UC Girls Cement Dynasty With Record-Breaking 10th Straight State T&F Title
By any measure — points, records, or sheer dominance — Union Catholic’s girls track and field team has entered a realm of greatness rarely seen in New Jersey high school sports. On Saturday at Stockton University, the Vikings didn’t just win. They redefined excellence.
With a mind-blowing 247 points — the most ever scored in any Group at the NJSIAA Group Championships — Union Catholic secured its 10th consecutive Non-Public A state title, shattering yet another record and reinforcing its status as arguably the greatest girls team in state history. Oak Knoll (44) and Immaculate Heart (34), strong programs in their own right, were left battling for second in a meet that UC turned into a coronation.
UC’s 10 state titles is tied for the third most in state history for a girls program.
For a full decade now, Union Catholic has been more than a powerhouse — it’s been a dynasty. But 2025 may stand as the pinnacle of their historic run.
“We won every non-relay running event and scored in every event, which we had never done before,” said UC coach Mike McCabe.
From the meet’s opening gun on Friday, it was clear this team was locked in.
Friday Firestorm: Records Fall Early
The 4×100 relay squad of senior Taylor Aska, senior Taylor Cox, junior Natalia Thompson, and freshman Maya Wyche set the tone with a meet-record 45.53 — just five hundredths off their own state record set at nationals last year. Aska followed it with a meet-record and personal-best 11.53 in the 100, edging out Cox’s previous meet best and cementing herself as one of the fastest in state history.
Sophomore Paige Sheppard may have delivered the most jaw-dropping moment of Day 1, torching the 800 meters in 2:04.62 — a time that ranks among the best ever run by a New Jersey girl. It was a nearly solo effort over the final 150 meters, showcasing her poise and raw speed.
Other Friday highlights:
- Sydney Chadwick (sophomore): 1st in 400 hurdles in 1:00.78 — NJ No. 3.
- Cayleigh Kaiser (sophomore): Outdoor PR 10:33.85 in the 3,200, NJ No. 6.
- Kiara Fleming (junior): Triple jump champ at 39-7 ½, just shy of her PR.
By the end of Day 1, Union Catholic had amassed 102 points — more than most teams accumulate in a full meet — and were far from finished.
Saturday Domination: Closing With Authority
Saturday began as Friday ended: with gold. Aska, the Duke commit, won the 400 in a season-best 54.13, and then doubled back to capture the 200 in 24.00 flat.
Cox, running with an upset stomach and after two false starts, destroyed the 100 hurdles meet record in 13.54, erasing a mark held by none other than Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone since 2014.
Sheppard returned to claim gold in the 1,600 in 4:46.38, while UC also won the 4×800 (9:20.80) and both the long jump (Morgan Holley, 18-9) and javelin (Emma Muir, 112-9).
A Decade of Dominance
In the last 10 years, Union Catholic has transformed from a rising contender into a dynasty. Under McCabe’s guidance, the program has produced an Olympian, multiple national champions, and dozens of Division I athletes. The 2025 version may be the best yet.
“We’ve been blessed with the quality of kids we have,” McCabe said. “The seniors are just awesome. They do the work and lead by example. This is a really special group.”
And they’re not done. Up next: the NJSIAA Meet of Champions and New Balance Nationals in June, where the Vikings will once again take on the best — not just in New Jersey, but in the nation.
But no matter what happens next, what Union Catholic accomplished this weekend — and over the last decade — won’t soon be matched.
247 points! Ten straight titles. One legacy.
The Union Catholic girls are no longer just a dominant team.
They may just be the best girls team in NJ history!!
