLOOK: It's a tough field but Trenton's Mulual Mu and Ocean Township's Elliot Gindi are used to battling. Mu won the 1,600 at the Meet of Champions this winter while Gindi was second at last spring's Meet of Champions. Both are seeded in the bottom third, but both can compete. Gindi has run 4:10 in the 1,600 while Mu owns a personal best of 4:16.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Delbarton's Pat Schellberg. Schellberg ran 4:08.07 for the win in 2010. Overall, nine N.J. runners have won this event while Pascack Valley's Ben Malone ran the second fastest time in meet history (4:05.59) and finished second to record holder Sean McGorty of Chantilly (Va.).
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
3,000: Top distance runners renew rivalry
WHEN: Friday at 6:40 p.m.
QUALIFIERS:
• Jordan Brannan, Colts Neck
• Joey DeFeo, Delbarton
• Matt Grossman, Millburn
• Anthony Russo, Colts Neck
JERSEY OUTLOOK: Jordan Brannan from Colts Neck made the move, but Millburn's Matt Grossman ultimately prevailed, using a big kick over the final 200 meters to win last spring's Meet of Champions in the 3,200. Both are runners are back and are amongst the top three seeds in the 3,000. Brannan ran 8:26.57 to finish sixth at Penn Relays a season ago while Grossman ran 8:38.51 and owns a personal best of 9:03.93 int he 3,200. Anthony Russo of Colts Neck and Delbarton's Joey Defeo are seeded 17th and 19th, respectively.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Delbarton's Morgan Pearson. Pearson ran 8:23.34 for the win in 2011. Overall, seven runners from N.J. have won this event eight times. Overbrook's Murad Campbell (1998-1999) is the only two-time winner.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
High jump: Trenton's Semaj Willis leads big group with experience
WHEN: Friday at 1:45 p.m.
QUALIFIERS: A'Nan Bridgett, West Windsor South; Ronniel Johnson, Paterson Kennedy; Max Michel, Elizabeth; Stephen Staklinski, Freehold Township; Jason Thobourne, Paterson Kennedy; Semaj Willis, Trenton
JERSEY OUTLOOK: Last season, Willis cleared 6-6 3/4 to finish seventh. He's back again with a personal best of 6-10, a height he has cleared three times including at the Meet of Champions this winter. There will be plenty of competition, but Willis should be in the mix for the second year in an row. So far this spring, only Paterson Kennedy's Jason Thobourne has cleared 6-8, but Freehold Township's Stephen Staklinski checks in with a 6-9 from the indoor season. Overall, all six N.J. jumpers are over 6-6.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Trenton's Devon Bond. Bond cleared 6-10 1/4 in 2006. He is one of 12 champions from N.J., including Millville's Robert Jordan, who is tied for the second best height in meet history, 7-2 1/4.
Chris Faytok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Long jump: Bayonne's Victor Cotto hopes to summon MoC magic
WHEN: Saturday at noon
QUALIFIERS: Victor Cotto, Bayonne
JERSEY OUTLOOK: Cotto is the No. 16 seed and enters with a personal best of 23-2 1/2, the mark he recorded to win last year's Meet of Champions. Cotto jumped 23-2 again this winter. As New Jersey's only entrant, Cotto will out-perform his seed if he can get in the 23-foot range once again.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Winslow's Anthony Miles. Miles went 24-6 1/2 to win the 2003 title.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Triple jump: Elizabeth's Dodley Thermitus hopes to replicate 50-foot mark
WHEN: Saturday at noon
QUALIFIERS:
• Dodley Thermitus, Elizabeth
• Keith Owuso, Franklin
JERSEY OUTLOOK: It will most likely take a 50-foot jump to win, but Elizabeth's Dodley Thermitus, who recently signed with the University of Houston, went 50-3 1/4 inches last season at the Group Championships to record his personal best. Thermitus is the No. 6 seed and hoping to improve last year's sixth-place finish. Franklin's Keith Owuso, a junior, jumped a personal best of 46-1 two weeks ago at the Skyland Conference Relays.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Hackensack's Darius Pemberton. Pemberton jumped 49-9 in 1992 and is one of only two champions from N.J.
Larry Murphy | For NJ Advance Media
Pole vault: N.J. trio hopes to outperform seeds
WHEN: Satuday at 10 a.m.
