Oak Knoll track and field athletes capped an impressive year across multiple seasons with strong performances at the Meet of Champions on June 3, 2026, highlighted by a third-place finish from Reagan Moore ’27 in the 800 meters and a seventh-place podium finish from the Royals’ 4x400-meter relay team of Liv Wojie ’26, Ally Sparno ’26, Clare Ratliff ’27, and Moore.

Moore finished in 2:05.54, capping a year that also included a first-place finish in the 800 meters at the NJSIAA Indoor Meet of Champions in March. 

The 4x400-meter relay team also reached the podium with a seventh-place finish in 3:54.06.

“These four girls who made it to MOCs have shown what resiliency and grit are all about,” said Coach Eddie Baker.

“Track is a long season, and they never wavered and never took their minds off of the bigger goals that come at the end of the season,” Baker added. “They put in 100 percent every day, in every one of their workouts, whether it was battling through the extreme heat, heavy rain, they never let those days get in their way.”

Led by top-15 finishes from Moore ’27 and Sparno ’26, Oak Knoll placed fifth in the Girls 5000 Meter Run at the NJSIAA Cross Country Group Championships. Moore finished seventh overall, while Sparno crossed the line in 11th place. Clare Ratliff ’27, Sally Marchesi ’26, Caroline Burr ’27, Hannah Pichardo ’27, and Layla Wells-Roth ’27 also competed for the Royals, contributing to the fifth-place finish.

According to Baker, the season’s success was the result of athletes embracing a culture of growth from the first day of practice.

“This entire group of athletes approached every practice with purpose, embraced the challenges, and remained so dedicated to getting a little better each day,” Baker said. “Their achievements are a true reflection of how intentional every day was from the start of the season.”

Also representing Oak Knoll at the Meet of Champions, the state’s top high school track and field championship, was sophomore javelin thrower Caroline Bennett ’28. Her qualification for the statewide competition capped a tremendous year in which she set the school record in the javelin with a throw of 128 feet 1 inch.

According to Coach Lincoln Lawrence, Bennett narrowly missed the school discus record by just two feet. 

“We are looking forward to continued growth in events and also intending to enter her in running in preparation for future heptathlon competitions,” Coach Lawrence said.

At the New Balance Nationals Outdoor, to be held June 18–21 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Moore, Wojie, Ratliff, and Burr will compete together in both the 4x800-meter and 4x400-meter relay events. Moore will also compete in the Championship 800-meter race.

Meanwhile, Bennett will head west to compete in the javelin at Nike Outdoor Nationals, held June 18–22 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Go Royals!