Penn Relays: Looking back at 50 of N.J.’s greatest performances ever

High School Sports Elite • Apr 21, 2025

Photo Credits:

  • Photo Credit Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Giordano snaps 20-year N.J. girls discus drought

We’re only two days from the start of the 129th running of the Penn Relays. It’s time to chat about the best high school performances in Garden State history because plenty has happened on the track at Franklin Field and in the circles at the Irving “Moon” Mondschein Throwing Complex in Philadelphia. NJ.com has kept data on some of the state’s best Penn performances and there’s a lot to look back at — including several moments from decades ago.

Below, find 50 of the greatest N.J. high school track and field performances at the historic meet.

Editor’s note: Historical data, research and topics were prepared by former NJ.com track and field writer Jim Lambert.

Year: 2024

Old Tappan standout Layla Giordano was the Garden State’s first girls discus winner since 2004 via a 167-10. Giordano’s throw is the second-best U.S. mark in the history of the event. Delsea’s Jocelyn White had N.J.’s previous discus win at Penn with a 157-3. Layla is set to return to the Irving “Moon” Mondschein Throwing Complex this weekend, this time as a collegiate athlete representing Princeton University at the prestigious Penn Relays.

Source Link: https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2025/04/penn-relays-2025-looking-back-at-50-of-njs-greatest-performances-ever.html

Athlete's Latest Article

Image

Preview: The Bergen County Tournament Final Four – Old Tappan Girls Basketball

Feb 09, 2024

The Bergen County Tournament was turned on its head when 18th-seeded Cresskill upset second-seeded Immaculate Heart, last year’s runner-up, in the Round of 16, opening the door for another team to make a deep run as one of the favorites was eliminated early.The top seed is still alive in Saddle River Day, which has won seven consecutive Bergen County Tournament titles, and is the favorite to win its eighth in a row. However, three other teams are vying to end Saddle River Day’s unprecedented streak.Here is a look at Bergen County Tournament semifinal matchups happening at Fair Lawn on Saturday.FULL BRACKET7-Old Tappan (17-5) vs. 3-Teaneck (17-6), 2pmOld Tappan and Teaneck know each other very well, a product of being in the National Division of the Big North Conference. Saturday’s semifinal meeting will be the third time this season the two teams have played each other and the second time this week.Teaneck won the first meeting on Jan. 11, 48-40, before Old Tappan won the second meeting on Tuesday, 65-59, to even up the season series.Old Tappan, the No. 19 team in the NJ.com Top 20, advanced to the semifinals by picking up wins over Glen Rock and Cresskill, while Teaneck advanced to the semifinals by defeating Ridgewood and River Dell.Old Tappan coach Brian Dunn leans on senior twins Layla and Maya Giordano. Layla Giordano is averaging a team-leading 15.1 points per game, while Maya Giordano is averaging 9.9 points per game.Teaneck has battled through injuries this season as coach Brad Allen has had to adjust his lineups to compensate for the injuries. Seniors Demi Simpson and Erin Frazier have been two cogs in the lineup and so has freshman Leayana Dorville. Simpson hasn’t played in Teaneck’s last three games. Dorville is averaging 11.8 points per game. 5-Holy Angels (13-5) vs. 1-Saddle River Day (15-3), 5:30Veteran coach Sue Liddy has guided Holy Angels to the semifinals on the heels of wins over Pascack Valley and Ramapo, while Saddle River Day defeated Park Ridge and Demarest to book its spot in the Final Four.Holy Angels arguably has the top player in the Big North Conference and one of the best in the county in senior Samantha Serrano. Serrano has been brilliant this season, averaging 26.1 points per game, among the highest in the state. She is also grabbing 6.6 rebounds per game.Serrano will have to play extremely well against Saddle River Day, the No. 10 team in the NJ.com Top 20, as first-year coach Joseph Pedone will come up with a game plan to slow down Serrano. Seniors Cristina Parrella and Julianna Almedia have been Saddle River Day’s two most productive players this season. Parrella is averaging a team-leading 17.1 points per game and making 48 3-pointers, while Almedia is averaging 15.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Junior Faith Williamson has knocked down 42 3-pointers and can’t be left open along the perimeter.

Image

Players of the Week for Feb. 9 – Girls Basketball Layla Giordano

Feb 09, 2024

Big North ConferenceLayla Giordano, Old TappanLayla Giordano is a big reason why No. 19 Old Tappan has won 10 consecutive games. Giordano averaged 22 points per game over the span of three games this past week, including a game-high 24 points in a division win over Pascack Valley on Thursday.

Image

No. 19 Old Tappan wins 10th straight behind stout defense in win over Pascack Valley

Feb 08, 2024

Old Tappan coach Brian Dunn knew there would be some peaks and valleys heading into this season.It was bound to happen after the graduation of key seniors from a team last season that won 22 games and reached the semifinals of the North 1, Group 3 sectional tournament.There was a peak early in the season, one in which Old Tappan won its first five games before back-to-back losses. A valley came in early January, which saw three consecutive losses. But those three straight losses seemed to have been an awakening for Old Tappan and Dunn’s team.Since then, Old Tappan has yet to lose a game. Dunn’s squad is peaking at the right time, and they peaked in the second half against Pascack Valley on Thursday as No. 19 Old Tappan used stifling defense in the second half to roll to a 54-27 victory in a Big North Conference National Division matchup.The win was Old Tappan’s 10th consecutive victory as the Golden Knights improved to 18-5 on the year. Old Tappan’s stifling defense allowed just seven points in the second half after leading 27-20 at halftimeSenior Layla Giordano led all scorers with 24 points, while pulling down five rebounds and dishing out four assists.“We were a really young team heading into the season. We graduated a lot of people last year, so I think we had to try out a lot of things to get to the combinations we have right now,” Giordano said. “Our schedule is very hard compared to a lot of other teams, and I think that’s really helping us.”Giordano, a state champion in both the discus and shot put, was a force on defense in the second half and was able to get going on offense early in the contest.She knocked down a season-high four 3-pointers and seems to be finding her form from beyond the arc in the last two games, making seven of her 12 3-pointers for the season.“It’s very rare that happens for me, but it’s been cool. The last few games I’ve been able to shoot a couple threes, and that’s been able to help out our team a lot,” Giordano said.Twin sister Maya Giordano chipped in with 10 points and nine rebounds.Pascack Valley junior Celina Bussanich scored a team-high 14 points.   Link to Photos

Loading...