What a double by Holy Spirit junior Elijah Steward!
Steward won both the long jump and 400 at the state Parochial B meet in Neptune, setting lifetime bests in both events.
Steward won the 400 in 49.62, lowering his PR from 49.97, and he jumped 22-4 1/2 to win the long jump, going over 22 feet for the first time.
Steward became the school’s first double winner at states since Cade Antonucci won the discus and javelin in 2015. Antonucci placed third in the javelin at this weekend’s NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore.
In the 400, Steward won by 12 meters over Hudson Catholic sophomore Jacob Rodriguez, who ran 51.05.
The long jump was much closer. Another Hudson Catholic athlete, Kai’leel Jefferson jumped 22-3 3/4, so Steward won that event by three-quarters of an inch!
Holy Spirit also got Day 1 points from senior Markus Lewis [4th in discus], senior Devin Lee [3rd in 400] and freshman Luke Halburner [6th in 400].
Going into Day 2, Holy Spirit’s 31 points were only one behind Hudson Catholic for the Parochial B lead.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 