Sterling, Kingsway run to sectional crowns

After the South Jersey Groups 2 and 3 track and field finals Saturday at Buena, the Sterling boys' team felt as if it won more than a sectional title.

And after seeing Sterling celebrating and taking photos with the Group 2 title, Kingsway, the Group 3 boys' champ, joined the Silver Knights for an uncommon handshake line.

Sterling, which had not won a sectional championship since 1969, earned respect after edging Pleasantville, 76-75.

"I think we came out and showed ourselves," said senior Jimmy Daniels, who won the Group 2 3,200-meter run in 9 minutes, 34.42 seconds. "I don't think anyone really expected how deep our team really is."

"That's an up-and-coming and here-now program," Pleasantville coach Alan Laws said. "I'm really proud of them as a coach to get this far."

Kingsway also took pride in its depth, scoring 103 points to win Group 3.

"We were grabbing points every which way we could," coach Mel Carter said.

Senior Derrell Manhertz, a Texas recruit, highlighted Kingsway's weekend with a win in the 800 (1:53.85).

"We expected to win," Manhertz said. "We trained all year for this. We trained for sectionals and states. We've trained to win as a team."

A day after winning the 100 meters, Haddonfield senior Emily Carson used a little fire to win the 200 in 25.10 seconds to lead the Bulldogs to their third straight Group 2 girls' title.

After she placed second in the long jump Friday, "I was disappointed in myself," Carson said. "I was kind of angry inside, and my coaches say I run better angry."

Winslow Township girls won the long jump, triple jump, 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles, 100, and 200 en route to scoring 148.75 points in Group 3, 73.5 more than second-place Kingsway.

"My teammates help a lot because we battle each other out," said junior Torie Robinson, who won the 100 (12.18), 200 (25.08), 100 hurdles (14.29), and 400 hurdles (1:04.39).

Delsea senior Josh Awotunde, Bridgeton senior Braheme Days, and Cinnaminson junior Shane McDevitt broke records in windy conditions.

Days, who surpassed his own Group 2 discus record Friday (185 feet), broke the shot-put record he set last year when he threw it 64 feet, 10 inches - 41/4 inches longer than his previous mark.

Awotunde, who also won the discus (171-9), broke the Group 3 shot-put record with a 60-51/2.

McDevitt set the Group 2 javelin record by an inch, with a 183-9.