Boaz “Superman” Madeus flies over a hurdle en route to a gold medal in the 4×400 at Saturdays’ Group III meet at Northern Burlington (Photo by John Blaine).
By Rich Fisher
Fish4scores.com
June 6: Boaz “Superman” Madeus got what he has spent a career looking for, and Ashley Navarro gained something she spent a whole season pursuing.
Both goals were reached this past weekend at Northern Burlington County High School, where Madeus and Navarro had stellar performances in the NJSIAA Group III State Track & Field Championships.
Nottingham senior Madeus became a state champion for the first time on Friday, June 2, when he won the 400 hurdles in a time of 52.92. He just missed breaking his school record of 52.84 set at this year’s Penn Relays.
Madeus also took fourth in the 400 meters in a personal best of 48.31, and was part of the third-place 4×400 relay team with David Viah, Godfred Akuffo and Kenley Souffrant. The foursome set the school record in 3:19.94.
And while the top six finishers in each event advance, also reaching this Saturday’s Meet of Champions for the Northstars is Jon Torres, who earned a wild card after finishing ninth in the 3200 in a PR of 9:26.81. Torres’ seed time was 9:40.81.
Navarro, a Steinert junior, is bound for the MOC in two events. She finished fifth in the 800 meters in a school record 2:15.17, and was part of the Spartans third-place 4×800 relay team with seniors Aidan Sheehan and Lauren Miller and junior Samantha Woolf. The duo ran a school-record time of 9:40.91 and helped the Spartans to a program record 60 points in a girls state meet.
In winning the gold medal that he has long craved, Madeus said his race went exactly as planned.
“I knew the front half still had some cleaning up to do but it was definitely one of my cleaner races on the season,” Superman said. “My goal was just to stay in the pack and step on the gas on the second half of the race and pull away from the field. Since I perfected that back half of my race, it was all about good positioning from the start.”
As he came across the finish line before everyone else, Madeus felt the weight of the world was lifted from his shoulders after several frustrating finishes.
“First off, all glory to God because it’s been such a long journey to get to this point, which makes it that much sweeter to win the gold this time around,” Boaz said. “For two years now, coming around that last turn, that Group Three title was almost in my hands and I let it slip. So to come out Friday and execute and seal the deal was almost an overwhelming feeling.”
It was hardly easy, however, as West Windsor-Plainsboro North senior John Owens was just one stride behind Madeus. Boaz said he had no idea how close the Northern Knight was until looking at the video.
“He had a great race and a major PR,” Madeus said. “It’s been great running with John these past three years. He’s a competitor that has never rolled over. He is a constant threat and if I’m in a race with him, I have to make sure to bring my A game. We push and motivate each other, and now we get to finish off with one more race together.”
That race comes this Saturday, also at Northern Burlington. Unfortunately for Madeus, he will not be competing in the 110 high hurdles at the Meet of Champs. A tweaked hamstring turned into Superman’s kryptonite, as it bothered him after doing the 400 hurdles and 400 meters on Friday.
Madeus checked in to do the high hurdles on Saturday but after warming up, he was not hitting his strides. Thus, he scratched himself in hopes of being able to help the 4×400 relay. It turned out to be a wise decision, as Nottingham gutted out its third-place finish.
“My relay is filled with warriors,” he said. “I couldn’t be more proud of what we did Saturday, breaking the record and running our hearts out. My guys put everything on the line.
“Dave put us in a great spot from the jump with an awesome first leg, Kenley battled the whole way around and Godfred, despite getting tripped, stayed right on the pack, which made it easy for me to catch one man and clinch the school record. I really can’t say enough about this group of guys. The best part is, we can go faster and will go faster. We will be in the seeded heat Saturday running with the best.”
As for his best individual event, Madeus has a huge challenge in East Orange’s Cory Poole. At this year’s Penn Relays, Poole ran a 50.71, the third fastest time in meet and New Jersey history. Poole won the Group IV meet in 51.20. He is ranked No. 1 in the country and Madeus is No. 3.
“My hope is to win it all,” Boaz said. “It should be a fun race but I’m not naïve. I know Poole is going to be a handful and I know what I have to run in order to beat him. All I can do now is prepare to run that time this week and take care of my body and pray, because this is definitely my toughest task in my track career so far.”
Steinert’s Ashley Navarro shows off her two medals after setting the school record in the 800 and being part of the school record-setting 4×800 team at Saturday’s Group III meet at Northern Burlington (Photo by Carol Navarro).
The Northstars will have some Klockner Road company at the MOC as the Steinert girls from down the street try to cap an outstanding season in style.
Navarro had not been chasing the school 800 record for as long as Madeus had been chasing a state gold, but for her the prize was just as exciting.
“In the beginning of the year I set goals for myself to break the school record in the 800 along with the 400 and the 4×800,” Ashley said. “When I broke the record in the 800 and qualified to go to the Meet of Champions it felt amazing to know that I had reached my last goal of breaking my third school record.
“My performance this weekend and throughout the season showed me that my dedication and extra training on and off the track pays off. My performances this year helped me realize that I can reach my goals if I set my mind to it. I am confident that I can perform at an even higher level as I set new goals for myself.”
Despite her record-setting run, Navarro felt she could have run a better race. With so many of the top runners having seeded times so close, it was obvious how difficult the competition would be. Ashley was disappointed in her first 100 meters.
“I feel I should have gone out faster since two runners cut out in front of me,” she said. “Even though I was cut off a little bit in the beginning I was still able to stay in the top six the entire race. At the end of the race I knew that I was going to have to start my kick a little earlier since my competition was strong and, sure enough, that’s what allowed me to finish fifth.
“While looking at the way I ran, I do think that I held back a little bit and still had some kick left in me, but this week I am going for it and there’s no holding back. I have learned that you really need to know your competition and strategize how to outrun your opponent.”
As a first-time qualifier for the Meet of Champions, Navarro is happy that her relay team will also be joining her to provide support. It marks the first 4×800 girls team to reach the MOC in Steinert history.
“It’s very exciting to know that I am not going by myself and that I will be joined by my fellow teammates who well deserve it,” Navarro said. “It makes you want to compete at a higher level, knowing that you have the support of your teammates who are trying to achieve the same goal as you. My goal for the 4×800 race is for our team to run a personal (and school) record again. We go out each week with the intention that we are going to break records both personally and as a team.
“Whether we break a record or not it’s more about doing my best for the two seniors, Lauren Miller and Aidan Sheehan. They, along with Sam Woolf, have contributed to the success of this team in making memories that hopefully they will remember forever. Since I am the anchor I will do my best since this will be the last time we will be running together. I am honored to be part of this team and honored to make Steinert history.”
As for her goal in the 800, the junior is looking to drop her time into the mid 2:13s and finish in the Top 15.
“At this point, I feel the sky is the limit,” Navarro said. “I know if I push myself and have a strong performance I could qualify for New Balance Nationals, which is my ultimate goal.”
