Track: North Jersey highlights from days 2 and 3 at Penn Relays

Some days you just have to tip your cap at the other guy.

Benji Shue had just extended his lead at the Penn Relays discus throw on his fifth of six attempts Friday by throwing the implement 201 feet 11 inches after grabbing the lead on his fourth throw.

He set the official Bergen County record for the sixth time since he first broke former Olympian Mike Buncic's 42 year old record on April 20, 2022 and he led Jamaican star Chad Hendricks of Munro College by nearly nine feet after the prodigious throw.

Then Hendricks erupted, throwing 207 and then 217-1 on his last two throws to seize the title with the fourth longest throw in meet history.

"He was just that good,'' said Shue, who had to settle for his second Penn Relays watch and third top four finish in three years as then top American thrower, more than 10 feet ahead of fellow junior Ashton Hearn on Christian Brothers of Tennessee. "I feel there's still more there for me and some little things at the finish I can fix. There's a lot more coming this spring.''

Shue, who committed to the University of Texas last week, threw 204-10 at a dual meet last week, but only throws in major competitions with five schools or more are recognized for county and state marks. He ranks second in the country so far this year.

"I'll train for the shot tomorrow and the disc on Sunday,'' said Shue, who'll compete next at Paramus Catholic April 30 in the Big North United field events. "210 is my next goal.''

Paneque shakes off nerves, earns medal in long jump

In his brilliant three-year varsity career, Demarest junior Liam Paneque has shown great poise and patience in becoming New Jersey's best long jumper and one of the best combination jumpers (high/long/triple jump) in state history.

The junior couldn't contain his nerves before his first appearance at the Penn Relays Friday and managed "only" a leap of 22-4 1/4, well short of the 23-10 3/4 mark he had a week ago at the Bergen County Jack Yockers Relays.

"I was a little nervous but I really liked jumping in the stadium,'' said Paneque, whose best jump was enough to get him a fifth place medal, the first since Corey Crawford finished fourth for Indian Hills in 2010 and the second ever for a North Jersey boy. "My approach was little bit off and the area is so different there it feels like you're jumping uphill.''

None of the 15 jumpers jumped particularly well with Balvin Israel of Jamaica College winning with a jump of 23-9. Antoine McNair Jr. of Calvert Hall (MD) was third, and the top American with his mark of 23-3 1/4.

At roughly the same time, Paneque was warming up, his Demarest teammates were already running in the first 4-x-800 race of the day. The Norsemen hoped to go under eight minutes for the first time ever but managed a solid 8:04.60 for fifth place in the heat, about 7 1/2 seconds out of the 12-team final.

"The atmosphere is amazing here,'' said Demarest leadoff Enrico Perrella, who split 2:02.10 for the Norsemen. "I had to try and get out faster, but I got stuck behind people early. I just tried not to do anything drastic.''

Junior Ivan Timochko followed with a 2:00.42 carry, and credited the ability to actually warm up on the track for his performance. "We were the first event of the day so we were able to warm up on the track which got us more comfortable when we ran.

Usual anchor Luke Davis ran a strong 1:58.21 to pull the Norsemen into the top three, but the junior, running on the long turned Franklin Field track for the first time, was unsure of his timing on the leg. "I thought I started my kick too late.''

Maxim Gilbert, running anchor for the first time split 2:03.88 and the Norsemen had their fastest time ever and highest heat finish of their four appearances in the race.

The quartet was disappointed but optimistic after coming short of the pre-race goal of a sub-8 minute performance. "I'm confident that if we get a chance to run the race at State Meet of Champions we'll get it way down under 8,'' said Perrella.

Ridgewood disappointed but looks forward to redemption

After their All-American performance in the event at the Nike Indoor Nationals in mid-March, the Ridgewood distance medley, making a North Jersey record 15th appearance in the event at Penn expected itself to contend for a medal although conceding that beating eventual 1-2 finishers CBA and Westfield was unlikely.

The Maroons quartet of DJ Murphy, Gavin Kim, Jack McKenna and Luke Pash came up short Friday evening, finishing 12th in the field of 15 in 10:19.85, more than three seconds slower than they did in the winter, and just eight seconds away from third. It was the fourth fastest time the Maroons have ever run at Penn, where they've medalled four times.

"I thought DJ ran very well to put us in position after the 1,200 leg,'' said head coach Josh Saladino. "Our handoffs were terrible which are very costly both for our time and the momentum going forward in the race. Overall the time is disappointing but kind of average and to be disappointing but average in late April sets us up well for the rest of the season, and another chance at nationals in June.''

