HOPEWELL VALLEY:Rutledge returns to the region

University of North Carolina-Wilmington junior Meredith Rutledge made her way back to the region last week when she competed in the Penn Relays on Thursday, April 23. Meredith is a javelin thrower for the Seahawks.

If you recall, Rutledge, a 2006 graduate of Hopewell Valley Central, was a standout in both basketball and soccer. But she blew her right knee out on the basketball court as a HoVal junior and could no longer step back onto the hardwood.

HoVal girls track & field coach Aaron Oldfield introduced Rutledge to the javelin and she's been throwing ever since.

Rutledge went on to compete in the Relays first as a Hopewell Valley junior. She's went back to Franklin Field last Thursday and posted a mark of 122 feet, 6 inches, placing her 11th overall in the event. Alexandra Kelly, of Rutgers, won the event with a toss of 152-1.

In previous NCAA competition, Rutledge finished fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championships in 2008 while posting a fifth-place finish at the 2007 CAA Championships. Her personal best in the javelin is 131 feet, 5 inches.

* Event: Javelin
* PR: 131-5
* Finished fourth at CAA Championships in 2008.
* Posted fifth-place finish at 2007 CAA Championships.