By Brett Carroll
Staff Writer
Courteney Campbell, South Brunswick High School’s outstanding track and field athlete, fell short of winning a state championship for the second straight year.
However, Campbell said after the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Meet of Champions (MOC) outdoor track and field event that she felt blessed to be able to compete at a high level.
Campbell finished fourth in the girls’ high jump with a mark of 5-6 at the competition held at Northern Burlington County Regional High School in Columbus. Campbell, who was among the favorites to win the MOC title June 10, finished below her personal best of 5-8.
Campbell had won the high jump in last year’s MOC at 5-6.
Abrianna Barrett of Montgomery High School won the event with a mark of 5-10.
Despite failing to reach her goal, Campbell remained upbeat.
“Not my best day,” Campbell said. “Even though I’m a little disappointed, it was still a good day.”
Campbell also took a moment to reflect on her successful career and put the day’s disappointment in perspective.
“At the end of the day, I’m blessed,” Campbell said. “To have started running late in my career, I have seven state titles, I won this event three times and I’m going to Rutgers next year to compete in college. It’s just a blessing to be able to be out here.”
Campbell wasn’t the only South Brunswick athlete to compete at a high level during the MOC.
Harmodio Cruz finished seventh in the boys’ 200-meter hurdles with a time of 22.18, while Essence Baker placed eighth in the girls’ 800 with a time of 2:13.86.
Both Sayvon Jarrett and Olivia Scattergood threw in the boys’ and girls’ discus, respectively, and each finished ninth. Jarrett ended with a mark 155-10, and Scattergood hit 120-3.
Miranda Irizarry finished 13th in the javelin with a throw of 122-0, while her teammate, Nicole Notarianni, ended 13th in the 100 hurdles with a time of 15.30.