Perhaps it was Pash who was the most disappointed in the day's finish. He got the baton in 12th place with thoughts of repeating his stunning run of last June, when his 4:12.25 anchor at the same Franklin Field site brought the Maroons from ninth to fourth at the New Balance Nationals. But running a 62 second first lap left him in 12th and the junior lost some confidence.

"I really didn't know my first split and I thought I might have gone out too fast, so I held back too much,'' said Pash, who ran a pedestrian (for him) 4:17.20. It's kind of hard to put yourself back in contention when you're far behind but I should have kept pressing. If I'd known that running 4:10 could have gotten us third (it would have), it would have made a big impact. I ran with my head down instead of up.''

Ridgewood doesn't have much time to linger on the disappointment -- they have their league meet Thursday at Demarest.

Marchan explodes, runs spectacular 400 split

Jaden Marchan says he's not in shape yet. Imagine what he can do when he gets there,

More than 2,100 high school runners from more than 20 states and nine foreign countries ran legs of the 4-x-400 relay Saturday. For the second straight year, Marchan had the fourth fastest carry over his lap.

But this time everyone in the stadium was watching him. A year ago, Leonia was mired near the back of the field in his race and although he passed six runners en route to a 47.21 and the Lions finished fifth, his time was never announced in the stadium.

But after his spectacular winter season which finished with a New Jersey state championship and an All-American selection in the 400 and state record and 600 win over Bullis sophomore superstar Quincy Wilson, already a national high school legend, both the announcer in stadium and the FloTrack announcers on the stream were ready this time.

As Leonia was stepping on the track with the rest of the 11 team field in event 521, the 14th of 45 heats on Saturday, the commentators on FloTrack highlighted Marchan's winter exploits. The race got off well and the Lions' first three runners, seniors Lanz Arias, and juniors Matt Wilds and Chris Maruyama did their best to stay close enough to give Marchan a chance.

The Lions were seventh at every handoff, but stayed within five seconds or so of the race leader, Woodbridge (NJ) as the stadium announcer revealed what was waiting in the wings.

Marchan got the baton about 40 meters behind and set sail, in his trademark sunglasses, zipping by a team from Cedar Valley, Utah almost immediately and attaching himself to a three-team pack of Elizabeth, Kellam (VA) and Jackson Liberty.

"I knew my teammates had given me a chance and I went out as hard as I could, trying to run a 45 second split,'' said Marchan, who swung by the trio and moved into third down the back straightaway. He caught the Woodbridge anchor, who had slipped to second with about 120 meters left and went after race leader Mott Haven.

"But then I lost everything and I fell apart,'' said the Georgetown-bound Marchan. "I just wasn't ready to run that fast for the whole lap yet.''

The result, Leonia "only" got silver medals running 3:28.73, less than five meters behind Mott Haven and Marchan "only" ran 46.65, the fastest split of the day until Wilson ran 44.37, the fast Penn split of all-time about 90 minutes later.

''I have a lot of expectations for myself,'' said Marchan, who'll run at the NJIC Championships Monday. "I'm going to run 45 before the season's over.''

Paramus Catholic wins min-wheel; six other boys teams earn medals

When Paramus Catholic won its heat of the 4-x-400 relay a year ago, taking its first mini-wheel since 1977, the quartet of Corey Sanders, Adrian Laing, Jayden Candelaria and James Dely had big goals for this year's Penn Relays.

"Why not shoot for the stars,'' said Laing last year after running the second leg. "We want to qualify for the Championship final next year and have a chance to try and win the whole thing.''

That didn't happen but the Paladins who missed a spot in the Northeast 4-x-100 final by .09 of a second with a North Jersey leading 42.96, ran faster than they did a year ago in the 4-x-400 and held off a strong Dundalk (MD) team in 3:26.60.

This year, Laing ran lead off, junior Cicai Jaramillo replaced the injured junior James Dely and ran second, Candelaria ran third again and Sanders switched from lead-off to anchor.

"I'm a football player and you have to have the mindset to forget about yesterday's race and look ahead to the next play or race,'' said Laing, who got out well and ran a very good 50.93 opening 400. "I used my 200 speed to get out fast and then the last 200 is all mental.''

Jaramillo, the Penn Relays rookie, admitted to having some nerves and a shaky start but ran an excellent second half of the race to grab the lead from Dundalk to stay. Candelaria followed, holding off his competition despite several attempts to pass, and then Sanders got the stick, a scant .05 seconds ahead of the Dundalk anchor.

"I feel that my experience helped me as I tried to get around the track,'' said Sanders, who, like Candelaria was under constant pressure for most of his lap. "It got physical in the first 100 and then he passed me and I found myself in third as we hit the final turn.''

