See if you notice a pattern here:
Glassboro’s Zacchaeus Harrigan is the top Group 1 sophomore in both the 800 at 1:55.06 and the 400-meter hurdles at 56.44. Glassboro’s Joe Saicic is the top Group 1 sophomore in the 1,600 with a 4:22.44 and also in the 3,200 with a 9:26.37. Glassboro’s Moses Robles is the top Group 1 sophomore in the high hurdles at 15.53, the high jump at 6-4, the long jump with a 23-0 ¼ and the triple jump with a 47-5.
Additionally, Aaron Johnson is the No. 2 Group 1 sophomore with a 1:59.19 and No. 5 in the 1,600 with a 4:35.12, Saicic is No. 4 with a 2:01.60, Alex Adeleye is No. 4 in the 100 at 11.38, No. 2 in the 200 with 22.91 and No. 5 with a 20-6 ½ long jump, Harrigan is No. 2 in the 400 at 51.23, the 1,600 with a 4:23.60 and the 3,200 at 9:47.65. And Gavin Rakitis is No. 4 in the 1,600 at 4:33.17 and No. 3 in the 3,200 with a 9:56.59.
You want more?
Tyler Santiago and Chance Perino are the 4th– and 6th-ranked Group 1 sophomores in the 110-meter hurdles, Perino and Rakitis are 3rd and 5th in the intermediates behind Harrigan, Miles Taylor is 4th in the high jump, Dylan Adams is No. 5 in the pole vault.
It’s rare for a program to have one sophomore who can make an impact on the state championship level. Glassboro has a parade of them.
Thanks in large part to its ridiculous Class of 2028, Glassboro is one of New Jersey’s top Group 1 programs and earlier this month won its 4th straight South Jersey Group 1 championship. Next weekend, the Bulldogs shoot for their 3rd state title after winning Group 1 in 1967 and 2009.
If they win, it’s going to be largely on the strength of their unprecedented sophomore class. If they don’t, they’re not going away and they’ll be back with an unprecedented junior class next year.
Glassboro has the potential to score close to 60 points at states, perhaps closer to 70 if a few things go right.
Saicic is the No. 2 seed in the 3,200 and No. 3 in the 1,600, senior Jaeden Wesley is top seed in the 3,200 and No. 6 in the 1,600, Harrigan is seeded No. 2 in the 800 and No. 5 in the intermediates, Robles is No. 2 in the high jump and triple jump and the 4-by-8 team of Johnson, Rakitis, junior Ryan Ejalili and senior Jason Martin is also a No. 2 seed.
And Robles may be seeded just 7th in the long jump, but he also had an off day at sectionals and is overall ranked No. 2 in Group 1 with his 23-0 ¼ earlier this month at Delsea, so he’s certainly capable of out-scoring his seed.
The state Group 1 championships are scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Somerset, with Friday’s action starting at 2 p.m. Friday and 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
South Jersey schools have won six consecutive state Group 1 titles – Willingboro in 2019, no meet in 2020, Clayton in 2021, Audubon in 2022, Woodbury in 2023 and 2024 and Camden last year.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 