Track: North Jersey Individuals at the Penn Relays
The Penn Relays began inviting selected high school individuals to compete in certain individual events in 1959. At one point there were 10 individual events for both boys and girls , the seven traditional high school field events (shot, discus, javelin, high jump, long jump, triple jump and pole vault), the mile (or 1500) and the 3,000 meters and the 400 hurdles. The latter event, which for many years was the first event held on the Opening Thursday, was discontinued when the Penn Relays returned after a two-year COVID mandated absence in 2022.
Pascack Valley pole vaulter John Langram was the first of 279 North Jersey boys to compete (others were selected but opted not to attend) when he finished tied for fourth in 1962, clearing 11-6. When the girls finally got their own events, in 1977, it took until 1981 when another PV athlete, Mary Ellen McGowan was fourth in 1,500 in 4:35.4, for North Jersey to have an individual girl compete at Penn. To date 212 North Jersey girls have competed.
To date, just 10 North Jersey boys have won a Championship event at Penn: the late Steve Adams of St. Joseph (1970 shot); Roger Jones of Ramsey (1977 mile); Steve Schadler of Bergenfield (1984 1,500); David Beason of Kennedy (1987 high jump); Rich Robinson of St. Joseph (1989 high jump); Darius Pemberton of Hackensack (1992 triple jump); Anthony Hayne of Ridgefield Park (1992 javelin); Bob Keino of Ridgewood (1994 3,000); George Abyad of Passaic Valley (2007 discus) and Kaleb Zuidema of Midland Park (2010 javelin).
They're joined by six girls: Jasmin Jones of Hackensack (1986 1,500); Robin Lowe of Passaic (1994 shot put), Carlene Cummings of Dwight Morrow (1998 triple jump), Kelly Fazekas of Demarest (2003 shot put), Angelina Perez of Lakeland (2022 3,000) and Niki Woods of Demarest (2022 javelin).
Here are the top 10 performances by North Jersey athletes in the individual events at the Penn Relays:
BOYS
1 mile run
Name | School | Year | time |
Ben Malone | Pascack Valley | 2013 | 4:05.59 |
Roger Jones | Ramsey | 1977 | 4:09.5 |
Ben Malone | Pascack Valley | 2012 | 4:12.24 |
Kevin Conheeney | Hackensack | 1971 | 4:14.5 |
Greg Bloom | Queen of Peace | 1979 | 4:16.4 |
Roger Jones | Ramsey | 1976 | 4:16.7 |
Mike Higgins | Don Bosco | 2014 | 4:19.12 |
Luis Peralta | Passaic | 2018 | 4:19.43 |
Rich Rothschild | Paramus | 1975 | 4:19.5 |
Will Baginski | Ridgewood | 2019 | 4:20.12 |
3000 meters
Name | School | Year | Time |
Mohamed Khadraoui | Kennedy | 2004 | 8:25.20 |
Kyle Levermore | Don Bosco | 2014 | 8:26.86 |
Kyle Levermore | Don Bosco | 2013 | 8:27.80 |
Bob Keino | Ridgewood | 1994 | 8:29.93 |
David Rosas | Don Bosco | 2016 | 8:33.92 |
Amiri Whittle | Hackensack | 2022 | 8:33.95 |
Mohamed Khadraoui | Kennedy | 2003 | 8:36.10 |
George Gusciora | Saddle Brook | 1982 | 8:37.8 |
Rob Molke | Don Bosco | 2008 | 8:37.85 |
Pat Sullivan | Don Bosco | 2016 | 8:41.31 |
Shot put
Name | School | Year | Distance |
