Lady Vikings Shine at Marine Corps

The Union Catholic girls track and field team made its presence felt in a huge way with several eye-popping results at Saturday’s Marine Corp Holiday Classic at the 168th Street Armory in New York.

In the most dramatic finish of the meet, the 4×400-meter relay squad blasted a NJ#1 and US#2 time of 3:53.95 as the Vikings were edged by Bullis of Maryland, who ran a US #1 3:53.90.  Chi Chi Nkulume led off for UC in 59.64, Leena Morant followed with a 57.31, Sydney Tucker then ran 59.49, and Khamil Evans anchored in 57.49.

UC also ripped a hot time in the 4×800 as combined to run a NJ#3 9:54.70 to place third. Jerika Lufrano led off with a 2:20.89 carry, Abby Granath ran 2:27.92, Megan McCabe went 2:37.54, and Zoe Lee anchored in 2:28.34.

Lufrano’s lead off leg in the 4×800 was part of big day for the senior. She also won the mile with a NJ#1 time of 5:04.09.

Senior Hope Handlin continued climbing to new heights in the pole vault as the senior smashed her own school record by placing sixth with a clearance of 11-0, which ties for her No. 2 in N.J. this season. Handlin broke her own school mark of 10-6 that she set earlier this month.

Rising star A’Liyah Thomas had a great day for the Vikings. The sophomore placed ninth in the long jump with 17-0, matched her personal best by clearing 5-0 to place 10th in the high jump, and ran a huge personal best of 8.68 in the trials of the 55 hurdles.

In other highlights for UC, Morant placed sixth in the girls 800 in a NJ#2 2:19.17, Evans, the state leader in the 300 at 40,23, was ninth in the 300 in 40.83, Tucker placed eighth in the  200 in 26.17, and Felicia Quainoo was eight in the 55 hurdles in 8.48.

Saturday’s meet put the finishing on a busy and great weekend for the Vikings at the Armory.

At Friday’s New Jersey Catholic Track Conference Relays, Zamira Ysaac, Quainoo, Avery Jordan and Thomas combined to run a NJ#2 31.64 in the shuttle hurdles to place second to Paramus Catholic’s 30.84.