Girls Top 25 rankings
The job of preseason rankings is always a difficult one. All the information that can be gleaned from returning athletes, projected newcomers and comparisons within opponents can’t measure the desire of some athletes to excel, the physical of development of others, and other intangibles.
Excuses out of the way. Here’s a look at the preseason Top 25 rankings:
- Ridgewood: The Maroons have solid performers in nearly every event and standout depth in the distance races and the pole vault.
- Northern Highlands: No stars but like Ridgewood, depth and solid performers in every event, with particular depth in the longer races.
- Old Tappan: The Golden Knights have two of the biggest stars in New Jersey in All-Americans Abby Dennis and Layla Giordano. The younger girls will determine how high they can rise.
- IHA: The Blue Eagles strengths in the short sprints and jumps.
- River Dell: It’s the last high school season for all-time great Christina Allen and consistent jumper Grace McQueeney.
- Demarest: The Norsewomen are probably a year away from returning to the very top of the area standings.
- Ramapo: A great freshman class last year will continue to develop with distance races also a strength.
- Hasbrouck Heights: Defending state group 1 champions are always tough and one of the better relay teams in the state.
- Ramsey: An intriguing team that is on the verge of moving into the very top echelon in the area.
- Passaic Tech: Deep team is the perennial Passaic County favorite.
Major Meet Schedule
April 4: Penn Relays Field Event Qualifier, Depken Field, Hasbrouck Heights.
Saturday, April 6: Season Opener at Ed Church Track, Hackensack H.S.; Pawlowski Relays, Jacob Brown Track, Benjamin Franklin Middle School, Ridgewood; Pirate Relays, Pearl River H.S. (NY); Summit Relays, First Investor Field, Summit; Metuchen Relays, Metuchen;
Friday, April 12: Aviator Relays, Gary Depken Field, Hasbrouck Heights.
Saturday, April 13: Comet Relays, Ed Church Track; Doc Boverini Passaic County Relays, Wayne Hills; Dodgertown Relays, Madison H.S.; Green Dragon Relays, Cornwall, N.Y.; Morris Hills Relays, Morris Hills H.S.
Wednesday, April 17: Jack Yockers Bergen County Relays, Ed Church Track (Boys A-B-E Discus and Pole vault; Girls A-B-E Javelin and High jump).
Friday, April 19: Jack Yockers Bergen County Relays, River Dell High School.
Saturday, April 20: Jack Yockers Bergen County Relays, River Dell High School.
Thursday, April 25: Penn Relays, Franklin Field, Philadelphia.
Friday, April 26: Penn Relays, Franklin Field, Philadelphia.
Saturday, April 27: Penn Relays, Franklin Field, Philadelphia; Twin Boro Relays, Lou Molino Track, Ramsey.
Monday, April 29: NJIC National and Patriot, Emerson
Tuesday, April 30: NJIC Colonial and American, Emerson
Wednesday, May 1: Morris County Relays, Randolph H.S.; Big North Patriot and American, River Dell H.S.
Thursday, May 2: Big North
Friday, May 3: Big North Independence and Liberty, Passaic Valley H.S.
Tuesday, May 8 and Wednesday, May 7: NJAC Small Schools, Wallkill Valley H.S.
Friday, May 10: Red Littler Bergen County Championships, Old Tappan (A, B and E); Depken Field (C and D).
Saturday, May 11: Red Littler Bergen County Championships, Old Tappan (all groups); North Hudson Championship, Stan Fryczynski Track, Secaucus.
Tuesday, May 14: Bergen County Novice Meet, Ed Church Track.
Monday, May 13: Cavo Senior Showcase, Emerson.
Tuesday, May 14 and Wednesday, May 15: Morris County Championships, Boonton.
Thursday, May 16 and Saturday, May 18: Hudson County Championships, Stan Fryczynski Track.
Friday, May 17: Lou Lanzalotto Bergen Meet of Champions, Ed Church Track.
Saturday, May 18: County Seat Invitational, Ed Church Track.
Monday, May 20: Bergen Girls Freshman Championships, Jacob Brown Track.
Tuesday, May 21: North Jersey Soph Sectionals, Lou Molino Track.
Tuesday, May 21 and Wednesday, May 22: Passaic County Champions, Clifton Stadium.
Wednesday, May 22: John Gallione Bergen County Freshman Meet, Lou Molino Track.
Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1: State sectionals: North 1, groups 1 and 4, Livingston; North 1, groups 2 and 3, Vernon H.S.; North 2, Group 1, Ridge H.S.; North 2, Group 2, Warren Hills H.S.
Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8: State group meets: Groups 1 & 4: Franklin H.S.; Groups 2 & 3, Delsea H.S., Non-Public A & B, Stockton State University.
Wednesday, June 12: State Meet of Champions, Pennsauken H.S.
Wednesday, June 12 thru Saturday, June 15: Nike Outdoor Nationals, Heyward Field, Eugene, Oregon.
Thursday, June 13 thru Sunday, June 16: New Balance Nationals, Franklin Field, Philadelphia.
Paul Schwartz NorthJersey.com
