Newark Tech Girls Track Honored for Standout Season

During a recent meeting the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders honored the Newark Tech Girls Winter Track Team for winning the 2013 Group 1 Relays State Championship.  The board’s commendation was sponsored by acclamation and presented to the team by Freeholder President Blonnie Watson of Newark and Freeholders Carol Clark of East Orange, Gerald Owens of South Orange and Leonard Luciano of West Caldwell.

The Newark Tech Girls Winter Track Team, the Lady Terriers, won the 2013 New Jersey Group I State Relays Championship, the first in school history, which was held on Jan. 10-13 in Toms River.  The team competition included the following events: 4x200 Meter Relay, 4x400 Meter Relay, 4x800 Meter Relay, Sprint Medley 2-2-4-8, 4x55 Meter Shuttle Hurdles, Shot Put Relay and High Jump Relay.

The Newark Tech Girls Winter Track Team also won its second straight Super Essex Conference Liberty Division Championship, and captured second place in both the Essex County Indoor Relays Championships and Indoor Track Championships.  Individual members of the team also enjoyed outstanding success at the 2013 NJSIAA Group 1 State Championships held Feb. 15-16 in Toms River, where Iana Amsterdam won the Group 1 Indoor 55 Meter Hurdles State Championship and Essence Underwood won the Group 1 Indoor Shot Put State Championship.

The team also competed in the 2013 USA Track & Field (USATF) National Youth Indoor Track & Field Championships held in Prince George’s County, Md., on March 9-10 where the school won its first-ever national titles when the 4x200 Meter Relay team of Jalissa Hayes, Jasmine Jones, Natalia Hinton and Brionna Singleton captured first place, and Natalia Hinton won two national titles in the 55 Meter Hurdles and Long Jump.

The team comprises the following members: Seniors Iana Amsterdam, Natalia Hinton, Essence Underwood and Jasmine Jones; Juniors Stherline Silencieux, Brionna Singleton, Jenyce Baytops, Monique Hagan and Krissanah Phillips; Sophomores Trudie Lamby, Ledena Baytops and Imani Jackson; and Freshmen Ayanna Fate, Shanta Smalling, Jalissa Hayes, Tannia Wilkerson, Angel Kalu, Whitney Cort and Jessica Straker.  It was coached by Head Coach Eddie Greene and Assistant Coaches Aaron Brown, Rolanda Bruce and Nhemie Theodore, and also received administrative support from Superintendent Dr. Michael Pannella, Principal Oge Dennis, Vice Principal Ayiesha Robinson and Athletic Director Daniel Harris, III.