Freshman/Sophomore Meet: Impressive triples and doubles lead the county’s rising stars

On Saturday, Hopewell Valley hosted the county's freshman/sophomore meet, and these rising stars put the county on notice with some big-time results. Here are a few names to watch out for in the coming years!

Sophomore Girls

D’Njah Tatum (Notre Dame) lines up for the SMR at the Mercer Coaches Relays on April 11, 2026. | Track Mercer

Notre Dame sophomore D'Njah Tatum had a remarkable day and swept four events — the 100m (13.23), 100mH (15.73), 200m (26.83), and triple jump (32-08.50), all PRs. Her 15.73 in the hurdles is particularly eye-catching for a sophomore. WWP South's Yona Choksi also had a very productive day, running 15.79 in the 100mH for 2nd place behind Tatum, winning the 400mH in 1:09.34, and placing 2nd in both the long jump (15-0) and triple jump (32-5).

WWP North's Anamika Sertil got double wins in the long jump (15-2) and high jump (4-10). Allentown's Katherine Brun also cleared 4-10 to take 2nd in the high jump.

Hopewell Valley's Ashley Potter posted the top 1600m time of the day with a 5:45.58.

WWP North’s Abigail Powers dueled Ewing’s Zoey DeSouza in the throws — Powers won the javelin (111-5) and discus (98-10) with PRs in each, while DeSouza took the shot put (37-3).

Freshman Girls

Notre Dame had a pair of fantastic freshmen who both swept three events. Gabriela Mandell dominated the long sprints, winning the 200m (27.12), 400m (1:00.21), and 400mH (1:08.07) — all impressive PR times across the board. Her classmate Kailyn Mullen had an even broader sweep, taking the 100mH (18.21), high jump (4-8), long jump (15-3), and triple jump (30-05.50) — four events in all.

Robbinsville's Charlotte Galluccio earned runner-up finishes behind Mandell in both the 200m (27.97) and 400m (1:03.26). Hopewell Valley's Mackenzie Paul won the 100m in 13.62.

Allentown's Sussanah Morino won the 800m in 2:28.71, a very strong freshman time. WWP South's Cecilia Szostak took the 1600m in 5:47.95. Princeton's Leilani Barnett won the shot put at 29-00.75.

Sophomore Boys

Aron Zola (WWP South) kicks to the win in an epic four-way battle down the homestretch. | Photo by jackshotz_

The sophomore boys 1600m was a thriller, with multiple lead changes in the final laps followed by a photo finish. After the sprint down the final stretch, WWP South's Aron Zola outleaned Allentown's Ryan Heissler at the tape, 4:31.70 to 4:31.72. Right behind them were Hopewell Valley's Julian Hiraldo (4:32.22) and WWP North's Sushanth Karri (4:33.19). All four closed their last laps in 62-63 seconds! Four boys running PRs under 4:34 is an impressive showing for the sophomore class.

The other distance events were also quick, as WWP South's Sean Maina won the 800m in 2:03.10 and WWP North's Soham Shah took the 3200m in 10:04.58.

Hightstown's Amari Baker had a strong multi-event day, winning the 110mH in a PR of 16.54 and also taking the triple jump (38-11). Notre Dame's Kendrick Mullen swept three field events with PRs in the high jump (6-2), long jump (19-4), and javelin (150-0). Nottingham's Michael Juliano won the 400m in 51.59 in a close race over WWP North's Karson Kwok in 51.85. WWP North's Lukas Hoover won the 100m in 11.78.

Princeton's Shriram Joshi won the shot put at 42-02.50, and Robbinsville's Thomas Weis won the pole vault at 10-0.

Freshman Boys

Notre Dame's Aaron Mitchell was impressive in the long sprints, sweeping the 200m (23.86) and 400m (52.82). His teammate Kaz Kelly won the 100m in 11.66. Lawrence's Jion Swingle took the 110mH in 19.83, Trenton's Jordon Johnson won the 400mH in 1:08.00, and Nottingham's Lorvens Charles earned 2nd place in both hurdles races.

In the distance events, Hopewell Valley's Declan Curley won a tactical 1600m over WWP South's Aidan Fan, 5:00.17 to 5:00.44, Nottingham’s Gabriel Toure ran away with the 800m in 2:10.65, and WWP North's Ashvin Avineni cruised to the top 3200m time in 10:08.70.

Nottingham's Herweenslay Veillard swept all three jumps, going 17-5 in the long jump, 35-11.50 in the triple jump, and 5-4 in the high jump. In the throws, Princeton's Jonathan Martinez Salinas won the shot put at 40-09.50, Hightstown's Charles Sims won the discus at 107-11, and Steinert's Rocco Garcia won the javelin at 111-3.