Local athletes seized top seeds at Group Championships

Karl Mulligan runs cross country for Parsippany Hills. But even though he hasn’t learned to use starting blocks, he’s also a hurdler. Those newfound skills have taken Mulligan to the NJSIAA Group Championships, which begin today at Jost Field in South Plainfield and Egg Harbor Twp.

Mulligan, a Vikings senior, only learned how to hurdle last year, but this will be his second trip to Groups. However, Mulligan checked the list of intermediate hurdles qualifiers last season and noticed he came out of the slowest section and thought, “Oh, dumb luck,” and hopes to improve his personal best.

“How many 400-meter hurdles run cross country?” said Mulligan, who also broke two minutes in the 800 meters for the first time at North 1 Group III last weekend.

“After cross country season, I feel like you can give me anything. Even hurdles, why not?”

Groups II, III and Non-Public A will compete at Jost Field. Groups I, IV and Non-Public B take the long trip down the Garden State Parkway. Events at both sites start at 2:30 p.m. today, and 11 a.m. on Saturday.

Pequannock junior Taylor Carmichael will be returning to the Group meet for the third time, bouncing back up to Group II. Carmichael was one of several Golden Panthers to break school records at sectionals, taking down the 200-meter mark which had stood since 1977.

Pequannock senior Marlo Wehrer, who broke the North 1 Group II meet record in the intermediate hurdles (area-best 1:02.28), is the overall No. 1 seed in Group II in that event, with Hanover Park’s record-setting junior Anna Lazur third and Carly Zdanek of Newton sixth. Panthers junior Jen McGrogan, who cleared 5-4 at N1G2, leads the Group II high jump field, followed by juniors Kristen Hall of Whippany Park and Julia Murawinski of Jefferson, and Newton senior Megan Robinson, all at 5-2.

Whippany Park junior Nickolette Dunbar is the top seed in the Group II shot put and discus. Morristown-Beard senior Halia Rosemond leads the field in the Non-Public B discus, and is third in shot put. Crimson senior Lizzie Hunt has the top Non-Public B javelin mark. Ryan Gebhardt of Wallkill Valley is the top seed in the Group I javelin (178-11). Pope John senior Katlyn Rymarzow, the only female NJAC pole vaulter to clear 12 feet this spring, is the top seed in Non-Public A.

Randolph senior Greg Stickle is the No. 1 seed in the Group IV intermediate hurdles (53.76) and second in long jump. Ben DeVenezia of Mountain Lakes and Wallkill Valley senior Craig Corti are 1-2 in the Group I 1,600. High Point junior Joe Dragon is the top seed in the Group II 1,600 and No. 2 in the 3,200. Lakers sophomore Kylra Velock has the top seed in the Group I 800.

“It’s really something different,” said Carmichael, who also qualified in the 100 and as part of Pequannock’s 4x100 and 4x400. “You see the teams you run against all year round. When they all come together, you’re a part of something much bigger. It’s just surreal.”

Staff Writer Jane Havsy: 973-428-6682; jhavsy@gannettnj.com; www.dailyrecord.com/writerjane/