Instead of panicking, the veteran Sanders showed patience and slingshot his way into the lead off the final turn to pull away and win by 10 meters over Dundalk and a hard charging Absegami team. "I'm really good at accelerating out of the turn,'' he said after completing a speedy 49.45 final lap.

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4-x-100 relays

Winners in Boldface

Bergen Catholic (Nicholas Shortridge, Andrew Jeremiah Boakye, Xavier Jackson, Ethan Cohall) (42.96, 3); Paramus Catholic (Antonio Colon, Adrian Laing, Cicai Jaramillo, Corey Sanders), (42.96, 2); Dwight Morrow (43.86, 4); Eastside (Jamar Robinson, Jayden McKenzie, Benjamin Santos, Nigel Jennings) (44.04, 1); Leonia (44,12, 3); Teaneck (44.15, 3); Pequannock (Luke McGrory, Nathanael Crefeld, Andrew Zuccala, Ryan Trocolar) (44.35, 1); River Dell (44,39, 6); Hasbrouck Heights (44.60, 3); Bergen Tech (Jared Henry, Justin Ahn, Aaron Pena, Anthony Senatore) (44.68, 1); North Bergen (Alberto Liste, Adrian Walker, Abel Batiste, Samuel Yepes), (44.81, 1); Fair Lawn , 6); (44.93, 2); Old Tappan (44.99, 4); Ramapo (45.06, 9); Pascack Hills (45.07, 6); Hackensack (45.24, 6); Northern Highlands (45,47, 3); West Milford (45.63, 2); Passaic Valley (46.95, 7); Kennedy (47.88, 9); Ramsey (48.89, 8); Fort Lee (DNF).

4-x-400 relays

(Medal winners and significant splits in bold face)

Bergenfield (Julian Batista (49.96), (3:25.84., 5); Paramus Catholic (Adrian Laing (50.93); Cicai Jaramillo, Jaiden Candelaria, Corey Sanders Jr. (49.45), (3:26.60, 1);Dwight Morrow (Saundrae Palmer, Jr., Damani Williams, Aaron Tinsley, Maurice Williams (49.32), (3:27.68, 2);Leonia (Lanz Arias, Matt Wilds, Chris Maruyama, Jaden Marchan (46.65); (3:28.73, 2); Bergen Catholic (Zion Suitt (50.67), (3:29.09, 10); Old Tappan (Aidan Nally, Ben Johnson, Nick Dong, Goran Saric (49.39) (3:30.49, 2); Hasbrouck Heights (Michael Napolitano, Eric Newman, Evan Werner, Ryan Ober), (3:31.40, 2); West Milford (Noah Traverso (50.29); Julian Pierre, Colin Menier, Lorenzo Andrade) (3:31.64, 3); Pequannock (Ryan Trocolar (50.37), (3:32.14, 6); Wayne Valley (Aidan Magno, Jake Ryan, Matt McDowell, Matt Califf), 3:32.33, 3); Fair Lawn (3:32.57, 4); Passaic Valley (3:32.76, 6); Hackensack (3:33.46, 8); Eastside (Jayden Mckenzie (50.51), (3:33.51, 6); Glen Rock (3:34.69, 6); Teaneck (3:34.94, 10); North Bergen (3:36.68, 9); Bergen Tech (Anthony Senatore (50.63)), (3:36.92, 5) Paramus (3:37.97, 13); Kinnelon (3:39.53, 5); Northern Highlands (3:39.96, 11); Lakeland (3:40.58, 8); Dumont (3:44.13, 11); Ramsey (3:46.71, 15).

Other results

4-x-800 relays: 5. Demarest (Enrico Parrella, Ivan Timochko, Luke Davis, Maxim Gilbert), 8:04.60; 10. River Dell (Liam Schwabik, Aidan Grivas, Chris Baxter, Alex Sharfian), 8:08.19.

Distance medley: 12. Ridgewood (DJ Murphy, Gavin Kim, Jack McKenna, Luke Pash), 10:19.58.

Discus: 2. Benjamin Shue, Bergen Catholic, 201-11 (Bergen County record, old record, 200-10 by Shue, 2023); 15. Henry Struble, Pequannock, 146-5/.

Long jump: 5. Liam Paneque, Demarest, 22-4 1/4; 14. Jason Lessieu, Bergen Catholic, 20-10 3/4.

Under 20, 5,000 meter race walk: 2. Colin Graham, North Jersey Striders (Dumont), 24:40.25.

Pole vault: Owen Keating, Pompton Lakes, NH>

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Track: NJ highlights from days 2 and 3 at Penn Relays