Track: These North Jersey athletes and relay teams will participate at Penn Relays
Penn Relays Preview
The 128th Penn Relays begin Thursday and run through Saturday at the University of Pennsylvania's historic Franklin Field in Philadelphia. Here's what to expect from North Jersey athletes at this year's event.
Girls
4-x-800 Relay
When: Thursday, 9:12 a.m.
Local entrants: Ramsey (9:12 a.m.) and Ridgewood (9:34).
Local outlook: Ramsey makes its first appearance in the event since 2010 and Ridgewood extends its North Jersey record to 13 starts. Neither team figures to make the top 12 finalists who'll run Friday but both should acquit themselves well with mostly underclassmen in the lineups.
DISCUS
When: Thursday, 9 a.m.
Local entrant: Layla Giordano, NV/Old Tappan
Local outlook: Reigning state and New Balance Nationals champion Giordano is the top seed and hopes to become North Jersey's first champion in the event and first medalist since Jessica Fazekas of Demarest was second in 2001. She has thrown 157 feet in major competition this season and has a personal best and Bergen County record of 170-4. Look out for IHA junior Julia Sobilo, who had a huge PR of more than 136 feet last weekend. She's a threat to make the eight girl final.
4-x-100 RELAY
When: Thursday, 9:45 a.m.
Local entrants (in order of appearance): Eastside, Fair Lawn, Fort Lee, Kennedy, Passaic Valley, Tenafly, Wallington, West Milford, Lakeland, Hackensack, Leonia, North Bergen, Old Tappan, Pascack Hills, Ridgewood, River Dell, Wayne Valley, Ramapo, IHA, Northern Highlands, Ramsey, Teaneck,
Local outlook: Paramus Catholic was 19th out of more than 550 teams entered last year, and was third in the Northeast final. just missed spots in the Tri-state and Northeast finals. Only two of last year's quartet returns but never count the Paladins out. IHA, Ramapo and Northern Highlands should be the next best local squads and hope to break 50 seconds.
4-x-400 RELAY
When: Thursday, 1:25 p.m.
Local entrants (in order of appearance): Eastside and Fair Lawn (1:31); Kennedy (1:42); Paramus (1:48), Ramsey (1:53); Garfield and Hackensack (1:59); Old Tappan (2:04); River Dell and West Milford (2:10); Demarest, Wayne Valley and Leonia (2:15); North Bergen and Tenafly (2:21); Paramus Catholic (2:26); Hasbrouck Heights, Mahwah and Northern Highlands (2:32); Bergen Tech and Teaneck (2:37); Ramapo (2:54); Passaic Valley (3:04); Ridgewood (3:25); Holy Angels and IHA (3:30).
Local outlook: Each race has its own set of medals, with the winner earning a "mini wheel" Penn Relays plaque. Three North Jersey team won plaques last year and two others won medals. Ramsey, Paramus Catholic, IHA, Northern Highlands, Holy Angels and Ramapo are usually the best North Jersey teams but anyone can place in any of these class races.
Boys
4-x-800 Relay
When: Friday, 9:00 a.m.
Local entrants: Demarest (9:00 a.m.); River Dell (9:10)
Local outlook: The Demarest quartet of Enrico Parrella, Ivan Timochko, Luke Davis and Maxim Gilbert is knocking on the door of breaking eight minutes for the first time in school history and if it's not too cold on an early Philadelphia morning it should happen. Davis had a brilliant winter and could lower his personal best to the range of 1:55. River Dell was pleased to even qualify for the first time since their remarkable run to fifth place in the 2015 final. The team of Liam Schwabik, Chris Baxter, Aidan Grivas and Lucas Lopez would be pleased to run under 8:10.
DISTANCE MEDLEY
When: Friday, 5:00 p.m.
Local entrant: Ridgewood.
Local outlook: Ridgewood is entered for the first time since 2018 and the for a North Jersey record 15th time. No other North Jersey school has participated more than twice. The team of DJ Murphy, Gavin Kim, Jack McKenna and Luke Pash was sixth in the Nike Indoor Nationals this winter and should be in the mix for the medals. The Maroons could become the eighth Bergen County team under 10:10. The 1973 Paramus Catholic team holds the existing record of 10:04.2 (converted) set while winning the 1973 edition of the Penn Relays race.
