NOAH K. MURRAY/SPECIAL TO THE RECORD: Hawthorne’s Kaitlin Salisbury competing in the 100-meter dash, where she finished second at the State Meet of Champions.
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No one who didn’t know Salisbury of course.
With her legs shaking and the weather cooling, she hit the board well and then soared 39 feet, 10¾ inches, 6¾ inches ahead of Fosum.
And even though there was still one more round and two more jumps in the fifth round remaining, Salisbury’s fourth career Meet of Champs win was secured, as was her place in New Jersey track and field history.
“I never consider myself done,” said Salisbury, who became the second New Jersey girl to double in the long and triple jumps. “I’m never content with how I do, because I always think I can be better. My legs were tired but I knew I wanted to do everything I needed to do to try get it. But I’m shot right now.”
Earlier, she had responded when Tymia Joseph of Morris Knolls went 19-1 on her second jump in the preliminaries to take the lead in the long jump. Three jumpers later, Salisbury soared 19-10 and it was over.
Salisbury’s attempt to become just the third girl to win three events at the same Meet of Champions fell just short when she took second behind Bria Mack of Williamstown in the 100 meters. But even there, Salisbury showed her competitiveness. She was fifth last year.
“This whole high school experience has been like a dream,” said Salisbury, who has accepted a scholarship to Bucknell. “It won’t hit me for a while as to what I’ve done. But it’s been amazing.”
