Union Catholic holds college signing ceremony for three students athletes
Union Catholic held a college signing day ceremony for three student athletes on Wednesday morning at the school.
Here are bios on each one-
TAYLOR COX
Combining a rare blend of explosiveness and textbook technique with a tenacity and drive to be the best, Taylor has secured her place as one of the greatest hurdlers in New Jersey history
At the New Balance National Championships last June, Taylor shattered the meet record when she won the 100 hurdles in 13.38, which is tied for the third fastest time in NJ history.
The electrifying Cox also ran the second leg on Union Catholic's 4 by 100 relay that finished second at the NB Nationals in a New Jersey record 45.48.
Taylor, who earned All-American honors numerous time in her amazing career, also burned up the track at the New Balance National Indoor Championships last March when she finished first and smashed the New Jersey record in the 60-meter hurdles in breathtaking fashion, stopping the clock at 8.11!
The 8.11 by Taylor took down the state record of 8.17 that legendary Union Catholic alum Sydney McLaughlin ran in 2015.
Taylor also led off the Vikings sprint medley relay at the Indoor Nationals victory when the Vikings ran 3:54.62, a New Jersey record and the fifth fastest time in U.S. high school indoor history.
In addition to her remarkable resume in the hurdles, Taylor also has personal best times of 6.90 in the 55 dash, 11.66 in the 100, 24.56 in the 200, and 57.33 in the 400.
Taylor will be taking her academic and track and field talents to the University of Georgia
MICHAEL DEVINE
A big engine and a strong passion for the sport enabled Michael to become a key piece in Union Catholic's distance running dominance in cross-country and on the track.
This past fall, Michael dropped his personal best down to 16:11 when he opened his season by finishing 10th at the Battle at Ocean County Park, and he earned All Conference honors by placing 7th at the Union County Conference Championships to help lead the Vikings to a repeat championship in the Watchung Division.
Michael also helped the Vikings finish third at the Non-Public A Championships to earn a spot in the Meet of Champions, where the Vikings placed 8th to finish the season ranked No. 8 in the state.
On the track, Michael has dropped personal bests times of 4:24.58 for the mile and 9:30.74 in the 32 hundred, and he was a consistent scorer when the Vikings captured multiple Union County Championships.
Michael will continue his academic and distance running career at Bucknell University
TAYLOR ASKA
The ability to accelerate quickly has fused together with a powerful and efficient stride to make Taylor one of the greatest sprinters in Union Catholic history and a force on the state and national levels during her memorable career as a Viking.
Individually, Taylor has captured several county, conference and state championships in the sprints, owns the school record in the 60 meter dash and holds multiple class records.
She owns personal best times of 7.01 in the 55 dash,11.70 in the 100,m 23.81 in the 200 and 53.90 in the 400.
As great as she is individually, Taylor has also racked up several All-American honors on the Vikings relay squads.
At the New Balance Nationals last winter, she blasted a sizzling 200 leg in the Sprint Medley Relay to spark the Vikings to the championship in 3:54.62, a new state record and the fifth fastest time in U.S. high school indoor history.
Taylor also threw down a huge anchor leg carry to bring the Vikings across second in the 4 by 100 relay at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals when the Vikings ran a red hot 45.48 to take down the state record, and led off the third-place 4x400 relay that also finished third in 3:41.67, No. 5 in Nj history.
Taylor will continue her academic and sprinting career at Duke University
