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Long Branch's Shuler Takes a Pair of Seconds at Meet of Champions

Long Branch senior sprinter Miles Shuler took second in the 100 and the 200 at Thursday's NJSIAA Meet of Champions.

A brilliant career came to a bittersweet end at Thursday’s NJSIAA Meet of Champions, but Long Branch senior Miles Shuler can walk away knowing he left it all on the track.

For most runners, a pair of second-place finishes in the 100- and 200-meter dashes at the biggest outdoor meet in the state would be a cause for celebration. However, Shuler was the defending champion in the 100, but was vanquished by Timber Creek’s Damiere Byrd in the most highly-anticipated race on a steamy day at Old Bridge High School. Byrd held him off in the final 35 meters to avenge a loss to Shuler in last season’s 100 at the MOC.

In the 200, Shuler finished behind Snyder’s Zamir Thomas, whom he defeated last weekend at the Group II championships. It marked the second straight season that Thomas has finished ahead of Shuler in the 200 at the MOC.

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“Even though it didn't come out as I expected this year, I worked hard and all these other sprinters worked hard also,’’ Shuler said. “They were just more prepared than me. That was it.’’

Last season, Shuler trailed Byrd midway through the 100 only to explode by him on his way to a personal-best 10.39, which is a Shore Conference record. On Thursday, Byrd was able to start pulling away about 65 meters into the race and the South Carolina football recruit did not surrender the lead to win in 10.41 seconds, with Shuler finishing in 10.55. Shuler’s time was his fastest of the spring, but it was not enough to overcome a determined Byrd, who had not forgotten last season’s loss.

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“It was pretty much was on my mind for a couple months after the race, to be honest, but I finally was able to put it behind me,’’ Byrd said about last year’s race.

“Damiere, he worked really hard for this,’’ said Shuler, who is headed to Rutgers to play football. “He's been training, and he got the better of it today.’’

At about 65 meters, Byrd hit top speed and started to pull away with 35 meters to go. He had entered the day with the fastest time in the state this spring, a 10.36 that he ran in the South Jersey Group III meet in which he injured his hamstring. That is his personal best, but Thursday was more about avenging the loss to Shuler more than putting up a great time.

“Usually when it comes to running, if you shoot for a specific time it never really happens,’’ he said. “You really psych yourself out, so I just pretty much wanted to go out here and win and if the time came, it came, and if it didn't, I'm not really upset about that.’’

Byrd didn’t decide whether he was even going to run until Tuesday because he tweaked his left hamstring in the sectional meet nearly two weeks ago and had been trying to recover in time to toe the line in the MOC.

With about 30 meters to go, Shuler was right on Byrd’s left shoulder, but he would not let Shuler pass him like he did last year.

“I felt him,’’ Byrd said. “I just said to myself to stay relaxed and try to hit top speed.’’

“Me and him were neck and neck,’’ Shuler said. “When we came out of our drive phase, he dug away from me. I'll give it to him. He had a great race.’’

Shuler then tried to regroup for the 200, knowing that Thomas would be looking for some revenge after being beaten by Shuler for a Group II title.

“He’s a strong kid, and he’s been working hard,’’ Shuler said. “Zamir is a competitor, and he got it today.’’

Thomas was able to get an edge on Shuler and the final turn and did not look back to win. It still took him running a personal-best 21.03 to hold off Shuler, who also ran a personal-best of 21.31 in finishing second.

The second-place finish in the 200 concluded a brilliant athletic career for Shuler, who will play wide receiver for the Scarlet Knights after playing quarterback and defensive back as a three-year starter for Long Branch. On the track, he racked up numerous titles during the indoor and outdoor seasons in his career.

“I didn't come out with the results I wanted, but I tried my hardest,’’ he said. “It was a good high school career.’’

Another local who participated was Shore Regional sophomore Andrew Mahon, who finished 19th in the javelin with a throw of 162-11.

 The meet ended prematurely because of a thunder and lightning storm that forced it to be postponed. The meet will be completed at 6 p.m. on Monday.

The boys and girls 3,200, the boys and girls 4x400 relay, the boys and girls pole vault, the boys long jump, the girls triple jump, the boys shot put, and the girls javelin were all postponed because of the storm.

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