Polcari's Pole Vault Takes First in State Meet of Champions

The weather ranged from 100-degree plus real feel temperature to a torrential downpour at the end of the State Meet of Champions. The meet was suspended with only a few events remaining that will take place on Monday at 6 p.m. in Old Bridge.

For Ridgewood senior Kayla Polcari weather was not the only problem, she was dealing with a sinus infection for most of the week and then developed a bloody nose during the event.

Everything seemed to be crumbling down, but when the smoke cleared, Polcari was at the top of the leader board and took home the top prize in her second to last meet as a Ridgewood High student.

After not clearing 12-feet, the Ridgewood senior did not believe she was going to come out on top.

Polcari fell short at 11-6 and said she didn't believe it would be enough for the win.

"I was pretty nervous waiting to see if the other girls would make it," said Polcari still holding her nose from the nose bleeds. "It was draining today."

With only the nationals later this month, it will be the last time she will be wearing the Maroons colors before heading for the University of Notre Dame in the fall to join her older sister.

"It is the last New Jersey meet so it is bittersweet," said Polcari. "I'm going to track at Notre Dame so I am excited about that."

In the same event, Ridgewood sophomore Mimi DeVita came in ninth, notching 11-feet. It was her first trip to the SMOC and she was happy with the results.

"I'm happy because this was personal best," said DeVita, who said she was "a little nervous."

Junior Caroline Davidson also medaled in the 1,600 meter race with an eighth place at 5:08.93. "I was just really excited coming into the race," said Davidson after the race, which featured the best mile runners in the state.

"I'm real happy, but I'm tired right now."

On the men's side, athletic junior Evan Bartlik finished fifth in the triple jump with a top leap of 45-feet-10.75.

Senior hurdler Matt Beausoleil finished ninth in the 110 meter hurdles at 14.68 and junior Levi Jennings came in 16th in the 1,600 meter race at 4:28.37.

It was a tough, muggy day for Jennings. "I felt good before coming into today," he Jennings after the race and who would not blame the oppressive temperatures on his run. "Everybody had to deal with the heat."

In the 1,600 meter races, it was the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat for a pair of Ridgewood juniors.

Davidson excelled in the race going from the 22nd seed to medaling at eighth while Jennings was the fifth seed and finished 16th.

It just shows how one day things can go right while the next day they don't.