Track & field: Record day for St. John Vianney's Scott at Monmouth County meet
TINTON FALLS – St. John Vianney High School track star Alexandria Scott’s pursuit of history took a first step Thursday – and it was a big one.
The senior won two events during day one of the Monmouth County Championships, breaking a 19-year-old meet record in the process. That came in the girls 400-meter hurdles, when her personal-best time of 1:00.52 erased the standard set by Neptune great Trier Young in 2005.
“I was so excited,” said Scott, who finished a whopping six seconds ahead of the field. “I liked that even though I ran alone, I tried to remind myself that every step has a purpose, and that’s what pushed me to the meet record.”
After only about a 15-minute rest, Scott entered the girls 100-meter dash trials and coasted into the final, where she broke the tape in 12.49.
“It’s really an honor to win that,” she said. “I was proud of myself because I never really ran another open 100 before, except one other time.”
Next up in her 400 hurdles record chase is the Monmouth County standard of 1:00.37 set by Middletown North’s Jenna Reid in 2017. The Shore Conference record – 59.69 by Lakewood’s Shelly Mitchell in 1988 – also is in play.
Scott’s next meet is the Shore Conference Championships May 18, when she’ll compete in the 400 hurdles, open 400 and possibly the long jump.
“I’m excited to see where the rest of my training takes me,” she said.
The Monmouth County Championships conclude Saturday at Monmouth Regional High School.
TOP 5 BOYS PERFORMERS
1. Lawrence Hicks, Red Bank
The senior won the high jump with a personal-best height of 6-8 and placed second in the long jump (22-1.25).
2. Conor Clifford and Joe Barrett, Christian Brothers
The senior-junior duo both broke Colts Neck legend Craig Forys’ meet record of 4:13.88 from 2007. Clifford struck gold in 4:12.28 while Barrett got silver in 4:12.89.
3. Cole Herman, Rumson-Fair Haven
The senior won the long jump (22-4.5) and placed third in the high jump (6-2).
4. Joshua Huisman, St. Rose
The senior won the discus with a personal-best heave of 171-7.
5. Tyler Zacharczyk, Shore Regional
The junior won the open 400 in 49.69.
TOP 5 GIRLS PERFORMERS
1. Alexandria Scott, St. John Vianney
The senior broke the 19-year-old meet record in the 400 hurdles (1:00.52) and won the 100-meter dash (12.49).
2. Clemmie Lilley, Rumson-Fair Haven
The junior won the open 400 in a personal-best 55.38, leading a 1-2-3 sweep of the event by the Bulldogs.
3. Eve Segal, Ocean Township
The senior won the shot put with a personal-best heave of 42-5.5, more than three feet farther than the runner-up.
4. Rosemary Shay, Middletown South
The senior won the 1600 in a personal-best 4:57.96.
5. Alexa DiNardo, Holmdel
The senior won the triple jump with a distance of 35-11.
Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Track & field: Record day for Vianney's Scott at Monmouth County meet
