Track sectionals: Sadikov, Viggiano overcome major injuries as Ocean Township triumphs
JACKSON – After suffering a stress fracture in April, Ocean Township track & field senior Alex Sadikov thought his stellar high school career might be over.
It wasn’t.
In fact, the final chapter is the sweetest one yet.
Coming off six painful weeks on the sideline, Sadikov stepped into the starting blocks cold for the NJSIAA sectionals and delivered a comeback for the ages, earning three gold medals and a silver as the Spartans captured the Central Group 2 title Saturday.
The defending state champion at 400 meters also gained the most precious prize of all – perspective.
“I had so many goals, so many milestones to reach, so many things I wanted to achieve, but after what I went through, I’m starting to realize that’s not the important stuff,” he said. “The important stuff is to finish up this senior year, make memories with my team, be an inspiring figure to the younger guys coming up, and show people what the human body is capable of.”
Consider it done. Despite zero traditional training over the past month – Sadikov didn’t run a single step – he won the 400-meter hurdles (a time of 54.28) and 110-meter hurdles (15.02), placed second in the open 400 (49.41) and anchored the winning 4x400 with a 49.9 split.
“This was the first time I didn’t have any pain,” Sadikov said. “It’s been such a mental fight knowing where I’m supposed to be and how much work I’ve put in, then all of a sudden I’m out.”
The stress fracture was in his right fibula – the smaller of the two bones between the knee and ankle. In mid-May, by the time he started working with Elite Sports Physical Therapy in Tinton Falls, the inflammation subsided and the healing process was underway. Still, with just a three workouts on an anti-gravity treadmill under his belt, Sadikov had no idea what to expect when he toed the line for that first race, Friday’s 400 hurdles.
“I was so nervous,” he said. “I could have run 59 with a lot of pain and called it quits, but that race changed everything.”
His subsequent performance, along with a four-gold quadruple by classmate Mark Viggiano, lifted Ocean Township to the program’s third sectional crown ever and first since 2016.
“It feels really good to see him back on the track and in his place,” Viggiano said of Sadikov. “Other people might say it’s gutsy, but to me it’s just Alex. I had no worries about him coming out here and willing himself to do great things.”
The Rutgers-bound Viggiano did his part, too, and owns a comeback story just as impressive.
After suffering a dislocated kneecap at the indoor NJSIAA Meet of Champions – an injury that cost him a month of training at the start of the spring season – Viggiano was the sectional’s strongest runner. He won the 800 (1:53.91) and 1600 (4:24.89) and contributed to the victorious 4x800 and 4x400 with splits of 1:59 and 51.1, respectively.
“It’s a fantastic story, for both of them,” longtime Ocean Township coach Mark DeSomma said of his two stars. “One of the phrases I kept saying to them was that the comeback will be greater than the setback. This is it.”
Up next is the NJSIAA state group championships. Sadikov, who is headed to the University of Pennsylvania in the fall, is thrilled he doesn’t have to turn in the uniform just yet. Adversity will change your vision.
“It’s not like I have to win or be the best,” he said. “A lot of friends who’ve already graduated say the biggest thing they regret is that they didn’t take everything in their senior year – the year flew by and they didn’t even notice it. I don’t want to do that. I want to have these memories.”
He has them now, and that’s the sweetest prize of all.
Point Pleasant Boro girls make history
Juggling the prom and the quest for the program’s first sectional title in 40 years posed a challenge for Point Pleasant Borough’s girls.
Turns out, the seniors had their cake and ate it, too.
After attending Thursday’s prom and then a post-prom trip to a water park Friday, the Panthers put it all together in Central Group 2, racking up a site-best 128 points and taking down powerhouse Rumson-Fair Haven.
“We were all shot, but we came together and did what we had to do,” said senior Shea Burke, who won the 100-meter hurdles. “It shows grit and determination.”
The signature moment came in Friday’s 4x100, when Burke, Jordan Kelly, Jordan Muraglia and Annabella Ryan posted a Shore Conference-best time of 48.77, beating the runner-up Bulldogs by nearly a second. Muraglia, the lone sophomore with three seniors on that relay, also won the long jump (17-1.5). Also striking gold for the Panthers were senior Katelyn Fisher in the pole vault (11-0) and freshman Ivy Slavinski in the 3200 (11:08).
