PENNSAUKEN — On the precipice of the end of her high school career, Monica Curry was feeling a little nostalgic. Curry had joined Vernon’s outdoor track and field team two years ago, mainly to stay in shape for soccer. And there she was at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions on June 3, part of the new Sussex County record 4×100.
It is the third time the Vernon girls had re-set the mark, twice in just five days. The Vikings – sophomore Samantha Janus, freshman Isabella Kuzicki, Curry and senior Sophia Haw – finished fifth in 47.33 seconds.
The original mark of 48.41 had stood since 2013.
“It’s really exciting,” said Curry, a record-setting Vernon senior who has signed a National Letter of Intent with the University of Massachusetts for soccer.
“All season, we improved. We started in the 50s. To get to the low 47s is amazing. We exceeded everything we planned.”
Distance runners departing with medals
Morris Hills senior Nicholas Falcone admitted to thinking a little bit too much about the competition in the MOC 3,200.
Christian Brothers senior Luke Hnatt (9:02.12) ran away from the field, winning by more than seven seconds. Falcone finished fourth in 9:13.08.
“I’m going to miss this red and white,” Falcone said, gesturing at the Morris Hills logo on his jersey. “I go through Morris County. I go through the NJAC. My section’s not too fast in the two mile. I was thinking about it a little bit, and I think it showed. I could have stuck a little harder.”
Falcone and Chatham senior Marcus Valenzuela had some epic distance battles over the past four years. Valenzuela, who has signed a National Letter of Intent to continue running at American University, finished third in the 1,600 in a school-record 4:08.9.
Morris Knolls senior Sean Wemmlinger was seventh.
“I’d hoped to come out with the win, but running that fast of a time, I’m not mad,” said Valenzuela, who is planning on a distance double at New Balance Outdoor Nationals.
“I think I’ve been at the same fitness level all season. It’s a mental game, being confident enough to run faster and faster each time.”
➤ Morristown senior Kayla Ewing finished fifth in the 100-meter hurdles (13.91).
➤ Madison senior Rohan Tucker, who had won the 200 meters last spring, finished sixth on Wednesday.
Learning to fly
Seamus Corcoran had a complicated MOC schedule.
The Pope John sophomore almost didn’t clear 13 feet in the pole vault, because he didn’t have a big enough pole. After he made it on his third attempt, Corcoran ran across the entire field at Pennsauken High School and outside to compete the javelin.
Seamus Corcoran, son of longtime Pope John head coach Brian Corcoran, was disappointed with his javelin performance. He dashed back to the pole vault, and ate Airheads under a tent waiting for his next turn.
Corcoran borrowed bigger, heavier poles from High Point junior Gabe Elston, the Group 2 champion – first a 14 foot, 175-pounder, then a 180-pounder. Corcoran finished at 14-6, a five-inch PR and good for fifth place on misses.
Morris Hills senior Gianna Ledford cleared 11 feet and placed sixth on misses.
➤ Randolph senior Seannah Parsons finished second in the triple jump (40-5½). West Morris junior Georgia Hostler was eighth in the long jump (18-½).
➤ Morristown sophomore Nawel Ibazatene Lefebvre was one of five high jumpers to clear 5-6, finishing third on misses. Colonials senior Nathan Enelamah had a two-inch PR of 6-6 and tied for seventh on misses.
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Morris/Sussex highlights from 2026 track and field Meet of Champions
