Montclair track and field girls team brings back the Essex County team championship
The Montclair High School's girls track and field team returned the county team championship to the township, capturing the title for the second time in the last three seasons.
After finishing second to Livingston in last season's Essex Conference Championships, the Mounties girls squad dominated the competition in the 2023 county meet with 76 points, far outscoring second-place Columbia, which collected 65 points on Friday, May 19, at Schools Stadium in Newark. Montclair girls also took the 2021 county team championship.
While the Montclair girls had three first-place finishes, they captured the title because of their consistency, earning medals in seven of the 16 events.
On the boys’ side the Mounties came in third in the team standings with 55.33, just missing catching second-place Livingston, which had 59 points. Seton Hall Prep ran away with the competition with 129 points on the boys’ side.
Montclair head track and field coach Darryl Washington highlighted the girls team’s ability to work together.
“When we dropped the ball in one event, others picked it up,” Washington said. “As a team, we piled on points necessary to win.”
Junior Ashley Noel won the triple jump as she reached a distance of 36 feet 11 inches.
Junior Leannah Jordan won the 400-meter dash with a time of 59.95 seconds, narrowly getting under a minute. Jordan described the intensity of the race.
“The whole thing is a sprint,” said Jordan, who added what she thinks while racing: “Just stay up and don't die.”
The other victory for the girls came in the 1600-meter relay with Jordan, senior Ava Butler, junior Maya Kim and sophomore Corinne Stewart representing Montclair with a time of 4:02.
Stewart said that running on a relay team brings a different type of pressure.
“It kind of pushes you harder because you know you’re carrying the last person’s effort with you,” Stewart said. “You’re just carrying the entire team as you're running.”
In addition to her relay team’s first-place finish, Stewart earned an individual bronze medal with a third in the 400 meters (1:00.51).
Montclair junior Avery McAdams earned a silver medal in the 3200 (11.57) and a bronze in the 1600 (5.20) and credited her success to her early start with running.
“When I was younger, like 9 or 10, my parents brought me to all these six-mile races,” McAdams said. “I don’t necessarily like it. My parents basically brought it on me because they're both distance runners.”
Still, McAdams expected more out of herself, especially in the 1600. “I think I can improve my time,” she said. “I'm trying to get sub 5:10.”
Washington liked the attitude that McAdams carried. “We are big on not being complacent,” the Montclair head coach said. “A personal record is great, but we can always get better. To move through the rounds of states, we'll need to keep doing better.”
In terms of the boys teams, Washington described the boys third-place finish as a comeback.
“After day one, [the boys] were sitting in 10th place,” Washington said. “The boys team made a big climb. Both teams made a strong push to get into the top third spots.”
The boys won only the javelin, but they medaled in five of the 16 events. Montclair senior Ian Habjan won the javelin with a throw of 160-feet-10 inches. The second-place score was 13 feet shorter.
Junior Sean Overton took home two medals as he finished second in the 3200 (9.56) and third in the 1600 (4.32.70). His 3200 time was 9:56 and his 1600 was 4:32.70. Even with impressive times, Overton was already focused on how he could improve for next time.
“I need to really just get out faster,” Overton reflected. “Then, I was also sort of running off this kid Ian from Verona. He's really good, but I was sort of running off him. I just need to run my own race a bit more.”
Senior Richard Fortune also earned two medals for Montclair. He got silver in discus and bronze in shot put. He hurled the discus 146 feet, and he threw the shot put 50 feet 1 inch.
Fortune is nearing the very end of his time at Montclair track and field. It has been a positive experience for him.
“I came in my freshman year thinking, ‘I'm just going to get strong for football season,’” Fortune said. “Football was really my main sport. I found throwing. Then, it just took off from there. The coaches really welcomed me in. I got better and I noticed I was really good at it. I take pride in the whole journey. I really enjoyed myself throughout these four years here. I am doing what I love doing.”
Washington added that track and field is a great way for students to challenge themselves and learn about who they really are.
“The sport teaches one how to be accountable for themselves, to show up every day and put their best foot forward,” Washington said. “In turn, this consistent work helps them progress in their events. It might not be your first or second season, but the growth is always there.”