Feb. 21: NJSIAA Group 3 Championships
The Randolph Boys Winter Indoor Track team continued to show strength at the NJSIAA Group 3 Championships on Feb. 21. To start off the meet, junior Kennan Byers and senior Preston Gumann placed back-to-back in the 1600m. Byers came in fifth at 4:18.91, and Gumann came in sixth at 4:21.17. Senior Thomas Amato continued to give a good performance, placing sixth in the 3200m after running a 9:26.92
Feb. 14: Garden State Invitational
On Feb. 14, the team raced at the Garden State Invitational and recorded some good times with Gumann coming in fifth in the 800m with a time of 1:58.93, Amato coming in third in the 1600m with a time of 4:20.32 and Byers taking first place in the 3200m at 9:22.75.
Feb. 5: NJSIAA Sectional Championships for North 1, Group 3
The boys had a successful meet at the NJSIAA Sectional Championships for North 1, Group 3 on Feb. 5. The team had some top scorers, with Byers getting first place in the 1600m with a time of 4:23.27 and Gumann following close behind, securing third place with a 4:25.64. Amato also gave an impressive performance, placing first in the 3200m with a time of 9:26.05.
Wednesday, Jan. 29: Morris County Championships
Rampage covered the Morris County Championships (MCC) on Wednesday, Jan. 29, where the boys delivered an exceptional performance. Demonstrating their dedication and rigorous training, the team secured an impressive second-place finish, reinforcing their reputation as one of the top teams in the state.
“Everyone has been working really hard to get to where we are at as a group, and it showed at the Morris County Championships,” head coach Luke Suttile said.
The team’s scoring efforts began in the 55-meter hurdles, when senior Tommy Damiano placed third with a time of 8.3 seconds, earning six points. This achievement was particularly notable as it marked his first season competing in indoor track. With the upcoming spring season, Damiano is expected to continue improving and making significant contributions.
The momentum continued in the 1600-meter race, where Byers set a new school record with a time of 4:14.96, surpassing the earlier record of 4:15.29 set by David Dos Santos in 2003.
“I am extremely proud and thrilled with my performance,” Byers said. “It feels great to get the school record; it’s something I’ve always had in mind.”
In the same event, Gumann placed fourth with a time of 4:21.44, while Jacob Conti finished 10th at 4:29.25. Damiano continued to perform strongly, securing fifth place in the 300-meter dash, further solidifying his role as a key runner for the team.
Damiano also hit a PB in three events. “While I’m happy, I know I can do better,” he said. “I think a lot of people struggle with this mindset, and as I continue to work on my mindset and get physically better, I can keep improving a lot.”
The 1000-meter run displayed another outstanding performance from the Randolph team. Gumann finished second with a time of 2:36.83, closely trailing the first-place finisher, while Byers secured third place at 2:39.8. These performances further underscored the team’s depth.
In the 3200-meter event, Amato placed second with a time of 9:26.74, finishing just four seconds behind the winner. In the field events, Daehan Jo achieved a new personal best in the high jump, clearing 5 feet 8 inches to place fifth, and contributed additional points to the team’s total.
The meet concluded with the 4×400-meter relay, where Damiano, Byers, Matthias Friis, and Jo secured fifth place with a time of 3:35.97.
Despite falling just short of a county title at the MCC, the boys team delivered a remarkable performance, earning 45.5 points, only 6.5 points behind Morris Hills, which secured first place with 52 points.
“I am looking forward to the rest of this winter season, qualifying multiple athletes to Meet of Champions, Easterns and Nike Nationals,” said Suttile, “and to the upcoming spring season, where I think we can get some key members healthy and fill some holes with new members as well.”
