Rhea, Heslop Add A Jolt Of Quickness To Eastern States

By Brian Towey of DyeStat

NEW YORK -- St. Augustine NJ hurdler Sincere Rhea, who won the 55-meter hurdles in 7.20 seconds Tuesday at the Eastern States Championship at The Armory, came from a football background. But when he was introduced to track by football coach Matt Forrest as a freshman, he knew that he found an even better fit.

"It's been a crazy ride," Rhea said. "I've been playing football for 17 years. I've always been the fast kid on the football field. Once I picked up track, I loved it. It was my calling."

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Rhea still entertained a football future as a senior. Then Penn State scholarship offer for track changed all that.

"I was really leaning towards one school (for football)," Rhea said. "Then I got that offer for an official visit from Penn State and I was like, 'This is what I've been waiting for.'"

Rhea's 7.20 seconds hurdles win moves him to US#2.

Franklin NJ senior Mario Heslop has been a standout at The Armory in the sprints this winter. Tuesday, with a US#2 21.11 200-meter win, Heslop put the competition on notice. He added a US#4 6.32-second 55 meters win for good measure.

"With the 55 meters," Heslop said. "I want to make sure I hydrate a little better. Little things like that that make you get better."

The distance medley relays saw standout performances and new US#1s. Christian Brothers Academy NJ posted a stellar 10:12.18 to win the boys race. Union Catholic NJ, anchored by Jerika Lufrano, brought home an 11:59.38 winner. 

"Today was kind of the deciding day to see if we could run it at nationals, to see if we could put it all together," Union Catholic's Leena Morant said.

This group has options. Ten days ago, UC ran 9:07.44 to win the 4x800 relay at the NYRR Millrose Games.

Ramapo NJ senior Grace O'Shea won the girls 55-meter hurdles in 7.75 seconds for a share of US#2.

Warwick NJ senior Kaeli Thompson won the girls pole vault at 13-4 for a new meet record and US#5.

"I was focusing on some different things the second half of the season," Thompson said. "That gave me a lot of confidence today and I guess it paid off."

Tully NY sophomore Brooke Rauber led wire to wire in a 4:56.02 win in the girls mile. 

"I just wanted one last time to race competition in the mile before I ended the year," said Rauber, who'll run the 2-mile at New Balance Nationals Indoor.

Princeton NJ's Nils Wildberg won the boys long jump with 23-4.50.

The East Brunswick NJ boys won the 4x800 relay in 7:55.19.

One of the night's best stories came out of the girls triple jump. Ramsey NJ's Emma Cunningham won the event with 37-6.25. It's 30 years to the day that her mother, Jen Cunningham, captured the Eastern States triple jump.

"It's definitely nice when I can come home, tell her a mark, and she can be honest with me," Emma Cunningham said. 

Longtime Armory staff member and record-keeper Jack Pfeifer was honored during a ceremony with this year's Stan Saplin Award.