Raia ’20, Licata ’22, Crowned Group Champions
The boys’ and girls’ indoor track teams closed out their final team competition of the season at the Non-Public B Group Championships on Friday, February 28, at the John Bennett Sports Complex in Toms River.
Both squads had impressive showings as each team boasted individual group champions. Senior sprinter Emily Raia had a rocky start to the finals of the 55-meters hurdles, hitting the first hurdle of the race, but was able to quickly rebound and won the 55-meter hurdles in a school record time of 9.05 seconds. She also had a very strong showing in the 55 meters, placing fourth overall in a time of 7.72 seconds.
Sophomore Joe Licata continued his breakout season, claiming the group title in the shot put with a new personal record throw of 50 feet, four inches.
Other Knights recording top-20 finishes on the girls’ side were Kellyn Bucceri ’22 in the 55-meter hurdles (seventh), the 400 meters (19th), the 55 meters (20th), Hayley Armstrong ’21 in the 800 meters (11th), Anna Mikula ’20 in the shot put (16th), and Caroline Rongen ’23 in the 1600 meters (19th). Also, the girls’ 4 x 400 relay team of Raia, Bucceri, Armstrong, and Delaney Yates ’23 finished seventh overall.
Recording top-20 finishes from the boys’ squad were Zac Saunders ’22 in the shot put (ninth), Niels Rongen ’20 in the 1600 meters (15th) and 800 meters (17th), Alex Tulenko ’20 in the 55-meter hurdles (16th), Ansh Patel ’21 in the 400 meters (16th), Tyler Lynch ‘20 in the 400 meters (18th), and Tyler Tellalian ’23 in the 1600 meters (18th).
“I was very pleased with how everyone performed at these championships,” said head coach Shelly LaBarre. “The girls finished ninth and the boys finished 11th out of 23 teams. Also, I am very proud of Emily and Joe for advancing to the Meet of Champions by finishing in the top-three, and I am excited to see what they do at the state meet!”
Gill St. Bernard's School
Gill St. Bernard’s is a private, coeducational day school for students age three through grade 12, located in suburban New Jersey. Each of the three school divisions provides a rigorous, meaningful, and age-appropriate curriculum, and all students benefit from the environmental learning opportunities that exist on our 208-acre campus.