The Piscataway High School girls winter track team won the Group 4 State Championship on Saturday, Feb. 18 – the first indoor state group championship for girls or boys in school history.
"Winning a state sectional and group championship is huge for our program," said coach Ashwin Anantharaman. "It is a moment that I will never forget as a coach. The girls are very happy to make history. Their hard work and dedication throughout the season continues to pay off."
Captain Brooke'Lyn Drakeford credited the whole team for the win.
“All my teammates wanted it so bad,” Drakeford said in an
interview with MileSplit NJ. “We came here to win. Everyone came and performed their best and that’s all you can ask for. We all show up, we all lay it down on the track as best as we can. We try to take advantage of all of our opportunities and that’s what we did here.”
The PHS girls winter track team with their Group 4 championship trophy. From left are Kailey Seawright, Madison Morgan, Jaeda Bynes, Kierstin Ashby, Enobong George, Morgan Jean, and Brooke'Lyn Drakeford (kneeling).
Here are some of the individual achievements that led the team to victory at the meet in Toms River:
• Drakeford won the 400-meter dash, was 2nd in the 55-meter hurdles, and 4th in the 55-meter dash.
• Senior Enobong George was 3rd in the 55-meter dash and 7th in the 400-meter dash.
• The 4x400-meter relay team of George, Drakeford, junior Kierstin Ashby, and junior Morgan Jean placed 2nd.
Also qualifying for the Meet of Champions on March 5 are freshman Jaeda Bynes and junior Madison Morgan, as alternates on the 4x400 team.
"We always talk about controlling what we do and not focusing on what others do," Anantharaman said. "I give all the credit to the girls for committing six days a week to training and giving it all they have. I am just so proud of them and proud to be part of this program."
Group 4 Girls Point Totals
1 Piscataway
36
2 Eastern Regional
30
3 Montgomery
26
4 Freehold Township
25
5 Toms River North
18.5
Drakeford holds the fastest time in the state for the 400 this season with a 56.51 and has her eyes on more success at the Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze in Staten Island. She will also be competing in the 4x400.
“It’s a really big honor just to be a part of this team and to be captain and to rep my team and my whole town,” she said. “I always take it one day at a time, one race at a time. I do what I need to do to prepare for each race so I come in confident every time.”
George will compete in the 200 and 4x400.
Jean just missed making Meet of Champions in high jump after winning the State Sectional championship in the event. She will complete in the 4x400.
"We are very excited to compete at the New Jersey Meet of Champions," Anantharaman said.