STAFFORD – In the final race of her final track & field meet at home, Southern Regional High School senior Caitlyn Siek handed off the baton in the lead after completing the first leg of the 4x400 at the Ocean County Relays.
Then she burst into tears.
“I came to a moment in my head – it was my last time running at home,” she said. “This team means so much. We’ve built such a special bond that walking off the field was sad.”
Southern won the 4x400 and the team title Friday night, easily outscoring the competition despite having no individual standouts. Track is an individual sport, but this was the very definition of team.
“When you look at other teams they have more individuals who stick out, but as a team we come together and win,” said fellow senior Jessica Bruther, who ran on the winning 4x800.
Southern has great tradition in this sport, but beyond the medals and times, it’s about the experience. That’s why Siek, who also helped the Rams win the 4x200, was feeling so emotional. This was the best of all worlds.
“For our last home meet, this was unreal,” she said. “Coming out with a win with my best friends on senior night, it was awesome.”
Wilson brothers spark Toms River North boys
The Mariners are known for their firepower in the sprints and hurdles, but their distance runners delivered the boys team title as they edged Southern 108-104. Specifically, brothers Taysaun and Tahj Wilson came to the rescue.
Competing on tired legs, junior Taysaun Wilson anchored a crucial 10:48 triumph in the distance medley. His 1600-meter split was 4:34 – this after running on the victorious 4x800 and 4x1600 earlier in the day.
His younger brother, freshman Tahj Wilson, led off the distance medley with a 3:18 split for 1200 meters.
“We’ve been running together since we were little,” Tahj said. “We’ve always tried to push each other.”
Their father, former Asbury Park High School track and football standout Teddy Wilson, raised them as distance runners. Good thing he did, because they add the necessary balance for Toms River North’s championship formula.
“It feels good to be part of this amazing team,” Taysaun said.
Among the Mariners’ many impressive performances Friday, the 4x100 stood out, clocking 42.29 in unseasonably cold conditions. That essentially matches the Ocean County record – a hand-timed 42.1 set by Lakewood in 2003.
Top 5 Girls Performers
1. Julia Santos, Toms River South
The junior posted the meet’s top marks in the shot put (41-10) and discus (121-2).
2. Riley Brazier, Toms River North
The junior ran on the winning shuttle hurdles (1:09.55) and recorded the meet’s top javelin throw (130-7), second-farthest triple jump (34-6) and the fifth-best long jump (15-5.5).
3. Bella Palmiotto, Manchester
The senior recorded the meet’s top marks in the long jump (16-4) and triple jump (36-9).
4. Emma Ortiz, Southern
The sophomore ran on the winning 3x400 hurdles and 4x200 and the second-place shuttle hurdles.
5. Kendall Howe, Toms River South
The junior cleared the top pole vault height (10-0), a foot higher than anyone else.
Top 5 Boys Performers
1. Mordecai Ford, Toms River North
The junior notched the meet’s top high-jump height (6-0), contributed to the winning long jump tandem (20-10), and ran a 2:05 800 on the winning distance medley in the middle of the high jump competition.
2. Mamadi Diawara, Toms River North
The junior ran the meet’s fastest 400 hurdles time (54.81) and anchored the 4x400 to victory in 49.7.
3. Nnaemeka Amaechina, Central Regional
The junior posted the meet’s top mark in the triple jump (44-4) and the third-farthest in the long jump (20-10.5).
4. Yianni Papanikolas, Toms River North
The junior registered the meet’s top mark in the shot put (50-0) and third-farthest in the discus (144-1).
5. Nate Riello, Point Pleasant Borough
The senior won the discus by nine feet with a heave of 156-3.
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: Southern girls, Toms River North boys win Ocean County Relays
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