By Mike Gurnis | For NJ Advance Media | June 08, 2016
[BAYVILLE, NJ] In 1984, Newark Central coach Bruce Berry took home a Meet of Champions title for West Orange in the 400 meter hurdles.
Now, as a coach at Central, one of his athletes came through on Wednesday, as junior Kishona McCray took home the M of C title in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 14.06, narrowly beating out Union Catholic's Amaya Chadwick (14.25), who was considered the favorite going in.
"Its tremendous because I've coached a lot of M of C winners, but this is the first one from Central," Berry said. "To have her as a junior, I basically told her right before that its anybody's race. If you want it, you've got to believe in it. She came out and she proved it, so it was great."
McCray's win was the first M of C title for an athlete from Newark Central.
"It opens up a lot more doors, a lot more opportunities," Berry added. "First one in the city of Newark ever in the 100 hurdles, so she's just a groundbreaker all over. It's a great thing, and I'm very proud of her.
"It means a lot," said McCray. "I know there's more to come. So, I'm just trying to stay humble."
"I was happy, I was excited, I was ready to have fun," the junior added. "That's what its for, to have fun."
| GIRLS 100 METER HURDLES FINALS | |||||
| Name & Place | Grade | School | Prelims | Finals | Wind |
| 1-Kishona McCray | 11 | Central High School | 14.20 | 14.06 | -0.7 |
| 2-Amaya Chadwick | 10 | Union Catholic | 14.28 | 14.25 | -0.7 |
| 3-Simone Kirton | 11 | Chatham High School | 14.44 | 14.57 | -0.7 |
| 4-Sarah Jones | 11 | Bishop Eusta | 14.86 | 14.60 | -0.7 |
| 5-Shelby Francis | 12 | North Brunswick | 14.78 | 14.63 | -0.7 |
| 6-Elizabeth Garcia | 11 | Academy of T | 14.67 | 14.89 | -0.7 |
| 7-Viviane Orleans | 12 | Jonathan Day | 14.74 | 15.24 | -0.7 |
| 8-Lenaami Morton | 11 | Camden High School | 14.08 | 18.89 | -0.7 |
Penn Relays 2016: Kishona McCray of Newark Central is top N.J. finisher in the 400 hurdles
By: Brian Deakyne | For NJ Advance Media on April 28, 2016 10:26 AM, updated April 28, 2016 6:08 PM
PHILADELPHIA – Kishona McCray was the top New Jersey finisher in the meet-opening 400-meter hurdles at the Penn Relays on Thursday morning. Placing second in the final heat and ninth overall, Newark Central's McCray stopped the clock in 1:02.57. Jillian DiGiacinto took 15th in 1:05.50 and Northern Highlands' Hilary McElwain was 18th in 1:06.33.
400-Meter Hurdles
- 2 Anna Cockrell Providence Day (Charlotte, NC) 57.38 1
- 1 Shannon Kalawan Edwin Allen (Clarendon, JAM) 58.80 1
- 4 Brandee' Johnson Nansemond River (Suffolk, VA) 1:00.26 1
- 9 Brooklynn Broadwater Springside (Philadelphia, PA) 1:00.60 1
- 8 Amira Aduma Phoebus (Hampton, VA) 1:01.30 1
- 14 Breanne Bygrave Wakefield (Raleigh, NC) 1:02.05 2
- 6 Alyssa Sandy Paul Robeson (Brooklyn, NY) 1:02.16 1
- 25 Taliah Cintron Padua Academy (Wilmington, DE) 1:02.19 3
- 23 Kishona McCray Newark Central (Newark, NJ) 1:02.57 3
- 16 Lynne Mooradian South Western (Hanover, PA) 1:03.19 2
On February 6, 2015 at the North Jersey Section II Group II State Championship Kishonna “Fresh” McCray Junior set a NEW State Sectional Record in the 55 Meter Hurdles winning easily in 8.36 to a distant 2nd place time of 8.97. She also placed 2nd in the 55 Meter Dash.
The Boys 4x400 Relay placed 3rd.
Both Kishonna and the 4x400 Relay qualified for the Group II State Championships on February 20th in Toms River.
Go Big Blue!
Kishonna McCray, Junior at Central High School has won the 55 Meter Hurdles at the Essex County Track & Field Championships. This is Kishonna's 2nd County title in 2 years. She also won the 100 Meter Hurdles during the 2015 Spring Season.
Congratulations Kishonna!