Williamstown sprinters win both Group 4 100 dashes
The island of Jamaica sometimes is called the Sprint Factory of the World. Williamstown seems to be vying for that title in South Jersey.
The island of Jamaica sometimes is called the Sprint Factory of the World.
Williamstown seems to be vying for that title in South Jersey.
"Sprint capital," Williamstown coach Dwayne Dobbins said after the Braves produced the 100-meter winners in the boys' and girls' meets at the South Jersey Group 4 track and field championship Friday night.
Williamstown senior Jared Nicholas "came from nowhere" to capture the 100 in 10.70 seconds at Egg Harbor Township High School.
Moments earlier, Williamstown junior Bria Mack broke a nine-year-old meet record set by one of South Jersey's most decorated sprinters to capture the girls' title in a blistering time of 11.68.
Mack's time broke the mark set in 2007 by Eastern star English Gardner, who won five NCAA titles at Oregon, including a pair of 100 championships.
"It went great," Mack said after her third South Jersey Group 4 title in her three seasons for the Braves. "I felt good. I felt smooth. I got off to a good start and finished strong."
Salem junior Jon Taylor ran the fastest 100 of the night, winning the Group 1 title in 10.55 seconds.
Taylor, a Rutgers football recruit as a running back, said he weighed 211 pounds in pulling away from a field that included Haddon Heights' senior Ibrahim Massey, who took second in 10.75.
"I've been working hard," Taylor said. "I'm big up top, and my coaches have been telling me I have to pump my arms because that helps me turn my legs over."
Paul VI senior Max Dickens defeated an old nemesis as well as the field to win the 400 hurdles in Non-Public South A.
Dickens' old foe: The seventh hurdle.
"Hurdle 7, that's where I usually stagger," Dickens said. "I changed my steps up a little, and I was fine. After I got through that, I was good to go for the rest of the race."
Dickens, a Rhode Island recruit, won the race in 55.13, the fastest time of the day in the event.
"It was a good race," Dickens said. "I'm just trying to prepare myself for the state meet. That's where I want to run my best."
Mack said she and Nicholas talked before the meet about the chances of Williamstown winning both 100 races.
"That's what we wanted to do, take both home to Williamstown," Mack said.
Mack's gold medal was no surprise, although her time pushed her to another level as she approaches the state championship meet next weekend as well as the Meet of Champions on June 8.
But Nicholas' success was a revelation. Nicholas had never placed in the 100 in his first three seasons at Williamstown, false starting in the trials as a junior.
"This is a kid who was running 12.2 as a freshman," Dobbins said. "Then he was 11.7. As recently as earlier this season, he was running 11.2
"He came from nowhere. But he's worked so hard. It couldn't happen to a more deserving kid than Jared Nicholas."
Nicholas said "hard work" was the key to his stunning improvement.
"It's like every second you work at practices pays off when you get to a meet like this."
In the 100 final, Nicholas pulled away from a field in which the top four finishers broke 11 seconds, with Clearview senior Ta'Hee Shields taking third in 10.90.
And Clearview's Gyair Sharper was fifth in 11.01 seconds.
As did Mack, Nicholas said his victory took on extra significance because another Williamstown athlete won the same event.
"She and I talked all week about it," Nicholas said of Mack. "We thought we could do it, and we did. We need to get a picture together."
@PhilAnastasia