Gov. Livingston's Defranco Wins Boys Pole Vault Title at Meet of Champions

OLD BRIDGE - Anthony Defranco had to wait four days before he collected the state title. Just before the State Meet of Champions was postponed, Defranco took off and vaulted 15-feet to the lead of the boys pole vault contest at the State Meet of Champions in Old Bridge.

"The storm was coming in and I got the thumbs up to go," said Defranco who will be competing in track and field next spring at Rider University. "I just went for it."

Coming into the state pole vault battle, the Highlanders senior was seeded 10th with a jump of 13-feet-6-inches. But in the end, Defranco came through and bested the field including the top seed in Christopher Steele of Pompton Lakes and the third seed Matt Deery of Phillipsburg who finished just behind Defranco.

Not bad for the Highlander pole vaulter who only finished tied for third in the previous week's Group 2 meet.

The difference might have come on that Sunday, June 4th,  just after the Group 2 meet. Defranco traveled to Pennsylvania to look for some new poles. And the move worked to perfection, Defranco said.

"I was in between poles and I was really battling," said the Governor Livingston senior about the season. He added that he carries between six and seven poles. "My coach (Peter Festante) likes me to carry as many poles as I can."

After leaping at 15-feet, the first in the state to do that this season, Defranco had to come back in case the other top pole vaulters made it over 15-6.  He tried 15-6 a couple of times, but could not get over that height. But Deery of Phillipsburg could not get over that height either and in turn the Highlanders senior took home the top prize.

For Governor Livingston pole vault coach Festante, Defranco could do no wrong in winning the state title.

"I think he had some room and it was a nice jump," said Festante about his 15-feet vault. "He was on fire."

After Defranco, the best finish for a Highlander was Rendyll Moorman who medaled by coming in eighth in the high jump with a jump of 6-feet-4-inches.

Taylor Frezza took 10th in the shot put with a throw of 52-feet-7.5. The best result for the Governor Livingston girls was Claire Smith in the pole vault with a 12th place showing with a mark of 10-feet-6.

Here are the results:

State Meet of Champions
Boys
400 meter hurdles
13. Chris Guerrero, 55.36
Long jump
36. Rendyll Moorman, 18-feet-7.50

Pole vault
1. Anthony Defranco, 15-feet
High jump
8.Rendyll Moorman, 6-feet-4
Shot put
10. Taylor Frezza, 52-feet-7.5
Girls
Pole vault
12. Claire Smith, 10-feet-6
Triple jump
27. Cat Quinn, 33-feet-8.5



Group 2
Boys 
400 meter hurdles
5. Chris Guerrero, 55.1821. Scott Fleming, 1:00.48
Discus
9. Jim Hintze, 134-feet-9
800 meters
15. Brian Simone, 2:00.22
110 meter hurdles
11. Chris Guerrero, 15.5316. Anup George, 15.73
3,200 meters
7. Anthony Bucci, 9:46.83
Shot put
5. Tyler Frezza, 52-feet
Long jump
8. Rendyll Moorman, 20-feet-10.75
High jump
7. Rendyll Moorman, 6-feet-2-inches9. Elijah Kay , 6-feet
Pole vault
3. Anthony Defranco, 13-feet-6-iunches-- Brendon Happ, 12-feet-6

Girls
100 meters
12. Claire Smith, 12.66
Long jump
9. Cat Quinn, 15-feet-10.50
High jump
9. Cat Quinn, 5-feet
Pole vault
3. Claire Smith, 10-feet-6
9. Amanda Amezquita, 9-feet-6-- Erica Stevenson, 9-feet
100 meter hurdles
20. Cat Quinn, 17.29
200 meters
17. Claire Smith, 26.73
1,600 relay
15. Governor Livingston, Pamela Samuels, Claire Smith, Grace O'Brien, Bari Machado, 4:12.43
Triple jump
6. Cat Quinn, 34-feet-8.5