It’s an impressive addition to a season that already includes the program’s first Ocean County crown. Not a bad legacy for a senior class to remember.
“It’s so cool because it’s senior year and we get to end with a bang,” Fisher said.
Middletown North boys defend title
The Central Group 3 boys title came down to the final event, and Middletown North’s 4x400 came through. Jack Chenoweth, Aaron Guensch, Christian Sanford and Trade Girgus broke the tape in 3:27 to lift the defending champion Lions past Matawan 77-69.
“We knew it came down to the 4x400 and we showed up,” Chenoweth said. “We were a little bit nervous, but we train for this.”
Chenoweth, a senior, did his part with a first-place finish in the 400 hurdles (55.65), a third in the open 400 (50.72) and a leg on the second-place 4x800 (8:19). Junior Thomas Randolph added a victory in the discus (150-4) and Matthew David Sheehan won the javelin (161-8).
Top 10 Shore boys performers
Alex Sadikov, Ocean Township: The senior won the Central Group 2 400 hurdles (54.28) and 110 hurdles (15.02), placed second in the open 400 (49.41) and ran on the winning 4x400 (49.9 split).
Mark Viggiano, Ocean Township: The senior won the Central Group 2 800 (1:53.91) and 1600 (4:24) and ran on the winning 4x400 (51.1 split) and 4x800 (1:59 split).
Fabian Gonzalez, Southern: The senior won the South Group 2 discus (192-9) and shot put (61-2).
Kieran Falzon, Raritan: In Central Group 2 the senior won the 100-meter dash in 11.10 and took second in the shot put in 46-1, a highly unusual double. He also placed fourth in the 200 (23.09).
Mubaraq Aderogba, Manchester: In South Group 2 the senior won the long jump (23-0.5), placed second in the triple jump (44-0) and helped the Hawks strike gold in the 4x100 (42.59) as they captured the team title.
Blaik Slavinski, Point Pleasant Borough: The senior won the Central Group 2 400 (48.61) and placed second in the 800 (1:57.08).
Jack Chenoweth, Middletown North: The senior won the Central Group 3 400 hurdles (55.65), placed third in the open 400 (50.72), anchored the winning 4x400 (50.0 split) and ran on the second-place 4x800 (8:19).
Andrew Bowker, Southern: The senior won the South Group 4 3200 (9:23) and took second in the 1600 (4:21).
Hunter Celkupa, Colts Neck: The sophomore won the Central Group 3 1600 (4:25) and 3200 (9:42).
Cael Driscoll, Manasquan: The senior won the Central Group 2 high jump (6-2) and long jump (21-4).
Top 10 Shore Girls performers
Megan Donlevie, Shore: In Central Group 1 the senior won the 3200 (11:35), 1600 (5:20) and 800 (2:22.17) to lead the Blue Devils to the team title.
Kylie Jacoutot, Colts Neck: The senior won the Central Group 3 400 hurdles (1:04.01) and open 400 (57.88) and took second in the 200 (25.65) and 100 hurdles (16.29).
Clemmie Lilley, Rumson-Fair Haven: The sophomore won the Central Group 2 800 (2:12.08) and 400 (56.57) and placed second in the 200 (25.58).
Jessica Abbott, Toms River North: In South Group 4 the freshman won the 3200 (11:17) and 1600 (5:05) and placed second in the 800 (2:13.62).
Isabella Murray, Marlboro: The junior won the Central Group 4 400 (57.22) and 200 (25.47) and took third in the 100 (12.39).
Catherine Vota, Colts Neck: The senior won the Central Group 3 discus (127-0) and javelin (106-9) and took fourth in the shot put (34-1).
Emma Zawatski, Freehold Township: The junior won the Central Group 4 1600 (4:51) and 800 (2:14).
Jordan Muraglia, Point Pleasant Borough: The sophomore won the Central Group 2 long jump (17-1.5), placed third in the 100 hurdles (15.91), fourth in the 100 dash (12.71) and ran on the winning 4x100 (48.77).
Ayontunde Folawewo, Toms River North: The senior won the South Group 4 triple jump by 15 inches with a mark of 37-11 and took second in the 100 hurdles (15.26).
Bella Palmiotto, Manchester: The junior won the South Group 2 long jump (17-3) and placed second in the triple jump (36-7).
Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Track & field sectionals: top Shore Conference performers