Andy Papathanassiou | Emerson | 1985 | 66-5 3/4 |
Gio Gutierrez | Saddle Brook | 2017 | 62-8 3/4 |
Steve Adams | St. Joseph | 1970 | 61-3 |
Andy Papathanassiou | Emerson | 1984 | 60-1 3/4 |
Scott Miller | Elmwood Park | 1986 | 60-0 1/4 |
Ray Sahadi | Tenafly | 1974 | 59-6 |
Spencer Ross | Mahwah | 2013 | 58-11 1/4 |
Connor Mathis | Don Bosco | 2019 | 58-10 1/4 |
Randy Sokolik | New Milford | 1969 | 58-8 |
Bruce Hedendal | Paramus | 1965 | 58-7 1/2 |
Bob Brady | St. Joseph | 1970 | 58-7 1/2 |
Discus
Name | School | Year | Distance |
Benji Shue | Bergen Catholic | 2023 | 196-7 |
Benji Shue | Bergen Catholic | 2022 | 192-11 |
George Abyad | Passaic Valley | 2007 | 179-7 |
Carlos Bermudez | Ridgewood | 2023 | 179-0 |
Stephen Mozia | Hackensack | 2011 | 174-11 |
Stephen Mozia | Hackensack | 2010 | 172-0 |
Chris Pantale | Wayne Valley | 2008 | 168-6 |
Chris Pantale | Wayne Valley | 2007 | 168-3 |
Steve McGovern | Dumont | 2002 | 167-9 |
Daniel Mikay | Demarest | 2022 | 161-2 |
Javelin
Name | School | Year | Distance |
Kaleb Zuidema | Midland Park | 2010 | 216-5 |
Kaleb Zuidema | Midland Park | 2011 | 203-6 |
Justin Schwartz | Glen Rock | 1995 | 203-2 |
Anthony Hayne | Ridgefield Park | 1992 | 198-4 |
Kyle Elliott | Cresskill | 2008 | 194-3 |
Jim Malizia | St. Joseph | 2002 | 193-8 |
Jason Santa Cruz | Old Tappan | 2019 | 192-8 |
Joe Gingerelli | Wood-Ridge | 2008 | 191-8 |
Seth Zuidema | Midland Park | 2014 | 190-0 |
JD Murdock | Ridgewood | 1998 | 187-7 |
High jump
Name | School | Year | Height |
Linden Richmond | Passaic | 1997 | 7-0 1/2 |
Doug Boyd | Old Tappan | 1982 | 6-7 |
David Beason | Kennedy | 1987 | 6-7 |
Rich Robinson | St. Joseph | 1989 | 6-7 |
Mark DeAngelis | Tenafly | 1988 | 6-5 |
Tommy DeVita | Ridgewood | 2010 | 6-5 |
Jason Thobourne | Kennedy | 2017 | 6-5 |
Wayne Purcell | Dwight Morrow | 1970 | 6-4 |
Four tied | 6-3 1/2 |
Long jump
Name | School | Year | Distance |
Corey Crawford | Indian Hills | 2010 | 23-9 |
Kwame Collins | Hackensack | 2007 | 22-10 |
Ackeme Brown | Dwight Morrow | 2009 | 22-7 3/4 |
Jamal Williams | Teaneck | 2012 | 21-6 3/4 |
Alexander Kislenko | Fair Lawn | 2022 | 21-3 1/4 |
Val Sisti | DePaul | 2004 | 21-2 |
Ausar Walcott | Hackensack | 2008 | 20-10 |
Anthony Pomo | Saddle Brook | 2005 | 20-7 3/4 |
Conroy Walker | Hackensack | 2010 | 20-6 1/2 |
Brian Leslie | West Milford | 2002 | 19-9 1/2 |
Triple jump
Name | School | Year | Distance |
Darius Pemberton | Hackensack | 1992 | 49-9 |
Ed Alston | Hackensack | 1982 | 48-0 3/4 |
Chris Phipps | Lodi | 2008 | 47-10 3/4 |
Craig Halyard | Ridgewood | 1989 | 47-3 3/4 |
Vernard Hoover | Hasbrouck Heights | 2004 | 46-8 3/4 |
Ted Lasher | Northern Highlands | 2006 | 46-8 |
Gerald Spears | Teaneck | 1989 | 46-6 1/4 |
Neal Okarter | Westwood | 1998 | 45-8 |
Anthony DiCosmo | Paramus Catholic | 1994 | 45-6 1/2 |
Greg Hazell | Don Bosco | 2011 | 45-2 1/4 |
Pole vault
Name | School | Year | Height |
Greg Stripe | Mahwah | 2007 | 14-9 |
Luke Annichiarico | Old Tappan | 2014 | 14-9 |
