History was made at the NJAC East Championships, as the Morris Hills boys and West Morris girls etched their names into the record books with unforgettable performances.
For the Morris Hills boys, it was a repeat performance—and a historic one at that. The Scarlet Knights became the first back-to-back NJAC team champions in the meet's 16-year history, proving that consistency and depth are the true marks of a championship program. Stephen Shih led the charge, taking gold in the long jump for the second consecutive year, but the real story was the team's balance. Morris Hills scored points in 13 of the 16 events, showing that every athlete mattered.
"I'd heard it was a little closer, so the points really mattered. I pushed a little more," said senior Marcus Petit-Frere, who earned his first individual medals at a championship meet with a second-place finish in discus and a personal-record fourth in shot put.
On the girls' side, the West Morris Wolfpack made history of their own, capturing their first NJAC plaque with just 17 competitors. Known for relying on standout sprinters like Alanna Parkes and Kelly Kaasmann, the Wolfpack showed off their depth this year. Senior Addison Weber and junior Brooke Wilson were the breakout stars, moving way up from their seeds to finish fifth and sixth in the 3,200 meters. Wilson dropped a staggering 30-second PR, proving that hard work and determination can rewrite the record books.
Meanwhile, individual brilliance was on full display. Madison senior Rohan Tucker swept all three sprints, earning a trio of gold medals. His 200-meter win was particularly dramatic—after a timing issue in his heat required an extra finals race, Tucker crossed the line in 21.99 seconds, leaving no doubt about who was the fastest on the track.
Morristown senior Kayla Ewing also left with three golds, dominating the 200 meters and both hurdles events. Ewing, who plans to compete at Columbia University, is part of a new wave of Colonials' hurdlers. After teammate Matthew Kot took silver in the intermediates on day one, he bounced back to win gold in the 110-meter hurdles the following day.
"I knew the field was deep, but I had to put in my best effort," Kot said. "We're really developing the whole hurdle team. We pull each other forward to be the best we can."
Whether it was a team making history or an individual chasing perfection, the NJAC East Championships delivered unforgettable moments that will inspire athletes for seasons to come.