For Rutgers track, 'potential' remains the word after Penn Relays haul
· Yahoo Sports
PHILADELPHIA – At the Penn Relays Saturday, there was a five-minute span that captured the potential of Rutgers track & field.
Sincere Robinson and Celine Brown took turns stepping onto the awards platform at the center of Franklin Field, receiving their gold watches for winning the men’s and women’s long jump, respectively.
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Meanwhile, brothers Brian O’Sullivan and Kevin O’Sullivan were wrapping up a 1-2 finish in the men’s pole vault.
Three titles at one Penn Relays is a record haul for the Scarlet Knights at this iconic meet, which draws some of the top collegiate competition from around the country. And here’s the best part: All three victors hail from New Jersey.
“New Jersey is great in track and field, and us representing New Jersey and winning just emphasizes that,” said Brown, a Plainfield High School graduate. “To be able to represent your home in high school and continue in college is such a great statement, and keeping the talent in Jersey only makes us better.”
That’s the trick, right? Jersey oozes track & field talent ever year. The Penn Relays was a reminder. Villanova won the men’s 4xmile thanks to a 3:55 anchor by Bridgewater’s Marco Langon. Georgetown struck gold in the spring medley with Leonia’s Jaden Marchan on the 400-meter leg. At the high school level, Hackensack’s 400-800 superstar Seven Garcia is committed to USC. Christian Brothers Academy's Luke Hnatt, a two-time state champ in the distances, will run collegiately at Virginia. Eastern's record-breaking girls hurdler and middle-distance runner, Natalie Dumas, is headed to Arkansas. Pennsauken speedster Sianni Wynn is on her way to Florida.
“We’re trying to let everybody know that you don’t need to go down south, you don’t need to go to the West Coast,” Rutgers jumps coach Corey Crawford said. “If we keep the talent home, I think everybody knows we’re going to be a problem.”
Crawford’s jumps unit is an example. Robinson, who hails from Newark, leapt 25 feet, 1.25 inches in sketchy conditions to win his second Penn Relays crown. He’s also been a first-team All-American.
“Our jumps squad is No. 1 in the nation right now,” he said. “People are starting to notice what we’re doing here at Rutgers and people need to start respecting our name.”
Rutgers has produced big-time jumpers for many years. It’s why Crawford, an Indian Hills High School grad who won the Penn Relays long jump in 2014, stayed home. Chloe Timberg’s NCAA title in the women’s pole vault inspired Hillsborough’s O’Sullivan brothers to stick around, and now they’re both 18-footers and national title contenders.
The Scarlet Knights have produced All-Americans in the throws, too, and have a promising freshman in Toms River North grad Riley Brazier, who placed fourth in the Penn Relays women’s javelin with a distance of 154-2.
It’s the running that’s the hard part, with the allure of warm weather elsewhere and legacy programs like Villanova and Georgetown in the region. Rutgers has one big-time runner right now, Pennsauken native Bryce Tucker, who placed second in the men’s 400-meter hurdles at the Penn Relays in 50.63. Another New Jersey stud is on the way – Manalapan senior Crue Brown, whose Penn Relays 400-meter split of 46.88 was the fifth-fastest among 1,200-plus schoolboys at the meet.
Rutgers head coach Bobby Farrell, a Toms River guy, knows his way around the Garden State. His program has seemed on the verge of breaking through for several years. Taking the next step means more days like Saturday, with homegrown stars taking turns on the awards platform.
“I think this is showing that we belong here,” Brown said. “We have great talent and great potential.”
Potential remains the key word.
Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996. Contact him at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: For Rutgers track, 'potential' remains the word after Penn Relays haul