Liam Landau | Pascack Hills | 2019 | 14-5 1/4 |
Connor Munson | Westwood | 2022 | 14-5 1/4 |
Max Zuckerman | Pascack Hills | 2022 | 14-5 1/4 |
Greg Hoffman | Park Ridge | 2009 | 14-3 1/4 |
Juan Andres Giglio | Ridgefield Park | 2010 | 14-3 1/4 |
John Wisener | Ridgewood | 2010 | 14-3 1/4 |
Eric Geider | Demarest | 2012 | 14-3 1/4 |
Gabe Knutson | Ridgewood | 2004 | 14-1 1/4 |
400 hurdles
DISCONTINUED after 2019
Name | School | Year | Height |
Anthony Hampton | Dwight Morrow | 1993 | 52.68 |
Brandon Gregory | Old Tappan | 2012 | 53.58 |
Anthony Hampton | Dwight Morrow | 1992 | 53.91 |
Anthony Hampton | Dwight Morrow | 1993 | 53.98 |
Kevin Ervin | Bergen Catholic | 1992 | 54.31 |
InSoo Hwang | Ridgewood | 2010 | 54.49 |
Sean Rhinehart | Hackensack | 1991 | 54.67 |
Mark Filandro | Indian Hills | 2010 | 54.97 |
Adam Khriss | Secaucus | 2018 | 55.18 |
Greg Horn | River Dell | 2003 | 55.24 |
Girls
1500 meters (before 2002)
Name | School | Year | Time |
Jasmin Jones | Hackensack | 1987 | 4:26.5 |
Toni Ann Angione | Bergenfield | 1984 | 4;31.1 |
Mary Ellen McGowan | Pascack Valley | 1981 | 4:35.4 |
Toni Ann Angione | Bergenfield | 1985 | 4:36.5 |
Jasmin Jones | Hackensack | 1986 | 4:36.82 |
Mile run
Name | School | Year | Time |
Christina Allen | River Dell | 2022 | 4:59.34 |
Julia Guerra | Indian Hills | 2014 | 5:00.18 |
Caitlyn Smith | IHA | 2003 | 5:19.13 |
3000 meters
Name | School | Year | Time |
Angelina Perez | Lakeland | 2022 | 9:18.11 |
Carleen Jeffers | Ridgewood | 2015 | 9:52.73 |
Monica Hebner | Northern Highlands | 2018 | 9:54.42 |
Isabel Hebner | Northern Highlands | 2018 | 9:54.47 |
Daisy Liljegren | Northern Highlands | 2019 | 9:57.70 |
Leanna Johnston | IHA | 2022 | 9:58.82 |
Lindsay Van Alstine | Hawthorne Christian | 2003 | 10:02.16 |
Catherine Feeney | Wayne Valley | 1990 | 10:03.97 |
Jen Van Horn | Wayne Valley | 1985 | 10:06.3 |
Jesse Mizzone | Passaic Valley | 2003 | 10:08.93 |
Shot put
Name | School | Year | Distance |
Jessica Molina | Westwood | 2016 | 48-0 |
Theresa Picciallo | IHA | 2012 | 47-1 1/2 |
Theresa Picciallo | IHA | 2011 | 46-7 1/4 |
Kelly Fazekas | Demarest | 2003 | 44-8 3/4 |
Jessica Molina | Westwood | 2015 | 44-7 1/2 |
Apresha Hampton | Teaneck | 2011 | 44-5 1/4 |
Casey Sullivan | Demarest | 2022 | 43-4 1/4 |
Jessica Molina | Westwood | 2014 | 43-0 1/4 |
Kelly Fazekas | Demarest | 2002 | 42-4 1/4 |
Nakisha Leon | Passaic | 1997 | 42-3 1/4 |
Discus
Name | School | Year | Distance |
Layla Giordano | Old Tappan | 2023 | 145-4 |
Alana Pantale | Wayne Valley | 2010 | 130-11 |
Jessica Fazekas | Demarest | 2001 | 129-5 |
Jazmin Fenlator | Wayne Valley | 2003 | 128-8 |
Alana Pantale | Wayne Valley | 2009 | 123-5 |
Sarah Slowikowski | Demarest | 2023 | 122-11 |
Jessica Fazekas | Demarest | 2002 | 118-8 |
Monique Mighty | Hackensack | 2001 | 118-7 |
Stephanie Easse | Wayne Valley | 2013 | 116-3 |
Alana Pantale | Wayne Valley | 2008 | 112-5 |
Javelin
Name | School | Year | Distance |
