Group 2 Girls

Christina Allen led River Dell to its second straight title. Clemmie Lilley of Rumson also produced an impressive performance to highlight the action in the girls Group 2 competition.

Allen has won two outdoor Meet of Champions titles (the 3200 in 2021 and the 800 as a sophomore last spring), won the 1,600( 5:05.01),placed second to Lilley in the 800 and finished off her incredible triple when she used a closing kick to win the 3200(11:09.58), which clinched a 44-39 victory for River Dell over Rumson in a tight battle. It’s the third state title for River Dell, who last won in 2016.

Allen has now won five State Group individual titles (four indoors and one outdoors).

River Dell  received a clutch victory from Grace McQueeney in the high jump (5-0), and a third-place finish from Abreeana Rilveria in the 55H (8.67).

Lilley, a sophomore, won three gold medals to fuel Rumson to its runner-up finish.

Lilley got  off to a fast start by getting out to a quick lead and running away with it on the way to a repeat victory in the 400( PR of 57.54), the second fastest time of all the Group Championship meets combined. Then in the 800, Lilley edged Allen in the 800(2:18.53 to 2:19.93). Lilley, relying on her powerful kick, sat behind Allen for the first 600 before kicking to the front just before the bell and then pouring it on over the final 200 and holding off Allen to secure the win.

Lilley won the outdoor State Group 2 title in the 400 last spring and now has four state titles in her career. She put an exclamation point on her day by splitting 58.1 as the anchor on Rumson’s 4×400 that won(4:02.28).

Abigail Dennis added a state title to her resume by winning the hurdles(8.33).