Toms River North boys win Meet of Champions 4x100, 4x400

PENNSAUKEN – Having one more chance to prove it was the best high school track and field team in the state this spring, Toms River North left no doubt Wednesday.

The Mariners bounced back from their second-place finish in Group 4 last weekend to win the 4×100 and 4×400 gold medals at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions – and did so with blistering times.

In the 4×100, Madiajoudou Diawara, Micah Ford, Mordecai Ford and Mamadi Diawara lowered the Shore Conference record to 41.70.

In the 4×400, Mordecai Ford (49.3), Camryn Thomas (48.9), Lowrentsky Ambroise (48.8) and Mamadi Diawara (47.4) lowered the Ocean County record to 3:14.61.

Toms North Anchor Mamadi Diawara in 4X100. NJSIAA Track Meet of Champions at Pennsauken High School in Pennsauken, NJ on June 12, 2024.

The icing on the cake was graduation day for seniors Madiajoudou Diawara, Micah Ford and Ambroise.

“It’s pretty special,” Mariners coach Mike Barrett said. “We thought we could win both relays, but with three of them coming straight from graduation, to keep them focused and focused, it was impressive.”

The entire day was a billboard for the culture of the program. The disqualification of the 4×100 unit after winning the 4×100 at the Penn Relays angered this group for two months.

“To redeem ourselves the way we did, it’s great,” Micah Ford said. “We told our coaches we were going to win, and we did.”

A lot can go wrong in this race (pre-race favorite Washington Township finished last). The Mariners took the lead from the start.

“I have to do a good job in the first leg, catch up and leave it to my teammates to bring it home,” said leader Madiajoudou Diawara.

The transfers were clinical.

“You’re not going to win a race with all these talented people without great transfers,” Micah Ford said.

Ford is a good example of what motivated the Mariners. Stanford football scholarship in hand, diploma in hand Wednesday, he still competed. It meant something to him to put on that uniform one last time.

“I feel like no team has been as consistent as us this season,” he said, “and that’s a credit to our coaches.”

There was more altruism in the 4×400. Mordecai Ford and Camryn Thomas opened the meet by winning medals in the 400 hurdles – Mordecai was second in a school record 52.85 and Thomas sixth in 53.61 – but they stayed until the end to run with their teammates.

“We knew what we were capable of,” Thomas said.

Then there is Mamadi Diawara, who left aside her individual events to be able to anchor the two relays. His last stage in 4×400 (47.4!) was legendary.

“That says a lot about our training,” Mamadi said. “You have to work hard to get there. »

That says a lot about Toms River North, the best men’s track and field team in New Jersey.