On Saturday afternoon, the boys winter track and field team repeated as Group 4 champion. Led by impressive showings in the 800, 1600 and 3200 meter races, Westfield posted the winning tally of 34 points. The next closest team, Union, scored 32. The two teams traded the lead the whole way, and going into the last event Westfield led.
To win the meet, Union would have to win the 4×400 relay, and the Blue Devils would have to fail to get top six. Those things did not happen, and Westfield repeated as Group 4 state champions.
Westfield’s day was highlighted by its distance events. In the 1600, the Blue Devils saw three runners go under 4:20. Juniors Avery Keith and Tage Mehta placed second and third, running 4:15 and 4:16, respectively. Ryan Daly posted the second-fastest sophomore time in the country in the 1600 at 4:18. He finished fifth in the event.
Westfield put three guys in the top 10 in the 800. Running 1:57 and 1:58, Jonathan Scalia and Liam Maurillo both broke the two-minute barrier. Their third and fourth-place finishes were good enough to place. Scalia narrowly missed winning the race, losing by less than one second to Union’s Gabe Rodriguez and Bergen County Tech’s Dylan Decambre.
“I gave it everything I had and just missed the win,” said Scalia. “I’m proud of the performance and proud of these guys.”
Jimmy Gildea rounded out Westfield’s 800, placing eighth and running 2:00.
Keith doubled up for the 3200, placing second once again to Edison’s Akshay Vadul. His time of 9:20 did not give him the win, but his contribution of 16 points to the team’s 34 was a major reason why the team won.
Westfield qualified all of its distance runners for the Meet of Champions. This incredible feat is not something to be taken lightly, Mehta said. “This is an amazing achievement,” he said. “I’m so proud of my boys. We all work hard every day and it’s paying off right now. Westfield is a distance powerhouse.”
Westfield would fail to place in both the high jump and the shot put. Leo Schwartz jumped six feet, placing ninth. Owen Paul, Jon Boufarah and Mason Marino placed 10th, 16th and 20th, respectively, in the shot put.
The team recognizes the magnitude of this win. “The victory is not just for us,” said Scalia. “But for our entire school and community.”
Westfield turns its sights to the Meet of Champions. With a full distance group, the Blue Devils are looking to do some damage.
“It’s a great opportunity,” said Mehta. “All of our guys have a good shot at placing. I would not count anyone out.”