Shaunteriah Douglas | Garfield | 2012 | 144-1 |
Nicole Woods | Demarest | 2022 | 141-2 |
Shannon Sullivan | IHA | 2009 | 140-1 |
Lisa Sesnik-Clee | Holy Angels | 2013 | 138-5 |
Jessica Geller | Demarest | 2016 | 137-11 |
Alianna Eucker | Bergen Tech | 2019 | 137-6 |
Jessica Geller | Demarest | 2017 | 136-10 |
Jen Austin | Garfield | 2000 | 136-1 |
Jen Austin | Garfield | 1999 | 135-4 |
Shannon Spafford | Old Tappan | 2004 | 134-2 |
High jump
Name | School | Year | Height |
Cheryl Burdick | Ramsey | 1999 | 5-6 1/2 |
Jessica Malacrida | Paramus | 2005 | 5-3 1/4 |
Michele Dudzinski | Passaic Valley | 1993 | 5-3 |
Julie Denisenko | Fair Lawn | 1995 | 5-3 |
Norina Khanzada | Tenafly | 2022 | 5-1 1/4 |
Long jump
Name | School | Year | Distance |
Cassandra Grant | Passaic | 1992 | 19-2 1/2 |
Jen McDermott | Ridgewood | 1989 | 18-6 3/4 |
Tatiyanna Sanders | Paramus Catholic | 2014 | 18-6 |
Tatiyanna Sanders | Paramus Catholic | 2013 | 18-0 1/4 |
Teri Martin | Hackensack | 1992 | 17-9 |
Lexy Samperi | Hasbrouck Heights | 2023 | 17-8 |
Isabelle Dely | Paramus Catholic | 2019 | 17-7 1/2 |
Kristen Brown | Dwight Morrow | 2009 | 17-5 1/2 |
Alexis Trott | Paramus Catholic | 2016 | 17-4 1/4 |
Marie McVeagh | Demarest | 1982 | 17-0 3/4 |
Triple jump
Name | School | Year | Distance |
Carlene Cummings | Dwight Morrow | 1998 | 42-2 3/4 |
Tiffany Bautista | Paramus Catholic | 2018 | 40-3 1/2 |
Kaitlin Salisbury | Hawthorne | 2016 | 39-2 1/4 |
Consandria Walker | Hackensack | 2004 | 39-0 1/4 |
Lauren Stern | Mahwah | 2018 | 38-7 1/2 |
Consandria Walker | Hackensack | 2006 | 38-0 |
Tiffany Bautista | Paramus Catholic | 2019 | 37-10 |
Amanda Katz | Ramapo | 2018 | 37-5 3/4 |
Alyssa Maier | River Dell | 2007 | 37-3 3/4 |
Zia Barr | Teaneck | 2018 | 37-1 1/4 |
Pole vault
Name | School | Year | Height |
Kayla Polcari | Ridgewood | 2011 | 12-5 1/2 |
Kristina Langan | Wayne Hills | 2015 | 11-11 3/4 |
Michelle Rubinetti | Demarest | 2017 | 11-11 3/4 |
Melissa Purcell | Pascack Valley | 2018 | 11-11 3/4 |
Sydney Woods | Demarest | 2018 | 11-11 3/4 |
Kayla Polcari | Ridgewood | 2010 | 11-9 3/4 |
Emma Keating | Pompton Lakes | 2023 | 11-9 |
Michelle Favre | Saddle Brook | 2008 | 11-8 1/2 |
Ann Polcari | Ridgewood | 2008 | 11-8 1/2 |
Chelsea Hartigan | Ramapo | 2010 | 11-5 3/4 |
Michelle Rubinetti | Demarest | 2016 | 11-5 3/4 |
Marisa DiGia | Old Tappan | 2019 | 11-5 3/4 |
400 hurdles (discontinued 2019)
Name | School | Year | Time |
Amber Allen | Passaic Tech | 2009 | 60.33 |
Amber Allen | Passaic Tech | 2010 | 60.76 |
Alexandra Cimino | Westwood | 2013 | 60.94 |
Katherine Muccio | Ridgewood | 2019 | 61.33 |
Tawana Watkins | Kennedy | 2000 | 61.83 |
Katherine Muccio | Ridgewood | 2018 | 62.50 |
Michelle Smith | Teaneck | 2005 | 62.56 |
Grace O'Shea | Ramapo | 2019 | 63.59 |
Grace Smiechowski | Northern Highlands | 2019 | 64.05 |
Susan Martinez | Clifton | 2008 | 64.51 |
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ Track: North Jersey Individuals at the Penn Relays