Brittney Kilkenny didn’t have any glories of grandeur as she participated in the high jump at the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group IV indoor track championships last Saturday at the Bennett Center in Toms River.
“I thought I might have a chance for third place, if I did my best,” said Kilkenny, a senior at North Bergen High School. “But I didn’t even think I could win.”
As she readied to take her final jump of the day, she was certain that the results were disastrous.
“I honestly thought I lost,” Kilkenny said. “I had no idea what was going on.”
What happened was that Kilkenny jumped 5-feet even, which was good enough to win the gold medal and tie a sectional record in the process.
In the process, she became the first North Bergen girl to ever win a state title in the high jump and the first Bruin performer, male or female, to win a gold medal in the high jump at the indoor state championships since 1969.
“I knew that there weren’t many high jumpers from North Bergen,” Kilkenny said. “I am very surprised to win. I had no idea that I won until I ran over to get the medals. They told me I won. I’m very excited by it.”
Kilkenny said that she had been jumping since her sophomore year, but this was her best performance.
“It felt really good,” Kilkenny said. “It’s a lot of fun to jump. I like it.”
Kilkenny also has a key to her success, although she probably would like to keep it a secret.
“I have to have candy to get me hyper and then I jump better,” Kilkenny said. “It usually works.”
Any particular kind of candy?
“Yes, sour candy, like sour gummy worms,” Kilkenny said. “It has to be sour for it to work. If it’s just regular candy, like a candy bar, it won’t work.”
There you have it. The key to winning a state championship is sour candy.
Kilkenny said that her win in the state sectionals will only help her confidence heading into the outdoor season.
“My goal is to jump 5-4 before I’m done,” Kilkenny said. “I never jumped 5-2 yet, but I feel I can do it. Winning this is going to make me feel great, like I can do anything.”
As long as there are plenty of sour gummy worms to be had…
Kilkenny wasn’t the lone local performer to do well at the NJSIAA state sectionals in Toms River.
Zamir Thomas of Snyder, last week’s Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week, didn’t fall prey to the AOW curse. The talented sophomore set a new Central Jersey Group I sectional record in the 400-meter dash, winning in 51.79 and with teammates Daryl Keese, Mauricio Mitchell and Jamonte Cooley, set a new sectional mark in the 1,600-meters with a time of 3:31.24. Thomas also finished second in the 55-meter dash, helping the Tigers finish third as a team…
At the same sectional, Ben Singleton of University Charter won the 800-meter gold medal in 2:01.14….
It was almost shocking to see Ferris listed among the top teams at a state sectional track meet, but thanks to the efforts of junior Waydell Harris, the Bulldogs earned some state glory in North Section 2, Group II. Harris was second in the 55-meter dash, fourth in the 400 and ran a leg on the Ferris mile relay team that finished third…
Samard Walker-Butler of Lincoln broke his own sectional record in the shot put with a toss of 53-2…
Shannon Casey of Secaucus was second in the girls’ shot put in Group I…
Snyder junior Tim Harbin became the second Hudson County bowler this season to bowl a perfect game, when he rolled his 300 against CREATE Charter last week. Harbin started the day with a pedestrian 161, then came back in the second game to roll his perfect game, joining Omar Espinal of Union City in the land of perfection.
Harbin, who transferred to Snyder from CREATE this year, followed up his perfect game with a 255 game at Hudson Lanes. It was the first-ever perfect game by a Snyder bowler…
Nothing seems to be stopping the Red Wings of Hoboken, who head into the HCIAA Seglio playoffs this week on complete fire. After starting out 1-7 and 4-10, the Red Wings have rolled off eight straight wins and won 10 of 11. Eddie Canary is the main reason for the turnaround, averaging 20 points per game during the streak…
Here’s a sign of the times. Roberto Clemente Little League of Jersey City, citing the financial meltdown being felt across the country, has waived its registration fees for this season in an attempt to get more kids interested in playing Little League baseball this spring. It’s a great approach by one of the best-run baseball organizations in the area…
The St. Peter’s Prep wrestling team’s great run in the NJSIAA playoffs ended Wednesday night, when the Marauders fell to Delbarton in the Parochial A North semifinals. It was the second time in two weeks that the Marauders lost to Delbarton. The Marauders, winners of the Hudson County Duals last week, have only three losses all season and two are to the Green Wave. – Jim Hague
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