The Washington Township girls won their first state relays title in 25 years Monday at the Bubble in Toms River.
Township outscored Hillsborough 46-29 to win the State Group 4 Relays championship for the first time since 1999, when the team led by Medea Ashton and Anita Brooks edged Jackson 32-28 at Princeton’s Jadwin Gym.
The Minutemaids won the 800-meter relay with junior Alexandria Hetzel and seniors Kayla D’Ottaviano, Dahlia Beasley and Dylan Giloley rnning 1:46.38 and also picked up 10 points in the shot put relay with junior Ella Karp [36-2 ½] and senior Lauren Stanger [33-8] and high jump relay with Beasley [5-4] and junior Ashley Lopez [4-10].
Senior Zarria Oliphant and juniors Meciah Howell, Ella Johnson and Dakota Jones ran 32.60 to place 2nd in the shuttle hurdles, and Beasley, Giloley, D’Ottaviano and freshman Layla Beasley ran 4:08.48 to take 5th in the 1,600-meter relay.
Sophomores Cali Lacovara and Gabrielle Chelnik took 5th in the pole vault relay, Lacovara tying her PR of 10-0 and Chelnik clearing 8-0.
The Cherokee girls ran 9:47.47 to win the 3,200-meter relay with sophomore Madeline Meder, junior Megan Niglio, senior Kerry O’Day and sophomore Alyssa Suriano. Cherokee also took 2nd in the distance medley with Niglio, senior Madison Van Haren, Meder and O’Day running 12:36.14.
Cherokee also placed 3rd in the 4-by-4 with Suriano, senior Alaina Bromley, Niglio and Meder running 3:48.71. The Chiefs finished 4th with 25 points.
Kingsway ran 3:46.35 to win the 4-by-400 with juniors Camryn Stanard, Jonnelle Lewis and Naveya Hall and senior Kay Wiscount.
Eastern won the sprint medley in 4:12.76 with junior Samantha Osei-Kyei, senior Eva Sprewell, junior Johnna Gonter and sophomore Natalie Dumas.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 