Wednesday
September 18, 2024 
Going into the NJSIAA Central Group 1 sectional, South Hunterdon head track and field coach Scott Ward had some good feelings and some high expectations.
Afterward, he was rather satisfied.
“We really had an impressive sectional weekend with numerous season and career personal records set,” Ward said. “We also had a number of top-10 finishes from our boys and girls.
“We believe we have strong contenders in the Group 1 championships this weekend.”
Junior Sophie Hinman became the school’s fist sectional champion, as she claimed the top spot in the 3,200 in a time of 12:01.58. Hinman also finished fifth in the 1,600 (5:33.85), and a sixth in the 800 (2:31.71).
According to Ward, Hinman will compete in the 3,200 Friday, and run the 1,600 as well as the anchor leg in the 4x800 Saturday at Franklin High School in the Group 1 championships this weekend. He posed the possibility of her also running the 800 Friday.
Ward expects to cap a memorable season this weekend.
“Sophie has been one of our best girls distance runners in South history,” boasted Ward. “We knew going into the sectional race that her 3,200m time from one of our weekly meets exceeded the fastest competitor ranked in Central Jersey Group 1.”
From the start, Hinman left little doubt of the outcome in the 3,200.
“Sophie took the lead in the first 200 meters of the race and never gave the rest of the field an opportunity to win. With her best time this season at 11:25, she will be very competitive in the Group 1 championships this weekend. Sophie also qualified in two other individual events and is our anchor leg in the 4x800 meter relay. I expect to see Sophie continuing to improve into next year and potentially break all our distance track records.”
Along with Hinman, senior Ryan Rampel will make the trip to the championship in the javelin and discus. Rampel was fifth in the discus with a mark of 128-6, and he took sixth in the javelin at 146-8 at sectionals.
Junior Liam Sirak will also make the trip, He was sixth in the triple jump with a leap of 39-2 at sectionals.
The Eagles’ girls 4x800 relay team (11:26.96, fifth at sectionals) and the boys 4x800 relay foursome (9:37.86, sixth at sectionals) will advance. Both of the teams set personal records.
Overall, the boys set 19 season personal records, and the girls set seven of them.
“We are all really proud of what they have been able to accomplish this season,” noted Ward. “They all have raised their level of play and lowered their times. It has been a very good year, and we’ll see what happens this weekend.”
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