UC Girls Win 5th Straight State Title!

The Union Catholic girls reaffirmed its status as one of the greatest programs in state history with the most dominating performance in meet history as the Vikings racked up a record 179 points to runaway with its fifth straight State Non-Public A Track and Field title and complete another undefeated season on Saturday at Central Regional in Bayville.

UC’s boys also had a very strong meet, placing second to Christian Brothers Academy in the Non-Public standings, 130-91.

In the girls competition, the 179 points by UC broke the meet record for all groups combined of 153 that the Vikings scored last year.

To give you an idea about just how dominant and impressive the performance was by the UC girls, the maximum number of points that can be scored in the 18 events is 390. That means the Vikings scored 46 percent of all the possible points. UC won seven of the 18 events, including all three relays.

The Vikings received contributions from several athletes.

Leena Morant won the 800-meter run for the third straight year, anchored the winning 4×400 relay (3:49.46) with a 57.5 split, and placed third in the 400. Watch a video interview with Morant here.
Sydney Tucker won the 100 (12.25), placed second in the 200 (24.85), and anchored the winning 4×100, which ran a school record 47.36, the No. 1 time in N.J. this season. UC now owns the fastest times in the state in the 4×100, 4×400 (3:45.39) and 4×800 (9:00.36)

Jerika Lufrano won the 3,200 (10:48.96) and was second in the 1,600 (4:57.71), Alexandra Kwasnik captured the high jump by clearing 5-6. Avery Jordan ran on the winning 4×100, split 58.5 in the 4×400, placed fifth in the high hurdles, and fourth in the 400 hurdles.

Khamil Evans ran on the victorious 4×100 and 4×400 (57.3 split), placed second in the shot put (34-8), and was fifth in the 400. Felicia Quainoo placed third in the high hurdles (14.72), second in the triple jump (38-1), and sixth in the long jump.

Morgan Williams finished second in the 800 in a personal best 2:14.47 and ran on the winning 4×800 (9:35.44).

Freshman Abby Granrath ran a huge personal best of 11:11.89 to place second in the 3,200. A’Liyah Thomas placed second in the high jump (5-4). Zamira Ysaac was fourth in the high hurdles and fifth in the 400 hurdles, and Hope Handlin finished third in the pole vault (10-6).

Full results of the meet are here

The UC boys turned in several sparkling performances.

Conor Reilly led a 1-2-3 finish for the Vikings in the pole vault by clearing 14-6. Elijah Brown split 47.7 on the anchor of the 4×400 to rally UC to a heart-pounding victory over CBA, 3:19.61 to 3:19.62. Brown also third in the 800 (1:54.58) and fourth in the 400 (49.42).

Myles Plummer continued his magical freshman year. He ran 50.1 on the 4×400, placed fourth in the 800 (1:55.75), and fourth in the 1,600 (4:2.07). Tyhir Jones ran 50.6 leading off the 4×400, and finished fifth in both the 200 (22.31) and 400 (49.58). Connor Cooper split 50.6 on the 4×400, and was fourth in the 200 (22.26). Ryan McLaughlin finished second in the 110 hurdles (14.82).

In the field, Uchenna Duru finished fifth in both the discus (157-3) and shot put (52-10), Justin Lopez made 12-6 to place second in the pole vault, and Obadare Animashaun was third in the vault (12-6). In the triple jump, Oluwafemi Asenuga was fourth (44-1) and Brandon Leslie fifth (43-6 3/4).

The Vikings will be back in action at the Meet of Champions this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Northern Burlington High School.