Minutemen Manage First Morris County Relay Team Titles

The Mendham boys and girls track teams made history Friday and Saturday at Morris Knolls High School in Denville as they captured team titles at the Morris County Relays, a first for both squads.

The Mendham boys continued their undefeated streak this spring by topping Randolph, 89 to 78.

After the first day of competition and despite a win in the 4x1600m relay and a fourth place finish in the 400m Shuttle Hurdles, Mendham was tied for fourth place and trailed the leader by 10 points. The team started off Saturday with a fourth place finish in the Shuttle Hurdles and a pair of second place finishes in each of the Sprint Medley and Distance Medley relays. 

From there it was all gold on the track with first place finishes in the next three relays, the 4x200m, 4x800m, and 4x400m. The 4x200m team of Dylan Heraghty, Christian Kildal-Brandt, Sam Curtis, and Patrick Carney set a new school record in that race. 

The field events contributed much needed points as the boys earned top six finishes in the Triple Jump, Discuss Throw, High Jump, Pole Vault, Javelin Throw, and Long Jump. The lead changed hands throughout the day between Mendham, Morris Hills, and defending meet champion Randolph., keeping the pressure on the Minutemen. 

Coming into the final three events to be scored Mendham was neck and neck with Randolph, and despite Spenser Clouse’s High Jump of 6’ 5” (a personal record and meet high), the Randolph High Jump relay team edged out Mendham by one inch. 

But one lousy inch wasn’t the end for Mendham.

The first place finish in the last race of the day, the 4x400m, sealed the victory for the Minutemen.

 “Dynamic Foursome” Keys Girls Victory

While the Mendham boys were heading down to the wire, the girls squad were outpacing the competition on their way to a win over Mt. Olive by a score of 79 to 56.

As they have the entire season, the foursome of Sierra Tonnesen, Audrey O'Neill, Cali Heffernan, Laura Papili took the 4x400 victory with a 3:58.72. The victory earned the girls the Joan LaChance Memorial Trophy.

The same team ran the 4x 200m relay and placed third. First place was won by Parsippany, followed by Mount Olive and then Mendham.

Laura Papili, Cali Heffernan and Liberty Mason-Sharma came in first in the Intermediate Hurdles for Mendham.

The girls team victory came despite having only two first place wins on the track. Seven second place and 10 third place finishes accounted for their score of 79.