Group 2 Championship Track Outlook

Megan Kirschling might finally get challenged this week.

After dominating the field at events such as the Woodbury Relays, Gloucester County Championships, Carl Lewis Relays and , the senior is poised to take on the best Group 2 has to offer in the high jump at the Group Championships this weekend.

Kirschling leaped five feet, eight inches, and just missed at 5-10, winning the high jump title and setting a new meet record last weekend at sectionals. Kirschling enters this weekend’s action as the top seed and favorite in the high jump, but a title is far from etched in stone. Several other Group 2 competitors have jumped 5-6 this season, meaning Kirschling will still need to be on top of her game to take home gold.

Kirschling is also capable of tieing the meet record at states this weekend—though it would take her absolute best. Cheryl Burdick, of Ramsey, set the mark of 5-10 in 1998, and Debra Vento, of Freehold Boro, matched it in 2003.

Kirschling cleared 5-10 on one occasion this season, so a record-tying afternoon is not totally out of the question.

Kirschling is not a top seed in the 100 hurdles, but will be looking to place in the top six and earn her way to the Meet of Champions. Kirschling placed second at Sectionals with a time of 14.73. Kaprice James of Roselle is the No. 1 seed, after clocking in at 14.45.

Kirschling will also compete in the triple jump after placing fourth at last week’s sectional.

Meanwhile, Samantha Budd will looks to be in good shape to reach the Meet of Champions in both the 1600 and her featured event, the 800. Dana Giordano of Bernards (2:15.21) is the No. 1 seed and Erin Seiffert of Voorhees (2:19.23) is seeded second. Budd will also see competition from Haddonfield’s Carly Bonnet, who the West Deptford senior edged last weekend.

The meet record in the 800 was just broken last year when Neptune’s Ajee Wilson circled the track twice in just 2:07.28.

The 1600 features a clear-cut top seed Dana Giordano of Bernards who won her sectional with a ridiculously fast time of 4:51.99. Giordano’s time broke the meet record that she established a year ago.

Budd will be look to stay near the front of the pack and nab a top-six spot. The forecast looks to feature far less heat and humidity than during last week’s sectionals, so Budd should see improvement on her winning time of 5:13.18, and the school record (5:04) could be within her reach.

Other local athletes to keep an eye on this weekend are Claudia Theriault (pole vault) and Megan Knoblock (1600).

On the boys’ side, sophomore Nick Pulli will get a taste of the big time in the shot put. Pulli placed fourth at sectionals and knows the odds of qualifying for the Meet of Champions are slim with such a deep and strong Group 2 field. He is hoping to launch a throw of 56 feet, giving him momentum heading towards next season.

 “I’m just happy I’m going to states as a sophomore,” Pulli said last weekend after placing fourth at Buena.

Action begins today and concludes Saturday at Frank Jost Field in South Plainfield.