No matter what happens the next couple of weeks, Collin Litts and Bridget Douglas already have left their marks on the Somerville High School track program. The seniors, however, would like to move those marks a little further out there before they head off to college.
Litts lengthened his school record in the boys triple jump at last week’s Skyland Conference Championships, winning with a distance of 45-9. Douglas set the girls program’s discus record with a 121-1 toss in a recent dual meet. She also threw the javelin an area-best 134-6 that day.
They are the driving forces behind Pioneer teams that swept the Skyland Conference’s Raritan Division titles. Both are looking to collect gold medals, possibly two of them, in today’s Somerset County Championships at Hillsborough.
“I had high expectations for this year,” Litts said. “I’m just really happy with how it’s turned out.”
There could be a lot more left in his tank. Somerville does not field a winter track program, so Litts played basketball and started in the frontcourt. He’ll compete for Bowdoin in Maine next year.
“It’s kind of hard because my first meet this year was my first triple-jump (attempt) since last year,” he said. “A lot of it stays with you through muscle memory, and then it’s just about how hard you work in practice.”
Litts also high jumps, and he’s cleared 6-2 this season. At the Skyland meet he finished second behind teammate Jarius Bradley, whose personal record is 6-4.
“Jarius is a tremendous athlete, great to work out with,” Litts said. “He pushes me to the absolute limit.”
Like Litts, Douglas plays basketball in the winter. Her versatility was on display last week as she placed in the shot put, discus and javelin at the Skyland Conference meet — the only athlete, female or male, to achieve such a triple.
“I love going to track practice — it’s a blast,” Douglas said. “Usually I practice two events a day. I don’t mind staying late. The coaches are really helpful. They stick around when I stay late to work on things.”
Douglas, who will compete for Dartmouth next year, wants to qualify for the Meet of Champions in the javelin and discus this year. She made it in jav last spring with a 131-footer. In Tuesday’s Somerset County meet she is the javelin favorite and could push Franklin star Ashley Berry for discus gold.
Douglas already passed her first pressure-packed test, winning all three throws in the tri meet that clinched the division.
“It was very exciting. We hadn’t beaten Voorhees in I don’t know how long,” she said. “It’s a great way for the seniors to end our careers.”
Stars of the Week
Chanel Smith, Piscataway: The senior set meet records in the girls 100 (11.91) and 200 (24.93) and ran on the winning 4×100 at the Greater Middlesex Conference meet.
Connor Barry, Hunterdon Central: The senior won the boys 100 (10.95), 200 (22.22) and long jump (21-3) at the Skyland Conference meet.
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