SONJA VAUGHAN-BELL

Notre Dame -- Middle Distance

It is very easy to forget that before the early 1980’s there was no Parochial class in track and field in New Jersey on the state level. Once introduced, the group could have easily been renamed the Sonja Vaughan category such was the dominance and versatility of this Notre Dame High track paragon.

With Vaughan leading the way, the Fighting Irish won four consecutive Parochial A state track spring titles. Was she a sprinter or middle distance runner? Essentially whatever she chose because she was that dominant. For example, at the 1985 state championships at Hub Stine Field in Plainfield, she set a group record by going 2:11.5. The mark eclipsed her mark of 2:15.1 set just the year before and in this case was a whopping 9.3 seconds faster than the second-place finisher. But Vaughan also helped Notre Dame win the 4x400 by over 10 seconds while blazing through the 200-meter championship title by a half second.

In the winter, Vaughan could burn up the track in even more dominant fashion. At Princeton University’s Jadwin Gym in 1983 at the group relay championships, Vaughan helped Notre Dame to one of the most dominant team performances of the decade as the Fighting Irish won five of the eight events. Vaughn was the catalyst for three of those championships in the mile relay, two-mile relay and distance medley relay. 

The 1985 Meet of Champions spring track 800 winner, Vaughan remains one of the most prolific runners in Mercer County history.

MAJOR TITLES

• Meet of Champions Winner 800m 1985

• 9x State Parochial Champion (Indoor) 400 1983, 800 1984. 400 & 800 1985 (Outdoor) 400 1982 & '83, 800 1984, 400 & 800 1985

• 4x Mercer County Champion (Indoor) 400 1983, 8001985, (Outdoor) 800m 1984 & '85

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