Track: Final Top 25 rankings

Apologies for the late posting of the final top 25 in boys and girls track and field. Here are those rankings with comparison to the pre-season predictions.

The process used to rank the teams puts emphasis on performances in the county relays, league championships, county championships (for Bergen the groups) and the sectionals with the sectionals counting for 40% of the score, the counties 30%, the leagues 20% and the relays 10%. Head-to-head performances are also figured in and only the Non-Public group meets count as those schools do not have sectionals.

The Demarest boys scored more than 115 points more than runner-up Ridgewood with Passaic Tech and Bergen Catholic within 35 points of the Maroons.

By contrast, Ridgewood's girls scored just 23 points more than runner-up Old Tappan and 100 points separated the first place Maroons from eighth place Ramsey.

Boys

In the end, Demarest was an easy decision to be chosen as the best team in North Jersey. The Norsemen never lost a meet and retained their state group 2 title. And the Norsemen return most of the team that won those titles including state long jump champion Liam Paneque and half of its record-setting state champion 4-x-800 team.

Here are the full rankings. Preseason ranking in parentheses.

1. Demarest : The Norsemen had three very productive freshmen and one of the state's most versatile sprinters in Adam Kaufman. (2).
2. Ridgewood : As predicted, the Maroons got better meet by meet, winning the sectional by 2/3 point and going undefeated as well. Luke Pash established himself as one of the greatest middle distance runners in North Jersey history, winning the state 1,600 championship and anchoring the Maroons to a Bergen County record in the distance medley. (9)
3. Passaic Tech: The Bulldogs dominated Passaic County and Raynier Galvez gave them their first state title by winning the 800 and finishing third at New Balance Nationals. (1)'
4. Bergen Catholic : Benji Shue set the Bergen County record in the shot and extended his discus record, while earning his first state and National title in the discus. He and sprinter Andrew Jeremiah Boakye give the Crusaders a huge head start towards 2025. (8)
5. Old Tappan: The Golden Knights played second fiddle to state champions Demarest (in leagues and counties) and Morris Knolls (in the sectionals) but showed great improvement over the season. (11)
6. Hasbrouck Heights : The Aviators ran their dual meet unbeaten streak to 138 straight victories and won every meet it entered before taking third place in state group 1. Most of this year's team returns. (4)
7. Don Bosco : The Ironmen won the Big North United and Bergen E meets before injuries and other personnel decisions cut their progress short. But a good underclass group reflects optimism for the future. (3)
8. Hackensack : A sensational sophomore class led by Seven Garcia bodes well for the Comets' future. (14)
9. Paramus Catholic ; The tragedy of losing one of the team's captains, who succumbed to injuries suffered in an automobile accident haunted the team all season. (5)
10. Pequannock : A terrific pair of junior discus throwers and a great long sprint team headed by Ryan Trocolar led the Panthers to one of its best seasons ever. (15)
11. Pascack Valley : Patrick Kurtz won a state group title at 800 meters and underclassmen Adam Shaw, Marcus Koshy and Colin Krause helped the Panthers become the season's biggest surprise team. (24)
12. River Dell : Liam Schwabik and Alijah Abraham continued their terrific progress and the young Golden Hawks improved all season. (6)
13. Passaic Valley : The Hornets were the only team to even put any pressure on Passaic Tech in taking second in Passaic County. They also were second in the North 2, group 2 sectional.
14. Teaneck : The Joshuas, distance runner Tejada and sprinter Williams had excellent seasons and with thrower Everton Bills helped the Highwaymen overcome a difficult Bergen relays performance. (25)
15. Bergenfield : The jumpers as usual were excellent and the young middle distance and distance runners helped the Bears excel. (Not ranked)
16. West Milford : With seniors Noah Traverso and Colin Menier leading the way, the Highlanders had an excellent season. (16)
17. Glen Rock : The Panthers were excellent all year, staying competitive in almost every meet. The NJIC Colonial champs are always solid despite losing Tyler Caswell to injury late in the season. (22)
18. Leonia : Jaden Manchan had a transcendent season and will represent Trinidad in the Paris Olympics this summer. (Watch list)
19. Rutherford : The Bulldogs won the NJIC National and were contenders in every meet they attended. James Alati and Marco Bozza-Caballero completed excellent careers. (23)
20. Kinnelon : The Colts had some nice individuals but no superstars, finishing third in the NJAC Small schools and second in North 1, group 1. (12)
21. Dwight Morrow : The Maroon Raiders won the Big North American league meet with a mainly underclass group led by Saundrae Palmer Jr. (Not ranked)
22. Lakeland : Kyle Keyes had an excellent senior season, breaking a 25 year old school record in the intermediate hurdles. (Not ranked)
23. Northern Highlands ; underclassmen like junior Luke Adamo and sophs Cruz Cannariato and Teddy Goebbert make the future bright for the Highlanders. (Watch list)
24. Pascack Hills : Injuries really kept this team from showing its talent. Hopefully graduates like Ben Mandler, Michael Dao and Peter Priestner will stay with the sport at the next level. (7)
25. Hawthorne : Sprinter Jeancarlos Mendoza had a sensational spring, realizing his promise. (Not ranked).

