Ricks, Price and Toner Finish Strong at Meet of Champions

There wasn’t a champ, point-scoring place or record performance by the three New Providence athletes who took part in Saturday’s NJSIAA/Meet of Champions indoor track meet on Saturday.

But head coach Kevin Kelly was very pleased and encouraged by the performances of junior and seniors and .

Price rallied in the John Bennett Indoor Athletic Facility in Toms River to place eighth in the 1,600 meters with a 4:19 clocking.

Price, who has a personal best of 4:14 set last outdoor season, was in 13th or 14th place with two laps to go, but ran about 2:07 in the final 800 meters to just miss a place. Medals go to the first six place winners.

"He was boxed in, but got to the outside and started passing people," Kelly said. "He finished very, very well. He really, really wanted to be in the top six, but he ran a good mile."

Ocean City junior Erik Johnson won in 4:16.02, West Windsor-Plainsboro North’s Joe Rosa was second in 4:17.36 and Pascack Valley’s Ben Malone ran 4:17.62. Eight runners were below 4:20.

Price won the Central Group I meet Feb. 11 with a 4:25.46, then placed third with a 4:21.78 a week ago Friday.

Toner came into the Meet of Champions seeded 31st, but finished 20th. Toner was a runner-up in the 800 in the Central Jersey Group I meet with a 2:26.6 clocking, then won the state Group I meet with a 2:24.43.

She set a personal best at the Meet of Champions with a 2:23. There were three heats and Toner was third in the third. Lenape junior Emmy Duffey won the event with a 2:13.51.

Ricks, coming off a state shot put title, finished 13th with a 35 ½. Ricks won the CJ Group I meet with a 36-02, and then won the group meet with a 36-10, winning the group meet last week.

The three will compete Tuesday night in the 74th annual Eastern States Championships at the Armory Track and Field Center in New York City.