Ocean City’s Johnson breaks through in Meet of Champs

South Jersey distance runners made their mark at the NJSIAA Indoor Track Meet of Champions on Saturday at the Bennett Center in Toms River.

Ocean City's Erik Johnson, who runs behind standout teammate Miles Schoedler in most races, had a breakout performance by winning the 1,600 meters in 4 minutes, 16.02 seconds.

Johnson beat West Windsor-Plainsboro North's Joe Rosa by 1.34 seconds and Haddonfield's Ben Potts was fifth.

Schoedler is in Seattle, where he will run the 1,600 on Sunday in the inaugural Brooks PR Invitational, which features the top 10 performers in the country in each event.

In other boys' highlights, Eastern's Brian Banks cleared 14 feet, 6 inches for second place in the pole vault, and Cherry Hill East took second in the 4x400 relay.

Highland distance star Megan Venables held off a late charge by Bishop Eustace's Holly Bischof to win the girls' 3,200 in 10:38.31. Bischof clocked 10:42.06 for second. A week earlier, Venables took the state Group 2 title in 10:38.11, the fifth-fastest mark in the country this season.

Lenape's Emmy Duffey also grabbed a gold medal with a 2:13.51 victory in the 800, and Washington Township's 4x400 relay was the only foursome to break the 4-minute mark, winning in 3:57.96. Lenape was second in 4:00.36.

Winslow Township's Ste'yce McNeil placed second in the 400 dash in 56.70, and Delsea's Janiece Rose was third in the shot put (42-7).

The Results

BOYS' EVENTS

55 meters: 1, Miles Shuler-Foster, Long Branch, 6.39. 2, Kadeem Douse, Ewing, 6.39. 3, Jihaad Howard, Brick Memorial, 6.48.

55 hurdles: 1, Christian Boateng, Old Bridge, 7.36. 2, Mark Jones, Hackensack, 7.52. 3, Jermaine Collier, Trenton Central, 7.59.

400: 1, Najee Glass, St. Peter's, 48.48. 2, Leonard Robbins, East Brunswick, 49.04. 3, Devonte Artis, Shabazz, 49.29.

800: 1, Justin Hill, Seton Hall Prep, 1:55.87. 2, Allen Eke, Union Catholic, 1:55.95. 3, Jose Veras, Dickinson, 1:56.18.

1,600: 1, Erik Johnson, Ocean City, 4:16.02. 2, Joe Rosa, West Windsor North, 4:17.36. 3, Ben Malone, Pascack Valley, 4:17.62.

3,200: 1, Matthew McDonald, North Hunterdon, 9:15.73. 2, Mike Mazzaccaro, Christian Brothers, 9:17.30. 3, Collin Frost, Randolph, 9:19.53.

High jump: 1, Mark Jones, Summit, 6-8. 2, Jose Veras, Dickinson, 6-6. 3, Isaac Williams, Willingboro, 6-6.

Shot put: 1, Nicholas Vena, Morristown, 67-21/2. 2, Stephen Mozia, Hackensack, 59-7. 3, Dontaye Rivera, Pleasantville, 57-91/2.

Pole vault: 1, Dylan Spadaccini, Matawan, 14-6. 2, Brian Banks, Eastern, 14-6. 3, (tie) Brad Hoey, River Dell; Jonathan Brinkerhoff, Veritas, 14-0.

4x400 relay: 1, Teaneck, 3:25.03. 2, Cherry Hill East, 3:25.94. 3, Christian Brothers, 3:25.94.

GIRLS' EVENTS

55 meters: 1, Myasia Jacobs, Paramus Catholic, 6.96. 2, Amari Hartsfield, Sayreville, 7.20. 3, Gabrielle Farquharson, Williamstown, 7.20.

55 hurdles: 1, Fiona Paladino, Montgomery, 8.20. 2, Iana Amsterdam, Essex Tech, 8.24. 3, Samantha Jensen, Central Regional, 8.40.

400: 1, Olivia Baker, Columbia, 56.41. 2, Ste'yce McNeil, Winslow Township, 56.70. 3, Erika Veidis, Sparta, 57.38.

800: 1, Emmy Duffey, Lenape, 2:13.51. 2, Katherine Vodopia, Hunterdon Central, 2:14.09. 3, Kathleen McCurdy, Mount St. Dominic, 2:14.88.

1,600: 1, Molly McNamara, Red Bank Catholic, 4:54.41. 2, Katie Watson, Summit, 4:58.34. 3, Marisa Ruskan, Bridgewater-Raritan, 5:01.43.

3,200: 1, Megan Venables, Highland, 10:38.31. 2, Holly Bischof, Bishop Eustace, 10:42.06. 3, Caroline Kellner, West Windsor South, 10:44.11.

High jump: 1, Fiona Paladino, Montgomery, 5-10. 2, Alexa Williams, Jonathan Dayton, 5-10. 3, Noel Jancewicz, Robbinsville, 5-6.

Shot put: 1, Theresa Picciallo, Immaculate Heart, 46-41/2. 2, Apresha Hampton, Teaneck, 44-31/4. 3, Janiece Rose, Delsea, 42-7.

Pole vault: 1, Dana Schweiger, Toms River North, 12-0. 2, Catherine Shih, Bernards, 11-6. 3, Myriah Sujansky, North Hunterdon, 11-6.

4x400 relay: 1, Washington Township, 3:57.96. 2, Lenape, 4:00.36. 3, South Brunswick, 4:00.40.