Girls

When the season started, Ridgewood was the preseason choice to be atop the rankings at the end of the year with eight other teams given a chance to overtake the Maroons. During the course of the season each of the top eight teams were at or near the top of the list but after the season ended, Ridgewood remained atop the standings.

Here are the complete rankings. (preseason in parentheses):

1. Ridgewood: Despite some issues in the early season, the Maroons tied for the Big North Freedom title, won Bergen A and scored more than 100 points in finishing second in the tough North 1 group 4 sectional meet. The Ridgewood 4-x-800 team was the best in North Jersey. (1)
2. Old Tappan: The Golden Knights had a pair of repeat state champions in discus thrower Layla Giordano and hurdler Abby Dennis, two of the best performers in North Jersey history. The Golden Knights won the North 1 group 3 sectionals. (3)
3. Ramapo: The very young Green Raiders had a great year, tying Ridgewood for the Big North Freedom title and battling OT to the wire at sectionals. Nearly all their point scorers return including SMOC 800 medal winner Bridget Cannon. (7)
4. Demarest: The Norsewomen won the North 1 group 2 sectionals and beat Old Tappan in the Bergen Relays and Big North National meet. With nearly all their point scorers also returning next year, they could be state champs next spring. (6)
5. Hasbrouck Heights: A second straight state group 1 title boosts the Aviators to this spot with three-time state long jump champ Lexy Samperi, thrower Elliot Eddy and hurdler Ellie Shkreli the leaders. (8)
6. Ramsey: The Rams were terrific, beating Heights in both the Bergen C relays and individual titles and also took the Big North Patriot league. Like Demarest and Ramapo, Ramsey returns most of its top scorers next year. (9)
7. IHA: The Blue Eagles had some state class throwers in junior Julia Sobilo (discus) and Evelyn Roman (javelin) and returns most of its scorers next year after a second place finish in Non-Public A. (4)
8. Northern Highlands: It's mainly senior distance team played a key role in Highlands upset win in the Bergen Relays A division and the Highlanders were strong contenders in league, county and sectional competition. (2)
9. River Dell: Christina Allen and Grace McQueeney finished their outstanding high school careers and move on to Division 1 programs that will benefit from their excellence. (5)
10. Passaic Tech: Juniors Casey Noonan, Calyse Villaneuva and sophomore Jahzara Mclean Abdullah led the Bulldogs to wins in the Big North Liberty and Passaic titles.
11. Wayne Hills: The Patriots had an outstanding season with stars like middle distance runner Kara Langbaum and thrower Elizabeth Dankwa and won the Big North Independence and took second to PCTI in the Passaic meet. (11)
12. Lyndhurst: The wondrous Julia Tozduman completed her terrific career and led the Golden Bears to an excellent season. (12)
13. Paramus Catholic: The tragic loss of Khameryn Oliver and her parents in an automobile accident cast a pall over the Paladins season but the girls showed great resilience and character in impossible circumstances. (20)
14. Leonia: The freshman Cameron twins and senior sprinter Miracle Scott led the Lions to a title in the NJIC Patriot and a strong third place finish in the North 2 group 2 sectionals. (Not ranked)
15. Bergen Tech: All North Jersey pole vaulter Isabella Formoso and soph thrower Afua Anyadike had excellent seasons and led the Knights to a solid season. (14)
16. Holy Angels: Gina Certo and Ella Buoncuore were the individual standouts and relay members Amaris Hiatt, Alexandra Darmanian and Jordana Rivera also excelled as the Angels did extremely well in the 4-x-100 and 4-x-400 events. (17)
17. Lakeland: In new head coach Melissa Lonergan Walker's first season, the Lancers stayed relevant all spring. (19)
18. West Milford: Ciara Clinton and the rest of the distance team kept the Highlanders in meets all season. (16)
19. Westwood: Brooke Wichmann had a breakthru season and Claudia Guerrero enjoyed an all North Jersey season in the javelin and both return next year. (15)
20. Mahwah: Thrower Callia Nickels and sprinters Siena Kannenberg and Harley Taylor enjoyed excellent seasons. (22)
21. Dumont: Jenna Monaco has become one of the best and most versatile performers in North Jersey and her outstanding performances in the 100 hurdles, long jump and pole vault bodes well for her future. (Watch list)
22. Tenafly: The Tigers are always a solid team and this year was no exception. (18)
23. Teaneck: The Highwaywomen progressed this year and may be ready to make large strides next spring. (Not ranked)
24. Becton: The Wildcats were led by State Meet of Champions medalist and Bergen Meet of Champions 3,200 winner Mike Tampadong who will return for her senior season. (25)
25. Paramus: The Spartans have their own terrific all around star Jordan Myers who is on the verge of stardom. (13)

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Track: Final Top 25 rankings