Mercer County girls will be busy at the Meet of Champions after loading up on medals at the group championships.
Nine individual boys and four relay teams punched their tickets to the Meet of Champions with superb performances.
Allison Lee (WWP North) shatters the CVC 1600m record with a 4:40 — #4 all-time in New Jersey — while Agrim Jha (WWP North) earns the boys win in a quick 4:15.
NJ.com’s reporters Bakari Tice (for boys) and Corey Annan (for girls) shine a light on 8-9 talented runners in each group who have been flying under the radar this season.
The Group 2 boys include John O’Leary (Allentown, Sr.). “O’Leary has built an impressive résumé this season with a string of strong performances across major events.”
The Group 2 girls include Addison Frascella (Allentown, Fr.), along with a nice photo of her at the Six Flags Wild Safari Invitational. “With Allentown graduating its No. 1 runner from last year, having a freshman like Frascella step into that role so quickly has helped keep Allentown competitive.”
The Group 3 girls include Anna Wilson (Hopewell Valley, Jr.). “When Hopewell Valley is healthy, this is one of the better teams in the state. Wilson is a big part of their lineup and showed it on Thursday.”
The Non-Public A/B girls include Kayla Peckens (Princeton Day, Fr.). “Princeton Day should be excited about their future with Peckens leading the lineup.”
From NJ.com’s individual girls rankings:
#4 Allison Lee (WWP North, Sr.)
#19 Sydney Young (Hopewell Valley, Jr.)
#23 Kajol Karra (Princeton, Sr.)
#26 Laura Sallade (Wilberforce, Sr.)
#27 Grace Hegedus (Princeton, Jr.)
From NJ.com’s individual boys rankings:
#13 Agrim Jha (WWP North, So.)
#16 Paul Wittenberg (WWP North, Jr.)
#24 Finnegan Curley (Hopewell Valley, Jr.)
#37 Saboor Qureshi (Princeton, Sr.)
From NJ.com’s top 20 girls teams:
#4 Princeton
#18 WWP North
”Under consideration” Hopewell Valley
From NJ.com’s top 20 boys teams:
#12 WWP North
”Under consideration” Princeton
Three Mercer County girls teams hold steady in NJ.com’s rankings for September 22nd:
#2 Princeton won the Jerry Hart Invitational last week, led by Kajol Karra’s second-place finish.
#11 Hopewell Valley did not compete last week.
#19 WWP North did not compete last week.
Blanchard, Lee, Jha, Kinsler, Crawford, and Gilligan all post some of the fastest times in Mercer County history.