The second of our five part preview of the top returnees in Bergen and Passaic Counties and where they stand in County history turns to the 800 to 3,200 events. While there have been great stars in the sprint events, the distance races (along with the weights) might be North Jersey’s strongest events historically.
This season, Kyle Levermore of Don Bosco (3,200) and Josette Norris of Tenafly (1,600) are defending state champions and Joe White of DePaul (800) and Corinne Myers of Westwood (800) were indoor state titlists. And three county record holders, White, Levermore and Norris look to improve their marks.
Here’s a look at those events’ history along with this year’s top returnees.BOYS
800: Bergen County record: Patrick Rono, Lyndhurst, 2011, 1:50.10; Passaic County record: Joe White, DePaul, 2013, 1:50.51.
Top returnees: Bergen: Mike Higgins, Don Bosco, 1:54.25 (33rd); James Buser, Mahwah, 1:54.88 (45th); Passaic: WHITE.
1,600: Bergen County record: Ben Malone, Pascack Valley, 2013, 4:04.09 (converted mile); Passaic County record: Curtis McNair, Passaic, 1986, 4:13.1.
Top returnees: Bergen: Mike Higgins, Don Bosco, 4:14.49 (22nd); Kyle Levermore, Don Bosco, 4:15.45 (28th); Kevin Rogovich, Demarest, 4:17.78 (54th); Passaic: Jeremy Hernandez, Clifton, 4:24.72 (28th); Brandon Ungemach, Wayne Hills, 4:26.59 (tie 41st); Justin Tanayan, Clifton, 4:28.54 (63rd); Adam Herskovits, Wayne Valley, 4:28.76 (66th).
3,200: Bergen County record: Kyle Levermore, Don Bosco, 2013, 8:55.41; Passaic County record: Mohamed Khadraoui, Kennedy, 2004, 8:50.44.
Top returnees: Bergen: LEVERMORE; Rob Townsend, Don Bosco, 9:12.32 (18th); Passaic: Justin Tanayan, Clifton, 9:34.80 (21st); Brendan Ungemach, Wayne Hills, 9:35.26 (23rd).
GIRLS
800: Bergen County record: Janine Davis, Queen of Peace, 2005, 2:06.06; Passaic County record: Alyssa LaGuardia, DePaul, 2010, 2:12.26.
Top returnees: Bergen: Corinne Myers, Westwood, 2:09.74 (fourth); Josette Norris, Tenafly, 2:10.98 (sixth); Deanna DiLandro, Ramapo, 2:12.66 (12th); Phoebe Hersh, Tenafly, 2:16.75 (43rd); Catherine Pagano, Northern Highlands, 2:17.08 (46th); Christina Welzer, Demarest, 2:17.50 (52nd); Kathryn Grant, Hackensack, 2:18.11 (59th); Anna Richard, Northern Highlands, 2:18.59 (71st); Emily Croonquist, River Dell, 2:19.00 (76th); Colleen Buckley, IHA, 2:19.08 (tie 77th); Erica Nahotko, Mahwah, 2:19.32 (84th); Passaic: Stephanie Bitcon, Wayne Hills, 2:17.91 (10th); Allison Fournier, Wayne Valley, 2:23.24 (37th); Erin Callaghan, Wayne Valley, 2:24.32 (47th); Milena Hareza, DePaul, 2:25.30 (58th); Isabel Anderson, Lakeland, 2;25.52 (64th).
1,600: Bergen County record: Josette Norris, Tenafly, 2013, 4:41.61; Passaic County record: Kristen Traub, Eastern Christian, 2012, 4:53.33.
Top returnees: Bergen: NORRIS; Julia Guerra, Indian Hills, 4:52.69 (third); Catherine Pagano, Northern Highlands, 4:54.76 (seventh); Corinne Myers, Westwood, 4:56.60 (10th); Lydon Kersting, Holy Angels, 5:08.78 (52nd); Emily Croonquist, River Dell, 5:12.39 (69th); Passaic: Stephanie Bitcon, Wayne Hills, 5:10.50 (13th); Allison Fournier, Wayne Valley, 5:22.14 (39th); Alyssa Loffredo, Wayne Hills, 5:25.80 (51st).
3,200: Bergen County record: Josette Norris, Tenafly, 2013, 10:29.13; Passaic County record: Lindsay Van Alstine, Hawthorne Christian, 2003, 10:31.6.
Top returnees: NORRIS; Catherine Pagano, Northern Highlands, 10:39.88 (6th); Julia Guerra, Indian Hills, 10:55.87 (14th); Lydon Kersting, Holy Angels, 11:05.53 (22nd); Passaic: Alyssa Loffredo, Wayne Hills, 11:45.19 (42nd); Lucy Peschel, Wayne Hills, 11:47.01 (45th); Jillian O’Donohoe, Wayne Hills, 11:50.17 (49th).
Tomorrow — the hurdles.