QUALIFIERS:
• Brandon Kong, Bridgewater-Raritan
• Seth Kricheff, Old Tappan
• Cooper Bertoldo, Phillipsburg
JERSEY OUTLOOK: All three vaulters, who are seeded in the bottom third, jumped at least 14-3 this winter, and Old Tappan sophomore Seth Kritcheff replicated the feat last weekend at the Bergen County Relays when he went 14-6, the best height in the state this spring. Kong cleared 14-6 at the Group Championships but it will take a much better clearance to move up the results at Penn.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Andy Brethorst of Morris Knolls. Brethorst cleared 15-1 in 1990. Overall, N.J. has won this event nine times, including seven in nine seasons from 1976-1984.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Disucus: Rahway's Jordan West goes for gold
WHEN: Friday at 12:45 p.m.
QUALIFIERS:
• Adam Hunt, Collingswood
• Joe Miele, Southern
• Jordan West, Rahway
JERSEY OUTLOOK: As No. 2 seed, can West put together a championship throw? West, who will throw next season at Tennessee, enters with a personal best of 190-2 and threw a 185-5 Saturday at the Blue Devil Classic. The No. 1 seed is Roje STona from St. Jago (Jam.) Also keep an eye on Collingswood's Adam Hunt, who enters with a personal best of 176-6 and reached 170 three times last season.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: East Brunswick's Sam Mattis in 2012. Mattis sent the discus 211-11 and is one of five N.J. champions since 2002.
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
Javelin: South Jersey's 200-footers square off at the top
WHEN: Friday at 2:45 p.m.
QUALIFIERS: Cade Antonucci, Holy Spirit; Dajon Chappell, Morris Hills; Alexander Georgiou, Timber Creek; James Kelly, Old Tappan; Jack Lotosky, Christian Brothers; Nickolas Mirabelli, Rancocas Valley; Jordan Montero, Wayne Valley; Jameer Robinson, St. Joseph's (Met.)
JERSEY OUTLOOK: It's a deep year and top-heavy year for the javelin as evidenced by N.J.'s eight qualifiers and two throwers that have broken the 200-foot mark. Last year's Meet of Champions winner Cade Antonucci is the No. 3 seed and enters with a personal best of 206-10 while Rancocas Valley junior Nickolas Mirabelli has been on a roll and has added four feet to each of his three throws this spring. He threw a personal best 206-8 last weekend at the Woodbury Relays and is entered as the No. 5 seed.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Midland Park's Caleb Zuidema. Zuidema won with a 216-5, the ninth best throw in meet history.
Shot put: Who emerges from the mix?
WHEN: Friday at 4:30 p.m.
QUALIFIERS: John Burk, Parsippany; Samuel Fishbein, Newark Academy; Giovanni Guiterrez, Saddle Brook; Andrew Huisman, St. Rose; Joshua Lezin, Lakewood; C.J. Licata, Gill St. Bernad's; Ryan Roger, Toms River North; Todd Stueber, Toms River South
JERSEY OUTLOOK: It's another deep and talented event. Jordan West of Rahway elected to throw the discus which opens the door for another N.J. thrower. A title is most likely out of reach with meet record holder Jordan Geist from Knoch (Pa.) back again, but Saddle Brook's Giovanni Gutierrez, Todd Stueber from Toms River South and C.J. Licata of Gill St. Bernard's are seeded in the top six and have all thrown 60 feet. Also keep an eye on Newark Academy's Sam Fishbein, who is coming off a 57-7 from last weekend's Blue Devil Classic.
LAST N.J. CHAMPION WAS: Braheme Days Jr. from Bridgeton. Days was a back-to-back winner in 2012-2013 and has two of the top six throws in meet history. Morristown's Nick Vena won four titles from 2009-2012 and had the meet record with a 72-9 1/4 until Geist broke it a season ago.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Full coverage of the Penn Relays on NJ.com
NJ.com will have everything you need to before, during and after the Penn Relays. To get you up to speed check out the links below.
• Previews, qualifiers and everything you need
• N.J.'s 44 greatest performances of all time
• N.J.'s best chances to win
• N.J.'s full list of qualifiers
Pat Lanni may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @PatLanniHS. Like NJ.com High School Sports on Facebook.
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