Heading into states, Holy Spirit junior Zaki Marcus’s entire 2026 track season consisted of one meet, and he didn’t compete indoors, which means he had participated in just one track meet in just over 12 months since finishing his sophomore year at Mainland Regional at Group 3 Sectionals.
The layoff sure didn’t hurt him because at Parochial B States this weekend in Galloway Township, Marcus won the long jump with a PR 21-9 ½, took 3rd behind to Eustace junior Delano Mann and Newark Academy’s Wynston Ditchfield-Agboh in the 100 in 11.09 and was 2nd to Montclair Kimberly Academy’s Samuel Akaho in the 200 with a 22.07.
In his second meet in a year.
Marcus is the first Holy Spirit boy to place in three events at states since 2019, when Sam Adams was 4th in the shot put, 5th in the javelin and 6th in the discus. His 24 points are the most by a Holy Spirit boy in a state meet since Cade Antonucci scored 26 in 2016, when he won the javelin and was 2nd in both the shot and disc.
Marcus’s 24 points were good enough to place Holy Spirit 8th in team scoring.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 