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Schools

Samantha Budd Set to Compete on National Stage

The West Deptford senior will compete in the 800 at the New Balance Indoor National meet on Friday. Megan Kirschling had to withdraw due to injury.

Samantha Budd’s standout winter track season in the 800 meters will reach its apex this weekend when Budd travels to New York City for the New Balance Indoor National meet on Friday.

The event features two levels of competition for the 800—the Championship level and the Emerging Elite. Budd will compete in the Emerging Elite field, and is in the third of five heats.

“It’s always a great experience at The Armory in New York City,” said track coach Mark Drummond. “It’s one of the best places to see a track meet.”

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Budd enters the event fresh off of lowering her career-best time at the Meet of Champions to two minutes, 18 seconds.

“Her goal is going to reinforce that 2:18 or maybe surpass it and roll that over to outdoor,” said Drummond.

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If past history is any indication, Budd could post an even better time. As the stakes increased during the winter track season, Budd’s times lowered.

In early February, to claim the championship at the South Jersey, Group 2 winter track sectionals in Toms River.

The next weekend at the Group 2 state Championships, . Then at the Meet of Champions, Budd took it to an entirely new level, shaving her time down to 2:18.77.

Megan Kirschling also earned a trip to the prestigious meet, but will not be attending, due in part to an ankle injury she suffered in the final game of her basketball season. Kirschling earned the right to compete by reaching qualifying heights during weekend meets that didn’t conflict with her obligations to the basketball team.

Drummond said the decision to hold Kirschling out was a precautionary measure.

“Obviously there are bigger things coming later that she would be more prepared for,” he said.

Kirschling missing the event does have a silver lining to it, though. The senior will be attending Elon University in the fall, and will use this weekend to take a trip down to the school for orientation. The university has two orientation dates, the second of which fell on the same date as the Woodbury Relays. The original plan was for Kirschling to miss the Woodbury Relays, but now that will be avoided.

Last year Kirschling was named Female Field Performer of the meet.

Check back this weekend to find out how Budd finished.

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