On February 16, Oratory’s undoubtedly best sport in the 2023-24 school year traveled to the Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex (commonly referred to as “The Bubble”) to compete in the Non-Public A State Championship. Facing off against two top 5 programs in New Jersey — consisting of Christain Brothers Academy (NJ #1) & St. Peter’s Prep (NJ #5) — alongside defending state champions Seton Hall Prep, the competition was bound to be fierce, as always in the most historically great division in New Jersey. However, the Rams were prepared for such competition like never before, as a result of Senior Captain Tommy Hunt leading the way. Coming into the state meet as the Union County 800m Champion, and as the man who overcame a 45-meter deficit in the 4×800 to win the Rams their first-ever State Relay title, the Providence-bound Hunt was poised to do something special. Wearing the #1 on his chest as the top seed, Hunt took the lead straight from the gun — a position he would never relinquish. After running conservatively for the opening stages of the race, Hunt unleashed a finishing kick that distanced himself from the field, breaking CBA’s Connor Clifford (University of Georgia Commit) and Delbarton’s Everett Jania (NYU Commit) in the process. One week later, Hunt ran an indoor 800m personal best, lowering his school record to a time of 1:54.85 at the Ocean Breeze Elite Meet. At the time of doing so, Hunt ranked as #6 in NJ this year and his time was in the top 75 in New Jersey history. This performance also awarded the future-friar with a Milesplit USA First Team Elite Performance.
Also at the Non-Public A State Championship, Declan Kelly ran a personal best of 4:28.6 to take a very respectable 6th place in a loaded One Mile Run. The Junior’s performance earned him a wildcard entry into the Meet of Champions, where his 4:24.25 mile broke Tommy Hunt’s school record which was set just last January. Other top performances at the state meet included Sophomores Connor Bassolino running a personal best of 10:07 in the 2-mile run & James Nolan taking 5th in the 800m, hurdlers Ryan Santoriello (7th at state meet) & Flynn Brezee running a personal best in the 55m hurdles, and Freshman duo Brennan McEvoy / Aidan Murphy both achieving new personal records.
