By Tim Morris
At the NJSIAA Group IV Relay Championships, Howell High School’s Stephanie Bock had the best throw of the shot put competition, and distance ace Niamh Hayes helped the Rebels’ girls score in a pair of events.
The state relays were held Jan. 14-15 at the John Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex in Toms River.
Bock’s throw of 39-0, when added to the 33-1 by Mackenzie Richard for 72-1, was good enough for second place in the shot put relay behind Franklin High School (74-3½).
Hayes anchored the Distance Medley Relay (DMR) team to sixth place (12:52.10). Amanda Verdoni (1,200), Victoria Caufield (400) and Megan Barreto (800) ran the first legs.
The same group teamed up for sixth place in the Sprint Medley Relay (4:24.32).
Howell’s 10 points were good enough for ninth place.
On the boys side, Freehold Township High School took fifth in the DMR. Nicholas Ackerman, Anthony Orrico, Mike Maltese and Jake Konig clocked in at 10:44.38.
Freehold Township’s Ciara Roche traveled to the New Balance Center for the Millrose Qualifier, where she ran in the girls high school mile invitational. Roche finished fifth in 4:57.69. She will now wait and see if it was fast enough to earn an invite to the Feb. 20 Millrose Games. Her time should be quick enough, but she’ll have to wait until next month when the field is announced.
Next up on the indoor calendar are the Shore Conference Championships back at the Bennett complex Jan. 22.
