By Jeff Appelblatt
Gianna Gomez is continuing to make her name known in the world of high school jumpers. The Marlboro High School junior landed in first place in the long jump and triple jump competitions at the Rocket Relays at the start of the season and more recently notched the top spot in the long jump and triple jump at the HCTCA Relay Carnival April 15 at Kearny High School.
Jumpers Danielle Spano and Anna Paziewska joined Gomez in getting the Mustangs to first in the standings at the Rocket Relays.
The HCTCA Relay, however, was Gomez elevating for her own ranking, as were the long jump and triple jump competitions she won in Newark at the University High School.
“Gianna Gomez, who was all-district and first-team all-Shore [Conference] jumper last spring, is off to a great start,” Marlboro coach Ray Sypniewski said before the HCTCA Relay. “She currently has the No. 1 triple jump in the state.
“We were pleased to find out she was accepted to the Penn Relays in the triple jump.”
The coach has also been happy with what the girls’ 4×100 team has done.
“Our girls’ 4×100 of Briana Mullan, Alexa Friedman, Danielle Spano and Lauren Newman is off to a good start,” Sypniewski said before the HCTCA run.
That team won at the Rocket Relays and also came first in the HCTCA Relay. The 4×400 team also won at the HCTCA Relay, while the 4×200 came in third.
Mullan’s day wasn’t over at the team races. She also placed first in the 400-meter hurdles, while Friedman finished third.
Brianna Diaz and Antoinette Gyles didn’t hold back at Kearny either. Diaz won the girls’ discus throw, while Gyles came second in the shot put.
To lead the boys, Edward McBurnie, Luke Rapley and Eric Shaker finished first, second and fourth, respectively, in the 400 hurdle. Alex Yu won the shot put, and the 4×400 team won its relay.
Next up for Marlboro’s student-athletes will be the Georgian Court High School Challenge April 22.
