Blue Devils 4x800 National Champs At New Balance Nationals Track

Blue Devils 4×800 National Champs At New Balance Nationals Track

SECOND IN STATE AT 165-LBS...Cougar junior Jordan Chapman, top, placed second in the 165-lb class at the NJSIAA Championships at Atlantic City. Chapman also won the UCT, District 16 and Region 4 titles to finish 43-2 (120-11 career) David B. Corbin photos at goleader.com Ballyhoo Sports

Sports

March 14, 2024

Blue Devils 4×800 National Champs At New Balance Nationals Track

The Westfield High School (WHS) boys indoor track & field team turned in some startling performances but none better than in the 4×800 at the New Balance Indoor Nationals at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pa. on March 7-10.

The foursome of Kaleb Stoeckmann (1:59.92), Jimmy Gildea (1:57.08), Ryan Daly (1:54.5 – personal best [PB] 4th all-time WHS) and Alex Valencia (1:54.98) crossed the line in a WHS record time of 7:46.46 to claim the National Championship in the 4×800.

In the 4Xmile event, Tage Mehta (4:21.7), Eamon Mason (4:33.9), Cole Varner (PB 4:37.9) and Graham Korins (PB 4:28.7) finished in 18:02.53 (3rd WHS all-time). In the 4×200 preliminaries, Luke Gerne (23.5), Noah Petrassi (22.6), Chris Sanford (23.36) and Rowan McMahill (PB WHS record) finished in 1:31.21 (3rd WHS all-time).

In the Distance Medley Relay, Valencia (3:06.78), Manny Gayanilo (50.0), Gildea (1:55.66) and Avery Keith (PB WHS record 4:09.49) crossed second with a time of 10:01.92. In the Sprint Medley Relay, Gerne (23.3), Petrassi (26.7), McMahill (50.39) and Daly (1:57.45) finished in 3:38.48 (3rd WHS all-time).