UC’s Aska, Atexide Smash Records
Nyinah, Boys 4×800 win at US Army Officials Hall of Fame Invitational
Union Catholic’s Avery Atexide and Taylor Aska smashed school class records, Maameyaa Nyinah, and the boys 4×800 finished first, and the Vikings threw down a flurry of N.J. No. 1 and U.S. Top 10 performances at Saturday’s U.S. Armory Officials Hall of Fame Invitational at the New York Armory.
Atexide and Aska both took down sophomore class records in the sprints. Atexide ran a NJ No. 4 35.43 to place fifth in the 300-meter run, breaking UC’s sophomore record of 35.66 set in 2013 by the legendary Taylor McLaughlin. Aska burned a a NJ No. 2 time of 7.14 to finish second and break the sophomore class mark of 7.23 set in 2016 by Amaya Chadwick.
Both of UC’s 4×800 relay squads ran NJ 1 times!
The boys foursome of Sean Wilson (2:01.7), Ryan Cichocki (2:01.6), Caudell Cajuste (2:02.4), and Jimmy Wischusen (1:58.4) combined to run 8:04.06, the 10th fastest time in the nation this season. It was strong season debut meet for Wischusen, who also placed ninth in the boys mile in 4;22.15. It was great to see Wischusen back after being sidelined from racing with an injury since the Shore Coaches XC meet on Oct. 1.
In the girls 4×800, Victoria Urbaez, Courtney Kaiser, Ella Solorzano, and Kaleigh Gunsiorowski teamed up to place second in 9:29.36, No. 8 in the nation this season.Gunsiorowski blasted a 2:15.8 anchor leg, and she also finished fifth in the mile in 5:04.58.
Nyinah came up with UC’s other victory when she ran a 1:36.93 to win the 600, which is the fastest time in NJ this season and No. 14 in the nation. She also
Cox, a sophomore, also had a huge meet for the Vikings.
She placed third in the 55 hurdles in a personal best 7.99, which is NJ No. 1 and U.S.No. 6, and she led off th 4×200 that burned a 1:40.93 in the trials, which is NJ No., 1 and US No. 8. Ajanae Thompson, Leah Gould and Aska ran the final three legs in the 4×200. Thompson also placed fifth in the 55 dash in 7.19.
Some other big highlights were produced by Alexandra Bonn, who soared 18-0 to place third and move into a tie for the No. 1 spot in the state rankings this season, and Michael Devine, who finished second in the 2-mile in 9:44.44.
