Highlights from Morris County Track and Field Championships

BOONTON — Kayla Ewing doesn’t mind a bit of competition. In fact, she relishes it. The Morristown senior edged Parsippany sophomore Jacqueline Reid to claim her first Morris County 400-meter hurdles title on May 19.

Ewing had a faster closing sprint after the final hurdle, winning by 16 hundredths of a second. Senior Stephen Shih got Morris Hills’ title defense off to a solid start with a half-second victory in the intermediate hurdles. “Every time I get out on the track, I’m trying to put my best effort forward,” said Ewing, who plans to compete for Columbia University.

“Every race, I go out with the same mentality of trying to attack as fast as I can. I’m blessed and grateful to be in a county with such incredible runners, to have girls to push me, and maybe I can push them. ” The Morris County Championships continue on May 20 at Boonton High School.

West Morris juniors Alanna Parkes and Georgia Hostler went 1-2 in the 100 meters, picking up 18 points. Both also posted new personal bests, and Parkes’ winning time of 12. 18 seconds improved on her school record.