New Jersey –It was the perfect ending for pole vaulter Marlee Sabatino and the record-setting Hillsborough High School girls 4×400 relay.
Sabatino, a senior in her final meet in New Jersey, won the girls pole vault at the Meet of Champions last Wednesday in South Plainfield when she was the only competitor to clear 12 feet. She is the first Raiders girl to win a MOC title since Ebony Young won the triple jump in 2009.
“It feels good,” said Sabatino, who won the 2013 indoor MOC. “I’m really happy. Having indoor and outdoor titles before my high school career is over, and it’s my last year and winning Meet of Champs last year, it feels good.”
Sabatino came off a 12-foot clearance that won her the Group IV meet days earlier. She started the MOC at 10-6 in what amounted to another warm-up jump for her. It took her two attempts at 11 feet only because she didn’t have the right pole for her first jump. She cleared 12 feet on her first attempt.
“It is nice to see Marlee go out on top as state champion,” said Raiders head coach Rich Refi, who came to the pole vault area in time to see her wrap up the title. “She had a tough day at the sectional meet but made the most of her opportunity capturing the Group IV and MOC titles.”
Sabatino, a senior in her final meet in New Jersey, won the girls pole vault at the Meet of Champions last Wednesday in South Plainfield when she was the only competitor to clear 12 feet. She is the first Raiders girl to win a MOC title since Ebony Young won the triple jump in 2009.
“It feels good,” said Sabatino, who won the 2013 indoor MOC. “I’m really happy. Having indoor and outdoor titles before my high school career is over, and it’s my last year and winning Meet of Champs last year, it feels good.”
Sabatino came off a 12-foot clearance that won her the Group IV meet days earlier. She started the MOC at 10-6 in what amounted to another warm-up jump for her. It took her two attempts at 11 feet only because she didn’t have the right pole for her first jump. She cleared 12 feet on her first attempt.
“It is nice to see Marlee go out on top as state champion,” said Raiders head coach Rich Refi, who came to the pole vault area in time to see her wrap up the title. “She had a tough day at the sectional meet but made the most of her opportunity capturing the Group IV and MOC titles.”
Being a senior and getting back toward her own personal record of 12-6 were encouraging signs for her. It made the win more meaningful.
“I was really happy when I won indoors last year, but I think I won that with 11-6,” Sabatino said. “The previous year, I had lost indoors and outdoors and got second place jumping 12. The fact I won it my junior year jumping 11-6 was kind of funny. Winning it with a jump that I care about, 12-feet, it means a lot.” more
“I was really happy when I won indoors last year, but I think I won that with 11-6,” Sabatino said. “The previous year, I had lost indoors and outdoors and got second place jumping 12. The fact I won it my junior year jumping 11-6 was kind of funny. Winning it with a jump that I care about, 12-feet, it means a lot.” more
