Rumson-Fair Haven girls dominate 2024 outdoor track season
RUMSON, N.J. — The Rumson Fair Haven girls track team completed its season sweep of major meets and remained undefeated on the outdoor track. The team had a successful winter track campaign but came up short, placing second in the NJ State Group tournament. The girls avenged that ending to the winter campaign by rattling off a series of emphatic wins in the Monmouth County championship, the Shore Conference meet, the Central Jersey State Sectional meet, and the Group 2 NJSIAA championship on June 8th to run the table despite facing perennial stalwarts Willingboro and Haddonfield on its way to complete the perfect season.
A host of team members, from seniors all the way to freshmen, contributed across multiple events both on the track, in the field, and over the hurdles. Along the way, the RFH girls, track team faced adversity and stiff competition at every turn. They fought through injuries to key athletes and the normal distractions of high school, including annual social events, academic rigors, collegiate exams, and everything in between. This team exemplified what it is to be disciplined and focused on a singular goal, striving for excellence and following through on commitments to their championship run. The unwavering culture of excellence drives the RFH girls鈥� track team.
The 2024 spring team was led by a trio of 800-meter athletes all ranking in the top 10 in New Jersey including junior Clemmie Lilley, sophomore Reese Reynolds Malone, and junior Izzy Rodriguez, complemented by a group of gritty seniors: Lucy Devlin, Ryan Malone, Katie Murray, Kate Hennen, and Quinn Cushing.
The team also had strong junior support from distance specialist Logan Rettino, middle distance-focused Hannah Nitka, and sprinter Cassedy Stypul. Throughout the year, sophomore star Anna Applegate generated many points in the pole vault event. The team also benefited from a strong showing from its freshman and sophomore ranks, including Maren Kennedy, Kaitlyn Hathaway, Riley Sullivan, and many more emerging stars.
A few of its athletes will continue competing at the elite NJ invitational reserved for the top finishers at the Group meets The Meet of Champions. Clemmie Lilley will toe the line at the prestigious Brooks PR Invitational, and still, more will compete at the New Balance Nationals hosted at the University of Pennsylvania, where Clemmie will rejoin the team in the 4 x 400 with plans to challenge the RFH school record of three minutes fifty seconds set by the stellar 2019 squad.
The program is as strong as ever and has reason to be excited for 2025, with the core of its team being underclassmen all returning. The 2024 NJ State Group 2 title was the third in five years and is the basis for talk of a dynasty brewing.
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