Ridgewood Boys Track & Field foursome crowned All-Americans in 4-x-800
JUNE 20, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2014, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW BIRCHENOUGH
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
The Ridgewood High School boys 4-x-800-meter relay team returned from the New Balance Outdoor Nationals with national recognition as well as local pride after earning All-America honors with a relay performance that also claimed the top spot in Bergen County record books.
The quartet of sophomore Michael Thurston and seniors Brian Collins, David Frering and Luke Dublirer clocked 7:39.57 to finish fifth in the race last Saturday in Greensboro, N.C. St. Xavier (Ohio) placed first in 7:37.26.
The top six finishers in each event earned All-American status at the meet held last Friday through Sunday.
“Being All-American, that will last forever,” RHS head coach Josh Saladino said Monday. “It was nice to see the kids just enjoying the accomplishment that they were able to achieve.”
The Maroons also reclaimed the county record in the event, which they had surrendered just 10 days earlier.
The squad ran the relay in 7:44.09 at the June 4th State Meet of Champions (SMOC) in South Plainfield, surpassing the county 4-x-800 mark it set last season. However, Bergen Catholic edged out the Maroons in that race, running 7:42.95, to take not only the gold medal but the Bergen record as well.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/boys-track/rhs-relay-ranks-among-america-s-best-1.1038655#sthash.0mgaeOpo.dpuf
Congratulations to these fine young men.
What a great way to end a great season and a phenomenal 4 year career for the Seniors who leave as 1 of only 3 schools in the State of NJ to ever win 5 straight Sectional State Championships. Combine that with the numerous Cross Country and Indoor Track Championships and it is arguable that this group could be the most successful group of athletes in the history of RHS. (Might have to check the history of Jacob Brown’s girls teams, though.) Congratulations to all of them and their coaches for a job will done.