Alicia Campbell of Snyder, this week’s Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week, was not the lone track and field standout to enjoy multiple gold medals at the Hudson County Track Coaches Association championships recently held at Secaucus High School.
Five other local standouts, Francis Martingale of Memorial, Richie Luzzi-Liggins of St. Peter’s Prep, Marcus Hardy of McNair Academic, Milani Bethel of St. Dominic Academy and Claire Chapeau of McNair Academic, all won two events at the HCTCA championships.
Martingale, the county’s premier male distance runner who won the county’s cross-country title last October, romped home in both the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs. The UConn-bound standout just missed making it a triple, finishing second to Hardy in the 800-meter run. Needless to say, it was Martingale’s last meet locally and he certainly didn’t disappoint, etching his place among the greatest runners in Hudson County history.
Martingale didn’t know if he would run in the 3,200-meter run after competing in the 800 and 1,600.
“I wasn’t sure,” Martingale said. “It’s my senior year, so I wanted to finish the year off strong. I felt strong and felt like I could run three.”
So after running second to Hardy in the 800, Martingale won the 1,600-meter run in a sizzling 4:22.46, exactly three seconds ahead of teammate Steven Ventura, and Martingale ended his local career with a fine performance in the 3,200, romping home in 9:34.83, four seconds ahead of runner-up Ventura.
Before the cross-country and track and field season even started, the Hudson Reporter sat down with both Martingale and Ventura and asked them what it would be like if the two ran 1-2 in meets this season. That turned out to be pure prophecy.
“I felt a little tired,” Martingale said about running the 3,200. “I was kind of surprised with the way I pulled away. I’m pretty pleased with it. I won the county in cross country and indoor, so this was a fitting way to end it. I’m happy.”
Martingale said that he signed his national letter of intent with Connecticut a few weeks ago. It was an event that went by without much fanfare.
“I didn’t want to make a big thing about it,” Martingale said. “I feel a little nervous posing for pictures and stuff like that.”
But to end his local career with two firsts and a second, Martingale had to feel a sense of accomplishment.
“I’m happy with it,” Martingale said. “It’s a good feeling to go out like this.”
Luzzi-Liggins, who just recently signed a letter to attend Clemson in the fall, dominated in the sprints, winning the gold medal in the 100-meter (11.17 seconds) and 200-meter (21.93) dashes. Luzzi-Liggins also won the gold medal in the 200-meter dash at the NJSIAA Non-Public A North championships and finished second in the 100 at the state sectionals.
Hardy was exceptional in winning the 800-meter run in 1:56.61 and also capturing the gold in the triple jump (43 feet, three ¼ inches). That is certainly not an easy double, going from running to jumping, but Hardy handled the athletic pressure very well.
Teammate Chapeau won the gold medal in both the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs in dominant fashion. Chapeau won the 1,600 with a time of 5:12.36 and took home the gold in the 3,200 with a time of 11:08.76, almost a full minute ahead of the rest of the field.
It had to have been hard for Chapeau to keep focused on her time, knowing full well that she was passing a good portion of the runners along the way.
But Chapeau is well on her way to bringing home some glory from the state sectionals and overall Group II meet in the weeks to come.
Bethel was impressive in winning both the 400-meter and 800-meter runs. Bethel won the 400 in 1:00.18 and the 800 in 2:23.32. She was also third in the 200-meter dash.
The Snyder girls, led by the four gold medals from Campbell, won the HCTCA team title for the first time since 1983. The Tigers held off a strong challenge from perennial favorite St. Dominic Academy.
Snyder received solid efforts from senior Javonia Alston, who won the 200-meter dash, narrowly defeating teammate Khyla Nalls. Alston crossed the line in 26.94 seconds. Alston was also second in the 400-meter dash and third in the 400-meter hurdles. It was quite a meet for that young lady.
Snyder’s Kanyinsola Oladejo won the 100-meter dash in 12.93, just beating teammate Nalls.
North Bergen’s Alejandra Bartutis won the high jump with a height of five feet even.
St. Dominic Academy’s Megan Dunne, a previous Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week for soccer, won the 400-meter hurdles and was third in the 400-meter run.
Yasmeen McDonald of Hudson Catholic won the shot put.
Among the boys, St. Peter’s Prep ran away with the team title, thanks to the exploits of people like Luzzi-Liggins. The Marauders had 147 team points compared to just 62 for runner-up Ferris.
The Marauders also captured the NJSIAA Non-Public A North title two days later, moving forward in what has become a season to remember.
Football star Ayir Asante, headed to Holy Cross to play football in the fall, had a good meet, finishing second in the triple jump, third in the 100-meter dash and fourth in the 200-meter dash. Teammate Gus Nations IV, nicknamed as “United” Nations here a few weeks back, was third in the 200.
Prep teammates Philip DeCrese (javelin), Joseph Morrone (400-meter hurdles), Adonis McGee (high jump) and R.J. Oben (shot put) all won county titles. Oben, the son of former New York Giants offensive lineman Roman Oben, is going to Duke to play football in the fall.
Ferris’ Amara Conte was the champion in the 400-meter dash with a fine time of 49.96.
Hudson Reporter High School Baseball Top Five: 1. Bayonne (24-2). 2. St. Peter’s Prep (18-8). 3. Hoboken (17-1). 4. Hudson Catholic (14-5). 5. Ferris (15-9)…
Hudson Reporter High School Softball Top Five: 1. Secaucus (15-9). 2. Bayonne (21-7). 3. McNair (16-6). 4. Hoboken (14-9). 5. Snyder (15-6)…–Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached via e-mail at OGSMAR@aol.com
