12/22-12/28 – Performers of the Week
Matin Mahmoud (Lawrence, Sr.) is one of two field athletes of the week, thanks to his triple jump of 45-10.5 to win the Ocean Breeze Holiday Festival.
Sianni Wynn Destroys Legendary 21-Year-Old Indoor 200 Record
Sianni Wynn (Pennsauken) ran a 23.79 at the SJTCA #7 meet to break the 200m state record, which was previously held by Lawrenceville’s Sofia Swindell. This article also talks about Trenton legend Wendy Vereen, who ran a national record of 23.87 in 1984 and went on to win multiple global medals. NOTE: According to MileSplit, Vereen’s record time was in the 220y, which still converts to a faster 200m than Wynn’s time.
Talking in Ovals: 119. Jim Lambert, Legendary XC/Track & Field Reporter for NJ MileSplit
In this podcast, Talking in Ovals brings in MileSplit NJ report Jim Lambert to discuss the past XC season. At 16:55 in the linked video, they talk about Allison Lee (WW-P North) as one of the biggest surprise breakthroughs of the season.
12/15-12/21 – Performers of the Week
Blair Bartlett (Lawrenceville, So.) is the girl’s distance runner of the week after her 9:32.29 3000m to win the JAMBAR Coaches Hall of Fame Invitational.
Girls indoor track Fab 50, Dec. 19: Who stood out in the first rankings?
NJ.com’s first rankings of the indoor season include several girls from Mercer County:
#7 Blair Bartlett (Lawrenceville, Fr., Distance)
#8 Sofia Swindell (Lawrenceville, Sr., Sprints/Hurdles)
#16 Allison Lee (WW-P North, Jr., Distance)
#26 Audrey Cheng (Lawrenceville, Sr., Pole Vault)
#28 Lexie Koch (Lawrenceville, Sr., Sprints)
#29 Yasmin Willie (Lawrenceville, Fr., Distance)
#31 Catalina Holliday (Nottingham, Sr., Shot Put)
#35 Elsie Rey De-Castro (Hopewell Valley, So., Distance)
#49 Alaina Sabo (Notre Dame, Fr., Distance)
Paige Sheppard Smashes 1600m State Record In Season Opener
MileSplit NJ highlights the amazing run by Union Catholic’s Paige Sheppard, who broke the New Jersey 1600m record with a 4:44.77 on the newly resurfaced indoor track at the Lawrenceville School. It also talks about Blair Bartlett (Lawrenceville, So.) who got 2nd with an incredible 4:51.81, which is US #2 right now.
Girls indoor track preview, 2024-25: Field athletes to watch for the upcoming season
Catalina Holliday (Nottingham, Sr.) makes NJ.com’s list of ten girl throwers to watch this indoor season. The article highlights that she took second at the Meet of Champions and finished the season with the #4 throw in NJ. It also includes a great photo of her throwing at the outdoor Meet of Champions.
Boys indoor track preview, 2024-25: Field athletes to watch for the upcoming season
Sean Wilton (Princeton, Sr.) is one of ten throwers on NJ.com’s list of boys to watch this indoor track season. They list all the meets Wilton won last year and note that he “returns with an N.J. No. 6 55-5¼ PR.”
Girls indoor track preview, 2024-25: Runners to watch for the upcoming season
NJ.com’s list of girl runners to watch this winter includes Tessa Hughes (Peddie), Sofia Swindell (Lawrenceville), Blair Bartlett (Lawrenceville), and Allison Lee (WW-P North).
Boys indoor track preview, 2024-25: Runners to watch for the upcoming season
Lawrence’s Tristan Jusino-Lansing makes NJ.com’s list of boy sprinters to watch this winter. He was “was one of Central Jersey’s best in the hurdles last season.”
Allison Lee making splash as top North girls cross country runner
Allison Lee (WW-P North) speaks with the Community News about her running journey, her racing mindset, and her past XC season, including her race at the Meet of Champions. Coach Deanna Altvater also talks about Lee’s leadership on WW-P North’s girls team.
116. Derrhyl Duncan Jr., Director of Track & Field at The Lawrenceville School
In this podcast from Talking in Ovals, Coach Duncan (Lawrenceville) talks about his running career, how he became a coach, Lawrenceville’s new indoor track, and what it’s like to coach at a prep school like Lawrenceville.
Tyler Hurst’s energy boosts Spartans in cross country
Steinert’s Tyler Hurst talks with the Hamilton Post about his journey from being a young kid in a running club to becoming one of the best XC runners in the CVC.
Times of Trenton boys cross-country postseason honors, 2024
In the Times of Trenton’s boys XC postseason awards, the runner of the year was Shravan Pradeep (WW-P South). Pradeep talked about his dedication to never missing a day and his strategy of going out hard at the Meet of Champions. The team of the year was WW-P North. The coach of the year was Katie Reilly (WW-P South), who credited her team’s success to the runners’ love for the sport and to her fellow coach Stephanie Pegues’s work developing a strong training plan.
The Times’ All-Area team was Felix Farrugia (Princeton), Luke Ferrer (WW-P North), Tyler Hurst (Steinert), Agrim Jha (WW-P North), Tarun Kovoor (Notre Dame), Shravan Pradeep (WW-P South), and Burke Thompson (Hightstown).
Times of Trenton girls cross-country postseason honors, 2024
In the Times of Trenton’s postseason girls XC awards, Princeton was the team of the year and Karen Walker (Hopewell Valley) was the coach of the year. Walker attributed her girls’ success this season to the supportive, fun team culture and to an emphasis on recovery, mental preparation, and positive self talk.
The Times’ all-area team included Zui Chinchalkar (WW-P North), Eowyn Deess (Princeton), Claire Dumont (Hopewell Valley), Liliah Gordon (Northern Burlington), Grace Hegedus (Princeton), Kajol Karra (Princeton), and Allison Lee (WW-P North).
Union Catholic girls XC wins Nike Cross Regionals title, books trip to Nationals
NJ.com’s Corey Annan speaks with coach Jim Smirk following Princeton’s 4th place finish at NXR. Coach Smirk praises the coaching staff’s efforts to prepare the team for the whole season, the girls’ hard work and dedication to train for something that was still hard to imagine back in the summer, and the team’s ability to always have a fifth runner step up and close out races.
PREVIEW: NIKE CROSS REGIONAL NORTHEAST BY THE NUMBERS 2024
DyeStat writes that the Princeton girls, “clearly the second-best New Jersey outfit,” is one of four contenders for the second auto-qualifying spot at NXR Northeast.
Final boys cross country Fab 50 for 2024: MOC confirms No. 1 & leads to major moves
Shravan Pradeep (WW-P South, Sr.) jumps from #22 to #12 in NJ.com’s final ranking of the Top 50 individual boys.
Final girls cross country Fab 50 for 2024: No. 1 stays firm, but major moves follow
Here are the Mercer County girls who made NJ.com’s final ranking of the Top 50 individuals:
#3 Allison Lee (WW-P North, Jr.)
#13 Kajol Karra (Princeton, Jr.)
#14 Zui Chinchalkar (WW-P North, Sr.)
#26 Grace Hegedus (Princeton, So.)
#31 Claire Dumont (Hopewell Valley, Sr.)
#43 Laura Sallade (Wilberforce, Jr.)
#49 Eowyn Deess (Princeton, So.)
Final 2024 boys cross country Top 20: Action-packed MOC solidifies the rankings
The West Windsor-Plainsboro North boys maintain their spot at #20 in NJ.com’s final ranking of XC boys teams.