Evans enjoys terrific track season

By Joe Ragozzino
Sports Editor
Irvington High School boys’ indoor track and field standout Rashon Evans enjoyed a stellar season.
Evans, a senior, is the first athlete in school history to make the finals in two running events at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Meet of Champions.
At the MOC on Feb. 27 at the Bennett Center in Toms River, Evans finished third in the 55-meter dash in 6.53. Miles Shuler-Foster of Long Branch was first in 6.40 and Jihaad Howard of Brick Memorial was second in 6.51.
Evans finished eighth in the 55-meter hurdles in 7.95.
Evans had an historic indoor season by being the first Irvington athlete to win the 55-meter dash and 55-meter hurdles at the State North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 and State Group 3 meets.
The Blue Knights will compete in the Nationals at the 168th Street Armory in New York City on March 12-14.
Brianna Lovell, Wilvenson Baptiste, Evans, Jerrick Oliver, Bernard Bailey, Eleanor Ojinnaka, Kevin Gordon and Gregory Herbert will compete for IHS.

Worrall Community Newspapers

2009-10 All-Area Indoor Track and Field

Boys
55-meters: Rashon Evans, Irvington; Wilvenson Baptiste, Irvington; Jerrick Oliver, Irvington; Eric Bennett, Columbia; Kyle Webster, Seton Hall Prep
200-meters: Rashon Evans, Irvington; Wilvenson Baptiste, Irvington; Kazari Trought, West Orange; Kyle Webster, Seton Hall Prep
400-meters: Floyd Morgan, West Orange; Miles Gray, Glen Ridge; D.J.Roberts, Columbia
800-meters: Justin Hill, Seton Hall Prep; Curtis Richburg, West Orange; Jared Mason, West Orange; Davian Jenerson, East Orange Campus; D.J. Roberts, Columbia; Josh Martin, West Orange;
1,600-meters: Curtis Richburg, West Orange; Jared Mason, West Orange; Brian Basili, Columbia; Davian Jenerson, East Orange Campus; Alec Duncan, Bloomfield
3,200-meters: Curtis Richburg, West Orange; Brian Basili, Columbia; Bryon Cure, Belleville
55-meter hurdles: Rashon Evans, Irvington; Wilvenson Baptiste, Irvington; Gregory Herbert, Irvington; Josh Major, West Orange; Al-Malik Walker, East Orange Campus; Franklin Bellamy, Columbia
Shot put: Roguilky Dormevil, West Orange
4x400-meter relay: Irvington (Rashon Evans, Bernard Bailey, Kevin Gordon, Wilvenson Baptiste); West Orange (Kirby Chery, Dexter Valley, Floyd Morgan, Anfernee Larue)
Girls

55-meters: Jasmine Carter, Columbia; Kayann Richards, Columbia; Sherece Shabazz, Belleville; Amber Ballew, Columbia; Imani Jones, Bloomfield; Nazmia Thomas-Cancel, Irvington
200-meters: Kayann Richards, Columbia; Kelsey Jackson, Columbia; Jasmine Carter, Columbia
400-meters: Nazmia Thomas-Cancel, Irvington; Kelsey Richards, Columbia; Katya Dombrowski, Glen Ridge; Imani Jones, Bloomfield
800-meters: Brittney Jackson, Columbia; Adebunmi Gbadebo, Columbia; Jade Johnson, Columbia; Vanessa Ackon, Belleville
1,600-meters: Brittney Jackson, Columbia; Ty-Vonna Johnson, Columbia
3,200-meters: Adebunmi Gbadebo, Columbia
55-meter hurdles: Kayann Richards, Columbia; DeNeil McLeod, East Orange Campus; Brittany Padmore, Columbia; Brianna Lovell, Irvington; Eleanor Ojinnaka, Irvington; Kayla Turner, West Orange; Demi Bourne, West Orange
High jump: Brianna Lovell, Irvington; Brittney Jackson, Columbia; DeNeil McLeod, East Orange Campus; Megan Koster, Nutley
Shot put: Janaya Lewis, Irvington; Sydney Grimes, West Orange; Kiera Battles, West Orange
4x400-meter relay: Columbia (Amber Ballew, Ty-Vonna Johnson, Brittney Jackson, Kelsey Jackson); East Orange Campus (Isalin Howard, Tiffaine L. Stephens, Nichole Candelaria, DeNeil McLeod)
Boys’ Athletes of the Year - Curtis Richburg, West Orange; Rashon Evans, Irvington
Girls’ Athletes of the Year - Brittney Jackson, Columbia; Kayann Richards, Columbia
Boys’ Coaches of the Year - Joe Picataggio, West Orange; Marvin Hawkins, Irvington
Girls’ Coach of the Year - Lisa Morgan, Columbia
Editor’s note: The All-Area is selected by the Essex County sports staff of Worrall Community Newspapers and consists of schools in the WCN publishing area of Belleville, Bloomfield, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Irvington, Maplewood, Nutley, Orange, South Orange, West Orange and Vailsburg. The athletes chosen also must reside in those municipalities.