Ridge Girls Track Team Wins North 2 Group 3 Sectional Championship Title

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — On Feb. 10, the Ridge Girls and Boys Track Team traveled to Toms River to compete in the North 2 Group 3 Sectionals Championship. The girls won the meet by 25 points to Princeton, making this their 10th State Sectional win in the last 11 years.

Beginning with the 400, Daphne Georgiades ran 58.83 to place second, putting up a solid 8 points. To follow, Rachel Biondo ran the 1600 and also placed second with a personal best of 5:16.69. After just two events Ridge held the lead with 16 points setting the tone for the day to come.

In the 55 Hurdles, after placing second in the prelims, Jenna Inscore came back in the finals, running a personal best 8.58 to place third overall. Next up, Ryan Ireland and Isabella Beaudry ran the 800.

Ireland placed first with a time of 2:23.6, and scored 10 points and Beaudry placed sixth, securing her spot at the Group 3 meet. After that, Maia Zalmover placed sixth in the 3200 with a time of 11:39.23.

Meanwhile on the field, Inscore placed second in high jump, with a mark of 5-0. In pole vault, Miya Tomaru tied for third with a jump of 8-0, and scored 4 points. Aarna Mishra and Nina Kotamaraju placed second and sixth in shot put, respectively. Kotamaraju threw a personal best of 31-7.

Finally, the meet closed with the 4x400 relay composed of Julia Hornyak, Sara Raustad, Allie Chen, and Daphne Georgiades placing second and scoring 8 points.

With strong performances on the track and in the field, the Ridge Girls Track Team dominated the North 2 Group 3 Sectionals, securing the championship, and sending 14 athletes to Groups. From personal bests to top finishes, the team’s determination was on full display.

The boys also had a strong showing at the Sectional, sending 11 athletes to Groups.

In the 400, Joseph Dachnowicz placed 2nd in 52.10, followed by Ryan Schmolze running 53.04 for 6th. In the 1600, Brenden McMahon won in 4:18.32, Kaleb placed 4th in 4:27.08, and Nick Alapatt ran 4:29.40 to place 6th.

Marcus Reilly qualified for Groups in the 55 hurdles, running a PR of 8.14. Ryan Swan placed 6th in the 800, running 2:02.78 to advance. Brenden McMahon doubled back in the 3200 to place 2nd in 9:44.13, and Nick Alapatt placed 4th in 9:50.79.

Will Ligos placed 4th in High Jump with a mark of 5-8, and Sam Ginn threw 45-11.50 to place 6th in the Shot Put. Last but not least, the boys 4x400 of Tristan Frank, Joseph Dachnowicz, Jared Rascio, and Ryan Schmolze won with a time of 3:31.39.

Next up for the girls and boys is the Group 3 State Championship. This meet will be held at the Toms River Bubble on Sunday, Feb. 23.

— By: Ryan Ireland & Breden McMahon