The East Brunswick High boys track team had a great performance in the Group IV championships, held June 3-4 at Old Bridge. It was a point away from being even better.
East Brunswick placed second as a team with 49 points, trailing just the 50 points recorded by Oakcrest.
"We really wanted to win it," East Brunswick junior Sam Mattis said. "It was disappointing, especially when it was so close."
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While team scores were kept, the Group IV meet is primarily to decide the top athletes that will advance on to the next round. The top six finishers in each event at the Group IV meet will advance on to The Meet of Champions, which will be held at Old Bridge on Thursday.
Mattis and Leonard Lockhart-Robbins made sure they would be going to The Meet of Champions by winning Group IV titles. Julian Quintin and the 4x400 team will also be advancing.
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"I'm not sure how all of the teams did in the 70's and 80's, but this is the most I can ever remember us advancing to The Meet of Champions," Mattis said.
Mattis is the defending state champion in the discus, so his victory was not a surprise. Mattis won the Group IV title in the discus with a distance of 204' 3". That was more 22 feet farther than anyone else in the competition.
"I try not to focus on what anyone else is doing," Mattis said. "I focus on myself and how I'm doing. I'm just concentrating on getting the best result that I possibly can."
In addition to winning the discus, Mattis also placed second in the shot put with a distance of 55' 1 3/4".
Leonard Lockhart-Robbins won the 200 in a time of 21.86.
"When I finished, I went over to the track and saw some of the races," Mattis said. "I got to see Lenny blow away the field in the 200."
Lockhart-Robbins also was second in the 400 (48.37) and third in the 100 (11.22).
Lockhart Robbins also combined with Thomas Marciante, Donald Urschel and Gabriel Wood to place third in the 4x400 (3:19.78).
Julian Quintin was sixth in the 100 (11.51) and seventh in he long jump (20' 11 1/2").
Alexander Malveaux was eighth in the 100 hurdles (15.31). Dennis Willis was 12th in the 100 (11.55).
