Track Team Takes Honors at Meet of Champions

It was day of redemption for the Westfield High School track team.
The Blue Devils, who had some disappointing performances at the NJSIAA Group IV meet in Egg Harbor last Saturday, rebounded with a strong performance Thursday at the Meet of Champions at Jost Field in South Plainfield.

Junior Jon Henry placed fifth in the open 400 with a 48.63 and later anchored an outstanding effort in the 4x400 that placed seventh in a team-best 3:18.32.

"The kids rebounded. It was a tough finish for us last week,'' said longtime coach Jack Martin. "We just never got a rhythm down in Egg Harbor. This place? I don't know. I keep saying. It has a lot more energy. South Plainfield. Whether it's this week, the group meet, sectionals there's a lot more energy. There's a lot more energy here.''

The splits were outstanding. Senior Jhakyse Williams opened in the eighth lane with a 49.9, senior Brian Henry ran a 51.1 and senior Pat Gray turned in a 49.4 before Jon Henry clocked a 47.5. The Blue Devils were three tenths of a second behind sixth-place Long Branch and just behind Hightstown's 3:17.68.
Westfield's previous time was 3:19.54.

"Jon was in lane eight in the open four and we were in lane eight in the relay,'' said Martin. "I think it cost Jhakyse a second. He had the lead coming off the curve and he had no sense of rhythm.''

Henry has run a 48.2 personal best.

"I hate to make excuses when I do bad in my races, but last week the 1/8 inch spikes had a big reason,'' said Jon Henry. "Everybody behind me during the race caught up with me right from the gun. Compared to this week. Last week I knew I wasn't going to be in the fastest heat. I knew I had made the MOCs. That's all I really needed to do go out hard, do my best and just run.''

Henry said he wanted to run three events – the 4x800, the 400, and the 4x400.

"I realized this was the end of the season and (college) scouts are looking for more individual performances,'' Henry said.

Senior Dave Fishman just missed clearing 14-feet in the pole vault, finishing ninth with a 13-6 and Gray was ninth in the javelin with a 180-6 toss. The 4x800 team was eighth in 8:05.43. Sam Tooley, Mike Kelley, Tyler Cusick and Zach Lizmi made up the team.