The Verona High School girls winter track team captured first place in the N2G1 state sectionals on Saturday, while the boys team finished in second place. Along the way, there were key wins for several individual athletes and an Ian Zalewski sweep.
The girls had a team score of 63, well outstripping Whippany Park High School’s 50.5 finish and Hanover Park’s 39.75.
Gwen Neale took first in the 800 meter in a time of 2:25.34 and second in the 400 meter dash in 1:01.81. Maile O’Neill took second in the 55m dash in 7.50. The girls 4x400m relay team of Lucia Grant, Lauren Foley, Gwen Neale and Siena Griffin took first in 4:25.48. Danielle Imbriano claimed second place in shot put with a throw of 30-5.
Other VHS girls qualifying for the Group championship include Lauren Czupak in the 1600m, Isabella Lambert and Lucia Grant in the 800m, sisters Georganne and Marguerite Valera in pole vault, and Juliana Maglifiore and Leah Byrnes in shot put.
Ian Zalewski swept the 800 meter, 1600m and 3200m races. The senior had a time of 2:04.38 in the 800m, almost a full second ahead of Felipe Rendall of McNair Academic High School. Zalewski, who has committed to Lehigh University for college, turned in a 4:36.58 in the 1600m and a blistering 10:08.40 in the 3200m, beating out McNair’s Zak Barkouch, who finished in 10:15.45.
Other VHS boys who qualified for the Group championship include Anthony Lewis and Jack DeMars in high jump, Michael Siclari in pole vault and the 4x400m relay team.
