Seniors from left rear: Angela Kliks, Janice Owusu, Sharita Simpson, Sarah Adams, Alenys Morales and Samantha Peynado. Front from left: Dionna McNair, Samantha Rozon, Hadeel Alshujaieh and Heaven Vergara
“We have a strong distance group,” said Rogers. “Mia and Andrea have set themselves apart the last two seasons. They are going to be a big part of our success even as young athletes. Sarah is a seasoned veteran. She is one of our experienced athletes and a future college athlete.” The Clifton boys are a senior-laden group that will look to improve on last season’s sixth-place finish in the Passaic County Tournament. They have a bulldozer leading the way in senior distance runner Kevin Heredia, also a Rider commit. Best at the 800m, he medaled in the Meet of Champions in each of the past two years. “In the last 34 years, my time here as an head coach or assistant coach, he is definitely in the top six or so guys I’ve had,” said head coach John Pontes. “His versatility in the 400 to the two-mile is basically unmatched.” Senior Jordan Laceste returns after just having won a county and sectional title in the pole vault during indoor season. Senior shot putter Sonny Ruiz won the county and made the Meet of Champions this winter season, and
is the first 50-foot thrower since Joe Hathaway 13 years ago. Senior thrower Luis Zorrilla is neck and neck with Ruiz, while senior distance runner/hurdler Max Dubac is a multi-time All-Passaic County honoree. “We are a better big meet team because we are loaded on the top end [of our lineup],” said Pontes. “The rest of our team is young, but we will be back in the hunt within a couple of years. They are working hard.”
Cliftonmagazine.com • April 2018
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