The Middletown High School North boys’ track team is deep in middle distance talent. That fact was demonstrated at the annual Husky Relays on April 9 when they claimed the 4×800 meter relay championship.
The Lions battled Howell stride for stride through the entire race with Rumson-Fair Haven just steps behind in close pursuit.
Connor Kinch served as the lead-off runner and held a stalking position in third place for the first 700 meters. He made a move on the second lap and surged in the final 150 meters to execute the handoff to Jack Rothermund in a first place dead heat with Howell.
Rothermund placed himself on the shoulder of the Howell runner who sought to set the pace. The baton pass to the third leg was made in unison between North and Howell with RFH two feet back.
Jorge Rivera ran the third leg and kept it close, passing to anchor Aaron Guensch just two strides behind Howell.
Two hundred meters into the final leg, the junior Lion overtook the Howell runner for the lead. The Rebel anchorman appeared undaunted and reclaimed the pace-setting duties 100 meters later.
Guensch sprinted to the lead once again at the beginning of the bell lap, going wide on the first turn. He ultimately established a six-second advantage when he crossed the finish line all alone on a 2:00.00 split. The Lions stopped the clock at 8:16.00. Howell was timed at 8:23.20, with RFH just behind the Rebels at 8:23.20.
Middletown North also picked up silver medals in the Sprint Medley. Staffed on the unit were Guensch (400 meters), CJ Sanford (200 meters), Jack Chenoweth (200 meters) and Kinch (800 meters).
Lion senior Connor Clark claimed an individual goal medal, competing in the shot put with a throw of 49-04.25.
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