By Patrick Lanni | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Chris Faytok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Wheels and watches
Believe it or not, the last team from New Jersey to win an event on the track was Columbia two years ago when Olivia Baker led the Essex County school to the 4x800 Championship of America.
Will any team end the two-year drought title this year? There are certainly contenders. In the field, New Jersey has even better chances to win.
Below, we break down the list of New Jersey's top contenders as well as the teams and athletes hoping to leave their mark at Franklin Field during the 123rd edition of the Penn Relays.
21-Which N.J. shot putter pulls away from the pack?
Pennsylvania’s Jordan Geist, the meet record holder and one of the top high school throwers of all-time, is back to defend his title so a win will be hard to come by in for any Garden State shot putters. Still this could be a good opportunity for several top-notch throwers to make their way up the state leaderboard. Saddle Brook’s Giovanni Gutierrez, Todd Stueber from Toms River South and C.J. Licata from Gill St. Bernard’s are seeded fourth-sixth.
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
20-Best chances at ending the javelin title drought?
It's been a 16-year title drought for New Jersey athletes in the event, but Geller was third last year with a 137-11. Howell's Rachel Kern is also a contender and has broken 140 twice this spring and threw a personal best 144-9 in her season debut.
Chris Faytok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
19-Robbinsville's Bonvie Fosam looking for triple jump breakthrough
If anyone can hit a big personal best and get into the 40-foot range to compete for the title it’s Fosam. The senior, had a strong finish to the indoor season, and has been inching her way to 40. Could it be a breakout performance for Fosam at Franklin Field? She’ll enter as the No. 9 seed with a personal best of 39-4.
Al Amrhein | For NJ Advance Media
18-New Jersey's notoriety in the boys 4x100
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, the several teams from New Jersey teams like -- Deptford (42.36), St. Peter's Prep (42.49), Pennsauken (42.67) and Seton Hall Prep (42.75) could emerge with some notoriety.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
17-Will Winslow's girls contend in the 4x100?
The Woodbury Relays always provides a nice tune-up before Penn and Winslow got just that when it ran 47.44 in the 4x100. With help from Shakira Dancy, one of the state’s top sprinters, could Winslow be in the mix for a top American finish? If so, it will need to compete with several top teams like Bullis (Md.), Elizabeth Seton (Md.) and Paul Robeson (N.Y.).
RELATED: A look back at N.J.'s 44 greatest Penn Relays performances of all-time
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
16-With future solidified, can Elizabeth's Dodley Thermitus solidify Penn Relays gold?
It will most likely take a 50-foot jump to win, but 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.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
15-Trenton's Semaj Willis soars into year two at Franklin Field
Last season, Willis cleared 6-6 3/4 in the cold and rain to finish seventh. He's back again with a personal best of 6-10. There will be plenty of competition, but Willis should be in the mix for the second year in an row.
Stephanie Maksin | For NJ.com
14-Mainland's Alyssa Aldridge seeks improvement, 3k title
Aldridge, a two-time winner at the Meet of Champions in cross-country, is back for the second year in a row with a chance to drastically improve last year's finish. She'll enter as the No. 5 seed with a personal best of 10:34.78 in the 3,200 and be pushed by Howell's Niamh Hayes, who had a strong winter season.
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
13-N.J.'s 200-footers duke it once again
New Jersey's top two javelin throwers will meet for the second time in less than a week as Nickolas Mirabelli from Rancocas Valley and Holy Spirit's Cade Antonucci try to become the fifth winner from New Jersey since 1993. Mirabelli has added four feet to each of his three throws this spring and enters with a personal best of 206-8. Antonucci's last year's winner at the Meet of Champions has a personal best of 206-10. Antonucci is the No. 3 seed while Mirabelli is the five.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
12-Haddonfield's Briana Gess hopes for early season mile success
Gess is always at her best in the big moments, espcially at the end of the season. A three-time winner of the 1,600 at the Meet of Champions, Gess will be in the mix despite being seeded 15th out of 16 competitors. She has a personal best of 4:45.97 in the 1,600, a time she ran as a freshman.
Larry Murphy | For NJ Advance Media
11-Can Rey Rivera lead Old Bridge's 4x800 to top American finish?
