The Livingston High School girls’ track and field team delivered a strong performance at the Essex County Track and Field Relay Championships, held at Schools Stadium on April 29. The Lancers earned the top spot in the team scores.
Livingston accumulated a total of 79 points, scoring in 12 of 16 relay events. This victory highlights the team’s consistent effort and ability to perform well in relay formats, which demand both individual excellence and seamless teamwork.
The Lancers scored all over the track and the field; four relay teams earned gold medals, including the shuttle hurdle relay of Nesta Oji, Sophia Wang, Lexi Viola, and Maya Ray; the discus relay of Aubrey Koblinger and Jessica Oji; the shot put relay of the Oji sisters, Jessica and Nesta; as well as the highjump relay, composed of senior captain Sophia Wang and freshman Kumba Gbondo- Tugbawa.
Outstanding performances of the meet went to senior captain Sophia Paparsenos, who completed the difficult quad and helped the Lancers score in all four ofherrelays. Nesta Oji, Stephanie Tiuca, and Phoebe Liu also competed in four events, scoring many points for the team.
While the relay victory was fresh in their minds and their bodies still sore, the girls were right back in championship competition on Friday, May 2, at Schools Stadium in Newark for the Super Essex Conference (SEC) Championship, in which they competed in the American Division. The Lancers secured the top spot in the team scores with a total of 175 points.
Livingston’s victory was propelled by several individualperformances. Jessica Oji was a standout, claiming first place in the discus with an impressive throw of 154 feet and six inches, and also securing the top spot in the shot put with a distance of 55 feet and 11 inches. Both of Oji’s throws are LHS school records and meet records. Her shot put throw is also a facility record.
Nesta Oji had a very busy and productive day, scoring the most points for the team with 32 total points in four events. Nesta placed second in the 400 meter hurdles, first in the 100 meter hurdles, second in shot put, and third in the javelin.
In the jumping events, captain Sophia Wang won the highjump with a five feet and five inches meet record jump. She also took third place in the triple jump with a mark of 36 feet, as well as fourth place in the 100 meter hurdles.
Maya Ray had ahuge contribution to the team with a total of 30 points in her four events: high hurdles, pole vault, high jump, and long jump. Adding to the Lancers ’ score were several other notable performances: Sophia Paparsenos secured first place in the 3,200 meter and second in the 1,600 meter; Phoebe Liu not only claimed the javelin title but also finished sixth in the discus; Erika Tiuca achieved third place in the 400 meter with a significant personal best; Kumba Gbondo-Tugbawa took third in the high jump; Rachel Hei finished third in the pole vault; freshman Brielle Roberts earned fifth in the triple jump with another personal best; Joann Mattam placed fourth in the shot put with a major personal best; Sophie Schumacher finished sixth after a determined run in the 3200 meter; Sarah Nidhan achieved second in the 800 meter with a season’s best and third in the 1600 meter; and senior Aubrey Koblinger finished third in the shot put.
Amid this demanding championship schedule, the girls are currently recovering and preparing for the Essex County Individual Championships, which will take place at Schools Stadium in Newark.
