Paced by an unprecedented four-peat by
Morristown (N.J.) star Nick Vena, eight New Jersey athletes and relay teams won their respective events at the New Balance Indoor Nationals last weekend at New York's famed New Balance Track and Field Center.
Vena's final shot put heave of 69 feet, 4 ¼ inches made the Virginia-bound senior the first boy to win four national indoor titles. This came after he won his fourth state Meet of Champions indoor title in the same event last month.
Meanwhile,
Paramus Catholic (N.J.) junior Myashia Jacobs (7.34 seconds) and
Timber Creek Regional (Erial, N.J.) senior Damiere Boyd (6.74) set state records in the 60-meter dash while winning their first national championships. Mark Jones of
Summit (N.J.) also garnered his first gold medal with the nation's best high jump this season (7-0 ¼), while Ajee' Wilson of
Neptune (N.J.) touched the tape first in the 800 (2:06.17).
In the relays, the
Christian Brothers Academy (Lincroft, N.J.) boys capped a near-perfect indoor campaign with wins in both the mile (17:37.01) and 4x55 shuttle hurdles (30.37), but posted their best performance by placing second in the distance medley relay with the fourth-fastest time ever nationally (10:02.99).
Also, the
Red Bank Catholic (N.J.) girls recorded the country's fastest time this year and the third-quickest clocking ever by capturing the 4x800 relay (8:56.94).
TOP PERFORMANCES* Joelle Amaral, Randolph (N.J.) girls track: The junior placed second in the one-mile run (4:49.23) at the New Balance National Indoors.
* Edward Cheserek, St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.) boys track: After finishing as the nation's runner-up in cross country last fall, the sophomore took second in the two-mile (8:42.66) at the New Balance National Indoors.