Jamaica has several teams that can dominate the race for the second year in a row, including last year’s champion, St. Jago, which returns all four runners from last year’s team that ran 7:33.71. It will be a long shot for N.J. to win but look out for Old Bridge’s Rey Rivera to possibly run the event’s fastest split and help his team contend for the top American finish. Egg Harbor, which ran 7:48.92 this winter, will also be in the mix.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
10-CBA, Princeton clash as distance medley contenders
After duking it out at the Meet of Champions in cross-country, Princeton and CBA will battle it out again as two of the top contenders in the distance medley relay. California's Bellarmine High is the favorite but Christian Brothers, making its 10th straight and 32nd overall appearance in the DMR, has plenty of tradition. Also keep an eye on McNair, a team that is off to a strong spring season.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
9-Safe bet on Gov. Livingston's Leah Saifi?
Saifi can attest that anything can happen in an unpredictable event like the pole vault. Katie Jones from South Williamsport (Pa.), a consistent 13-foot vaulter with a PR of 13-9 1/4, is back to defend her title, but Saifi enters with the No. 3 seed and is coming off a 13-0 1/2 clearance this winter. Demarest's Michelle Rubinetti is also in the mix.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
8-Top distance runners favored in boys 3,000
Millburn's Matt Grossman got a tune-up at Arcadia while Colts Neck's Jordan Brannan is gearing up to challenge last spring's Meet of Champions winner in the 3,200. Both Brannan and Grossman are seeded in the top three behind Connor Lane from Cardinal Gibbons (N.C.). Lane, Brannan and Grossman all have comparable personal bests so this race, like most high-level distance races, may come down to strategy.
PLUS: Which track and field teams have produced the most Division 1 athletes
Chris Faytok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
7-Ridge earns respect in girls 4x800
Ridge ran 9:01.64 to win New Balance Nationals this winter in the 4x800, but there are three Jamaican teams -- Edwin Allen, Holmwood Tech and Hydel - that are under nine minutes. Can the foursome of Meghan Convery, Catherine Giuseffi, Kaitlyn Van Baalen and Brooke Fazio get in the mix for a title or will Ridge battle it out with New York's Shenendehowa and North Penn for American supremacy?
George McNish | For NJ Advance Media
6-East Orange seeks redemption in boys 4x400
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. With all four runners back from last year's team as well as Kishaun Richardson, coach Lance Wigfall is hoping his team is ready to roll.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
5-North Hunterdon, Randolph - success at the top of girls distance medley
There's a good chance a New Jersey team can win the distance medley relay, it just comes down to which one...North Hunterdon or Randolph? Virginia's Patriot High, led by a 4:45 miler in Rachel McArthur, is the No. 1 seed at 11:56.12, but North Hunterdon has run 12:02.16 and Randolph is entered at 12:03.72.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
4-Rahway's Jordan West earns No. 2 seed in discus
The good news for West is that Pennsylvania’s Jordan Geist from Knoch High is throwing the shot put for the second straight year. Last season, Geist broke the meet the meet record in the shot put, which was formerly held by Morristown’s Nick Vena. With Geist gone and the 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.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
3-Olympian Sydney McLaughlin takes team first for girls 4x400
Can Sydney McLaughlin send the fans at Franklin Field into a frenzy? The Olympic star will anchor the way and likely need to make up some ground on several Jamaican teams including Hydel, St. Jago and Holmwood Tech, which have all broken 3:37. Last year, Union Catholic ran 3:42.59 to finish third overall and first for American teams.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
2-East Orange's Cory Poole seeks gold in 400 hurdles
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. Will he get under 52 seconds for the fourth time in his career?
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
1-Shot put sensation Alyssa Wilson of Donovan Catholic continues success
Back to defend her shot put title, Wilson will be in the running for major accolades. This winter, the UCLA-bound thrower set a national record when she sent the shot 57-5 1/2. No other shot putter in the field has broken 50 feet. For the second year in a row, Wilson could lead a New Jersey sweep in the event as Jackson Liberty's Danielle Notarfrancesco and Vineland's Najeaya Singleton are seeded in the top three.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
More Penn Relays coverage on NJ.com
For full coverage leading up to the Penn Relay, check out the links below.
• Previews, qualifiers and everything you need
• N.J.'s 44 greatest performances of all time
• 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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