Boys Varsity Indoor Track and Field | 2/25/2024 2:12:00 PM

The Union Catholic track and field teams produced some jaw-dropping results at Saturday's Ocean Breeze Elite Invitational on Staten Island.

Here are some of the biggest highlights -

Junior Taylor Cox won the girls 60-meter hurdles in a facility record 8.29, No. 2 in state history and No. 2 in the nation this season. The only NJ athlete to go faster than Cox is legendary Olympian Sydney McLaughlin, who ran 8.17 when she won the New Balance National title as a sophomore at Union Catholic in 2015. Cox's 8.29 places her just behind the national leader,  junior Aleesa Samuel of Somerset Academy in Florida (8.26). Cox is also US No. 3 in the 55 hurdles (7.82). Samuel is the national leader at 7.75.

The other UC winner in the Elite Division came in the boys 4x800 where the Vikings blasted a 7:54.5, which is NJ No. 3 and US No. 9 this winter. UC's splits were 1:57.44 for Keandre Kelly, 1:57.66 for Sean Wilson, 2:00.02 for Quintin Clemons, and 1:59.47 for Jimmy Wischusen.

Noah Cooper of Union Catholic finished second in the long jump with a 22-3.25, Marcus McCoy of Union Catholic ran 8.17 to place third in the boys 60 hurdles, and Avery Atexide ran 49.26, the 6th fastest time in the state this season, to place fourth in the 400. 

Alex Saldana placed fifth in the mile in 4:21.16, and the boys 4x200 ran 1:31.76 to finish fifth.  

In the Emerging Elite Division, sophomore Jola Strayhorn finished first in the girls 300 with a personal best 41.52!