Huertas, Ketcho take gold again at County Seat Invitational by Paul Schwartz of The Record
HACKENSACK – Michael Huertas of Fort Lee and Kassie Ketcho of Hasbrouck Heights returned to the Ed Church track at Hackensack High School the day after winning championships at Friday night’s Bergen Meet of Champions and scored impressive victories at Saturday’s County Seat Invitational.
Huertas, who won the 100 meters Friday night, had a personal best 22.36 clocking in winning the Boys A 200 race Saturday. And Ketcho, who had scored a personal and 2017 North Jersey best in winning the girls shot Friday with a throw of 39-11, became the first Aviator girl ever to throw more than 40 feet in the event when she threw 40-11 ½ Saturday. The throw moved her into the top 20 in Bergen County history.
The meet, which has become a last chance to improve seeding for next weekend’s State sectionals, as well as a chance for injured athletes to test their fitness, had a series of excellent performances in addition to the wins by the Bergen county champions.
Tahj Martin of Fort Lee upset Passaic’s Luis Peralta in a fast 400 meter race, 49.41 to 49.70. Martin is part of the Bridgemen 4-x-400 relay that won the Bergen championship Friday, but has been limited to open 100 and 200 races and the long jump this spring.
Kennedy’s Jason Thobourne tripled the Boys A jumps, beating teammate Ronniel Johnson on misses at 6-6 in the high jump. Derek Barney of Indian Hills made his season’s debut in the 3,200 after a stress fracture had kept him out, winning in 9:58.82.
River Dell twin discus throwers Laura and Mike Rizik each won their event, with Laura upsetting Bergen champ and teammate Fernanda Maldonado with a throw of 115-1. Mike threw 156-1 to easily win the Boys A. Both Riziks had personal bests.
Defending state 800 meter champion Lexi Del Gizzo of Tenafly snapped back from a loss in Friday’s 400 to win the 800 easily in 2;14.19.
Team titles went to Kennedy, 85-72 over Fort Lee in Boys A, Hasbrouck Heights, 80-68 over Lyndhurst in Boys B and Hasbrouck Heights, 75-66, over Clifton in the Girls meet.