In our third installment, we look at the hurdle races — the high hurdles, in contrast to yesterday’s distance group is probably North Jersey’s worst event. Maybe that will change this year. But just 15 boys and 20 girls have ever medalled in the event at the State Meet of Champions and no North Jersey athlete has ever won either event. That’s the ONLY event no North Jersey boy or girl has ever won.
Here’s a look at the County records and Top returnees in the two hurdle events.
BOYS
110 high hurdles: Bergen County record: Darius Pemberton, Hackensack, 1992, 13.96 seconds; Passaic County record: Guy Rose, Wayne Hills, 1998, 13.89 seconds.
Top returnees: Bergen: Dan Dooner, Tenafly and Brandon Davidson, Old Tappan, 15.41 (unranked); Passaic: Seung Hwang, Wayne Hills, 2013, 15.11 (63rd).
400 intermediate hurdles: Bergen County record: Anthony Hampton, Englewood, 1992, 51.92; Passaic County record: Shaquan Brown, Kennedy, 2006, 51.68.
Top returnees: Bergen: Wilmer Jovel, Demarest, 55.42 (66th); Passaic: Dwyer Haliburton, Clifton, 55.61 (35th).
GIRLS
100 high hurdles: Bergen County record: Michelle Smith, Teaneck, 2005, 13.8 seconds; Passaic County record: Melissa Jones, Eastside, 1997, 14.33 seconds.
Top returnees: Bergen: Christina Welzer, Demarest, 15.04 (19th); Dana Lynch, Hackensack, 15.65 (tie 73rd); Passaic: Breaisha Morton, Passaic Tech, 14.41 (second); Jenna Dyksen, Hawthorne, 15.28 (eighth); Alexes Washington, Passaic Tech, 15.41 (15th); Monae Clancy, Kennedy, 16.32 (55th); Blair Bohuny, Eastern Christian, 16.35 (58th).
400 low hurdles: Bergen County record: Alex Cimino, Westwood, 2013, 60.08; Passaic County record: Tawana Watkins, Kennedy, 2001, 57.48.
Top returnees: Bergen: Christina Welzer, Demarest, 63.21 (18th); Phoebe Hersh, Tenafly, 64.35 (42nd); Natalie Negroni, Queen of Peace, 64.56 (tie 50th); Noreen Byrne, River Dell, 65.01 (61st); Passaic: Breaisha Morton, Passaic Tech, 61.91 (fourth); Erin Van Lenten, Eastern Christian, 68.84 (72nd).
Tomorrow, in our fourth installment, the jumps and the pole vault.