DISCUS
When: Friday, 9:00 a.m.
Local entrants: Benji Shue, Bergen Catholic; Henry Struble, Pequannock.
Local outlook: Shue is the top-seed and after finishing third as a freshman (and winning the Penn Relays watch as top American) and fourth as a sophomore last year, should be ready to go over 200 for the fourth time in his career and get the victory. He is the third ranked thrower in the country and is just two feet away from the national lead. Struble is the first Pequannock individual to compete at Penn and hopes to exceed his personal best of 163-7.
LONG JUMP
When: Friday, 9:30 a.m.
Local entrants: Liam Paneque, Demarest; Jason Lessieu, Bergen Catholic.
Local outlook: No North Jersey boy has medalled in this event since former Rutgers All-American Corey Crawford finished fourth for Indian Hills in 2010. But Paneque can change that and the junior is coming off the best jump of his career when he soared 23-10 3/4 last Saturday. No American in the field has jumped farther this season. Lessieu is coming off his PR of 22-9 which broke a 57-year-old school record and he could have a shot at making the final.
POLE VAULT
When: Friday, 9:30 a.m.
Local entrants: Owen Keating, Pompton Lakes.
Local outlook: No North Jersey vaulter has ever cleared 15 feet or more at Penn Relays and the progression might determine if Keating can become the first. Last year the competition opened at 4.32 meters (14-2) and went up in 0.15 meter (6 inches) increments. But the more traditional Penn route is starting at 4.30 (14-1 1/4) and going up by 0.10 meters (3 3/4 inches). That would put the fourth height at 15-0 1/2 and open the door for the junior. 15 feet normally means a medal.
4-x-100 RELAY
When: Friday, 10:20 a.m.
Local entrants (in order of appearance): Bergen Tech; Northern Highlands; Ramsey; West Milford; Eastside; Fair Lawn; Fort Lee; Kennedy; North Bergen; Passaic Valley; Pequannock; Hackensack; Hasbrouck Heights; Old Tappan; Ridgewood; River Dell; Pascack Hills; Teaneck; Bergen Catholic; Dwight Morrow; Ramapo; Paramus Catholic.
Local outlook: Bergen Catholic was 24th out of more than 600 teams in the trials last year and won the Northeast final in 42.37 seconds. Only one of the quartet returns this year but look for the Crusaders, on Saturday. The Paladins ran 43.11 in the trials but had some baton problems in the final and did not finish. This year's squad, along with Dwight Morrow and Paramus Catholic are the top North Jersey performers.
4-x-400 RELAY
When: Saturday, 8:45 a.m.
Local entrants (in order of appearance): Kinnelon (8:55); Fair Lawn and Ramsey (9:00); Ramapo (9:04); River Dell (9:08); Hasbrouck Heights, Mahwah and West Milford (9:12); Lakeland and Wayne Valley (9:16); Old Tappan and Bergen Tech (9:20); North Bergen (9:25); Passaic Valley and Tenafly (9:30); Eastside, Northern Highlands and Paramus Catholic (9:34); Leonia (9:42); Glen Rock (9:46); Pascack Hills (9:50); Hackensack (9:55), Ridgewood, Dumont (10:00); Paramus (10:04); Dwight Morrow (10:08); Bergenfield and Demarest (10:12); Teaneck (10:16); Pequannock (10:25); Bergen Catholic (11:00)
Local outlook: Eastside and Paramus Catholic won mini-wheels last year and two other teams won sets of medals. It was third mini-wheel for each school. With Passaic Tech skipping the meet, the best 4-x-400 teams should be Paramus Catholic, Bergenfield, Dwight Morrow and Demarest. But take a peak at the 9:42 race for Leonia. New Jersey state champion and All-American Jaden Marchan is running a leg. Last year his 47.21 anchor split was the fourth fastest of the entire day and depending where he gets the baton (probably either third or fourth leg) the crowd should be in for a treat.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ Track: North Jersey at the 2024 Penn Relays
