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

Photo Credits: 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

Tigers to Begin Indoor Season with Rutgers Holiday Classic

Dec 05, 2024

PRINCETON, N.J. – The Princeton women’s track and field team will travel to New York City to begin the indoor season with the Rutgers Holiday Classic on Friday, December 6 at the Armory.With key returners looking to build on past experiences, and talented newcomers joining the squad, the Tigers will look to build upon momentum from last season and the Fall as they look for success this Winter.Princeton is coming off an Ivy Championship title win in November, the program’s 10th all-time and first since 2015.During last year’s indoor season, the Tigers took second place at Ivy Heps with a total of 134 points from four individual Ivy championships, one relay championship, and four new school records.In a standout performance, the Princeton team of Olivia Martin, Maddie Cramer, Hannah Riggins, and Mena Scatchard dominated the 4x800m relay with their first place finish and with 8:40.51, which set a new Ivy record.Mena Scatchard dominated the 1000m event, claiming first place with a new school record and meet record time of 2:43.23, setting a new program record.Tessa Mudd finished first place in the pole vault and broke the Ivy League record with a PR jump of 4.39m (14’4.25). Georgina Scoot took first in the long jump with a mark of 6.28m (20’7.25), also winning the triple jump with a new personal best mark of 13.03m (42’9).All of the 2024 Heps champions return for the 2024-25 season, with the addition of 15 new Tigers including Alysa Carrigan, Kamiel Crane, Emma De Jong, Layla Giordano, Brooke Jackson, Giselle Kirchner, Mirtel Klaar, Finia Kretschmann, Sofia Lieberman, Meg Madison, Jazmyn Singh, Jana Ter Wee, Margaret Thompson, Fleur Todd-Warmoth, and Khushi Umesh.Michelle Eisenreich is in her ninth season as head coach, joining the program in 2016. She has coached eight Tigers to All-America honors along with over 30 individual Ivy titles and multiple NCAA appearances.Rutgers Holiday ClassicFriday, Dec. 6 | New York, N.Y. | 10:00 A.M.Live Results | Full Meet Schedule

Layla Giordano of Old Tappan is N.J.’s girls Field Athlete of the Year for 2024

Jun 24, 2024

Layla Giordano:N.J.’s girls Field Athlete of the Year for 2024 Layla Giordano was a sophomore when she made the best decision of her athletic career. The Old Tappan senior played volleyball, basketball and threw shot put as a freshman, but it wasn’t until 2022 when she would pick up a disc for the first time. 2022 Old Tappan Track Team By the end of that spring, she was closing in on a throw of 140 feet. By the end of the next spring, she was over 170 feet. And by the end of this spring, she had well established herself as one of the best throwers in state history.“The numbers speak for themselves,” Old Tappan throwing coach Pete Dunn said. “She has won a ton – I’ve lost track of a lot of the records she broke. I’d probably have to sit down for a couple of hours to remember them all.”Giordano threw a discus PR 172-2 at the North 1, Group 3 meet, which tied Delsea’s Jocelyn White for the second-furthest throw in state history. That’s not the only piece of history she shares with White. The Princeton commit won gold at the Penn Relays with a 167-10 – the first title N.J. has seen at the meet since White was the first one to win in 2004.The rest of Giordano’s spring in the discus included a title defense at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions (171-7) and wins at the Bergen County Relays (157-0), Big North Championships (154-10), county championships (164-4), county M of Cs (167-4), and groups (149-0). She was also second at New Balance Nationals (158-6), where she won last spring with a 170-4. The Penn Relays title was a big deal for Giordano as she found herself slightly overwhelmed at the Irving “Moon” Mondschein Throwing Complex as a junior and threw a 145-4 to place sixth. She wanted redemption this past April and got it.“It’s something I set my mind on,” Giordano said. “It was crazy when I was there the first time. I had never been to a meet of that size. It was something I wanted to win and I focused on it all offseason and throughout the start of this season. I made it happen and it’s something I’m really proud of.” Penn Relay Photo Shoot 2023 – 6th Place medalGiordano made huge strides in the shot put as well. She launched a PR 50-0 at the county M of Cs, which is a new county record to pair with her discus PR. She threw better than 45 feet at all but one meet and gold medaled in every appearance besides her second-place effort at the M of Cs (46-4 ¾) and sixth-place showing at nationals (46-8). “It was unexpected,” Giordano said of her 50-foot throw. “It’s warming up for what I’m planning to do the next four years [at Princeton]. I only did it once, but I know it’s possible now and I’m going to do it a lot. I became an overall thrower this year, and that’s something you couldn’t say last year.“That was probably the most impressive thing about her year,” Dunn added of her shot put PR. “Her first throw at that meet was a 47 and she didn’t look that good doing it. She asked me what the county record was right after the throw [48-10 ½] and I told her, ‘Forget 48, you’re going to throw 49 minimum.’ She put it all together on her last throw and did all of the things she needed to do. It was awesome to watch.”The big goal Giordano had coming into the season was to break the state record, which is a 182-0 set by Donovan Catholic’s Alyssa Wilson in 2017. Giordano came within 10 feet of the record and it’s one she wanted to stamp her name on, but it’s not something she’s going to let bother her and she’s not leaving the high school circle with any “could’ves” or “should’ves”. Giordano has made a monumental mark on N.J. track and field, and she’s positioned to further it in college. “I had a lot of expectations coming into the season, but as time went on, I tried to saver the time I had left,” Giordano said. “Even though in the eyes of some people I fell a little short, I’m satisfied with what I did. I made a lot of improvements and I’m happy with my records and accomplishments. There’s a new generation of throwers and I think something special is coming.“She’s a super-talented athlete,” Dunn added. “She brought tremendous consistency – it was consistent excellence. It was an awesome ride. She still has her best throws ahead of her. The coaches at Princeton have a good one.”

Layla Giordano selected to the First Team All-State for girls track & field

Jun 24, 2024

We’ve reached the end of the road in the 2024 N.J. track and field season. As part of our postseason honors package, NJ.com makes selections for First, Second and Third Team All-State across both genders.Below, find our girls choices for First Team All-State.Discus: Layla Giordano, Old Tappan, Sr.If you thought Giordano’s 2023 campaign was strong, she one-upped it with a sensational 2024 campaign this spring. The Princeton commit won her second M of Cs gold in the discus with a 171-7 – her third career throw beyond the 170-foot mark. She set a new PR 172-2 at sectionals, which ties the No. 2 throw in state history. Giordano threw better than 160 feet five times this spring and better than 150 a ridiculous eight times. She also hit a PR 50-0 in the shot put, which served as the No. 2 mark in N.J. this spring and is a new Bergen County record.Photo Girls Track & Field All-State Teams – Sianni Wynn of Pennsauken (1st), Layla Giordano of Old Tappan (1st), Ashley Noel of Montclair (2nd), and Liliah Gordon of Northern Burlington (3rd).