Penn Relays, 2013: Union Catholic, Timber Creek, Old Bridge pace NJ boys 4x400 relays

 

Union Catholic's foursome of Jordan Jimerson, Obafemi Animashaun, Zach Ghizzone and Morgan McLaughlin won their 4x400-meter relay trial heat in 3:14.00 and was the lone New Jersey team to qualify for the 4x400 Championship of America race.The splits were 48.0 for Jimerson, 49.9 for Animashaun, 48.5 for Ghizzone and 47.9 for McLaughlin, whose time was the 14th fastest among 2,172 runners in all 4x400 heats.Speaking of splits, Zyaire Clemes of Trenton posted the second fastest split of the day with a 46.4 on the second leg of his team's relay. His time was behind only Delano Williams of Munro (Jamaica), who ran 46.3. Jamaal Muse of Timber Creek split a leadoff 47.5, No. 17 overall.The 20 fastest New Jersey teams in the 4x400 were Union Catholic (3:14.00), Timber Creek (3:16.65), Old Bridge (3:18.79), Hunterdon Central (3:18.87), Columbia (3:21.35), St. Benedict's Prep (3:21.40), Mendham (3:22.41), Pope John (3:22.76), Metuchen (3:22.82), Newark Tech (3:22.96), Rahway (3:23.05), Franklin (3:23.26), Pascack Valley (3:23.48), Weequahic (3:24.12), Vineland (3:24.18), South Brunswick (3:24.25), Don Bosco Prep (3:24.43), East Brunswick (3:24.95), Hillside (3:25.19), Buena (3:25.27). Each 4x400 heat winner is awarded a miniature wooden wheel replica of the giant wheel which goes to the Championship of America winners. New Jersey enjoyed the best showing of all states represented, winning 19 heats, while New York won seven, Maryland five and Virginia two. The New Jersey teams which won their heats were: Union Catholic (3:14.00), Old Bridge (3:18.79), St. Benedict's Prep (3:21.40), Pope John (3:22.76), Rahway (3:23.05), Weequahic (3:24.12), Kingsway (3:24.29), Buena (3:25.27), Irvington (3:25.47), Hopewell Valley (3:26.17), North Brunswick (3:27.37), Haddonfield (3:27.45), Dickinson (3:27.79), Indian Hills (3:29.17), Absegami (3:29.75), Paterson Kennedy (3:30.08), Notre Dame (3:30.95), Penns Grove (3:31.26) and Brick Memorial (3:32.73). 

Based on the Relay's, people can agrre that the New Jersey teams have preformed with great excellence and beating their heats has resulted in their greatest preformance yet! As I watched the relay's, as a distance and relay runner, I was immediatley intreged by their preformances. It was amazing watching these athletes compete and the fact that most of the athletes are from college is preparing me mentally as I wish to run track in college.