Ninety middle school and high school students competed in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference Track Meet on May 11 and swept the event — with all four ACS teams finishing in first place ahead of teams from five other regional Christian schools.
The athletes and several hundred spectators enjoyed warm, sunny skies for the day-long event, which ACS hosted on its campus for the 16th year. The High School Girls won 9 first place medals and had the highest number of points (63) and the High School Boys placed first with 53 points and also won 9 first place medals. The Middle School Boys placed first with 53 points and won 8 first place medals and the Middle School Girls won first place with 46 points and received 6 first place medals.
“I’m very grateful for the outstanding efforts of the entire ACS family that all worked together, using their various gifts and talents, to make this track meet a success,” said Athletic Director Pam Hitchner, who organized the meet. The other schools participating in the meet were: Ambassador Christian Academy, Calvary Christian Academy, Gloucester County Christian School, King’s Christian School, and The Pilgrim Academy.
Several athletes set new school records:
- 12th grader Cruz Lewis set an ACS high school boys and TSCAC record in the 200 meter, running 23.3 seconds, and also set an ACS and TSCAC record in the 400 meter, running it in 52.7 seconds.
- In the 4 x 100 high school boys relay, the team of 11th grader Noah Gibbs, 12th grader Sam Glancey, 12th grader Cruz Lewis, and 11th grader Malachi Vazquez set a new record with a time of 47.1 seconds.
- In the 4 x 400 high school boys relay, the team of 10th grader Charlie Costello, 12th grader Tommy Ellison, 12th grader Sam Glancey, and 12th grader Cruz Lewis set a record with a time of 4:02.3
- 8th grader Ethan Costello set an ACS middle school and TSCAC record in the 400 meter, running it in 58 seconds. He also set a middle school boys record in the mile, running a 5:12.
- In the 4 x 100 middle school boys relay, the 8th grade team of Ethan Costello, Cylas Finx, Jason Kelley, and Justice Settles set an ACS school and TSCAC record with a time of 52.3 seconds.
- In the 4 x 400 middle school boys relay, a team of 8th grader Ethan Costello, 8th grader Jason Kelly, 8th grader Garrett Martin, and 7th grader Christian Pineo set a record with a time of 4:18.3.
- 8th grader Kiara Loo set the middle school girls 400-meter record with a time of 1:06.5, which also tied the high school girls record.
A large volunteer team of students, alumni, and parents helped manage the 23 track and field events in the meet, serving as timers, working at the scorer’s table, and cooking and serving at the concessions stand. In particular, Hitchner recognized and thanked several individuals for their efforts: PE teachers Kaylee Breunig and Josh Clark; faculty member Dan Vazquez; alumni parent Larry Martin and ACS parent Charlie Costello; substitute teacher Mike Bohs; Jeff Wolf, who served as the “Clerk of Course,” and PTF President Terry Vogel, who headed up the concessions stand that raised funds to support the ACS Athletic Department.
