Our regular sports editor Jose Ortiz is away on his honeymoon, but we just couldn't wait for him to get back to run the next "Athlete of the Week" column after the outstanding performances in the last week by the Columbia High School girls track & field team—and particularly by its superstar, Miss Brittney Jackson.

Jackson made a stunning all around appearance at the Essex County Outdoor Championships last weekend—winning the girls 800 meter, 400 meter hurdles, high jump and—with her teammates Kayann Richards, Ty-Vonna Johnson and Kelsey Jackson—the 4x400m relay, breaking several records in the process. (NJ.com even ran a video on May 15 devoted to Jackson, with a testimonial from Coach Lisa Morgan, pondering if she were among the legends of Essex County track & field.)

Meanwhile the entire girls track & field team blew away the competition, amassing a total score of 167. The second place team's score? 50 from Mount Saint Dominic.

Then, on Monday, at the East Coast Relays, the girls sprint medley relay 1600m team beat all school, county and state records—with a time of 3:53.70. Said Coach  Morgan, "This is an actual factual" amazing accomplishment. The girls achieved the fastest 2010 U.S. time in the event and the seventh fastest all-time U.S. time for high school girls.

The girls on the team were: Kayann Richards (24.04), Amber Ballew (25.5), Ty-Vonna Johnson (54.9), and Brittney Jackson (2:08.4).

We cannot wait to see what the girls pull off at the sectional meet at Ridge High School in Basking Ridge this weekend, at the states in Egg Harbor next week and, finally, at the Meet of Champions on Thursday, June 3.

Hold onto your hats.