Photo Credit: The Declaration Staff
It is important to understand that Contestants who appear at any of the tournament events without their coach (or certified member of the faculty) will be disqualified.
Group 4 Girls
April 25, 2023
Piscataway, led by Brooke’Lyn Drakeford, won its first title. Jessica Oji launched a massive bomb in the shot put, and Emma Zawatski won two titles.
Drakeford, the state leader in the 400(56.51), scored 30 of Piscataway’s 36 points to spark the Chiefs to a six-point win over Eastern. Drakeford won the 400( 57.28), the fastest time of all the Group Championships combined, placed second in the hurdles(a PR of 8.27,NJ No. 7) and anchored the runner-up 4×400 relay.
The remaining six points came from Enobong George, third in the 55 dash( a PR of 7.32).
The craziest moment of the entire weekend came when Oji, a sophomore at Livingston, sent the 8.8-pound shot put 47-2.25 on her final throw of the trials. That’s not only the No. 1 throw in the state this season, it’s
No. 3 in the nation this season, No. 2 in state history for a sophomore, No. 6 in US history for a sophomore, and No. 12 in NJ history. Alyssa Wilson, the greatest thrower in state history, is the only girl in NJ history who has thrown further indoors as a sophomore. Wilson set the state sophomore record( 48-6.50) in 2015. The national sophomore record is 51-5, set by Becky O’Brien in 2008.
Oji has come a long way since throwing a season-best( 41-7 last spring). She started spinning this season, and she has become more and more comfortable with the new technique.
Emma Zawatski is the state leader in both the 800 (2:13.12) and the mile (4:48.71). She won both of those races( 2:16.92 and 4:50.26). The 4:50.26 is the fastest time in all the group meets.
Julia Scrudato, Quaycian Davis, Samantha Strydesky, and Cynthia Boakye, also came up big.
Scrudato placed second in the 1,600(4:54.89), and came back to win her first state title( 10:49.02) in the 3200.
Davis ran a PR( 8.07) to win the hurdles and move up to No. 3 in the state rankings.
Strydesky won the high jump at the Meet of Champions last spring and cleared 5-6 to win her second straight HJ title.
Boakye crushed Elizabeth’s school record by dropping her PR( 7.16) to win the 55 dash. This is the number 6 time in the state this season.