(Pub May 23)
CAMDEN -- Incessant talk of corrupt oilmen, bankrupt industries and a weakening economy can be enough reason to find escape in our national pastime.
Problem is that many can no longer root, root, root for their home team today without breaking their own citizen's bank.
While Major League Baseball has never been so expensive or exclusive, a similar-but-different baseball experience can be cheaply had at Campbell's Field, home of the hometown Camden Riversharks.
With a carousel spinning left of left field, a climbing wall stretching above right and the Ben Franklin Bridge overhanging the warm day, another nine-inning game of nine-on-nine 'ball took center stage Thursday, May 15.
And some of the 5637 fans in attendance barely noticed.
"You get to see a lot of girls walking around, and you get to watch baseball," said Matt Atkinson, 15, elaborating on the girls-and-game answer given by his Delsea Middle School classmate Brendon Hennis. "It's really cool. And we get to be out of school."
Not counting any looks they stole, Atkinson, Hennis and the rest of Mantua resident Catie Jone's class each received a beverage and a hot dog for the $10 admission during the special promotion. Concession prices are about on par with those at Major League Baseball and tickets normally sell for $6 to $12 depending on seat location and game time.
Getting more than she or her kids bargained for, Jones was handed 10-page trivia workbooks to dole out – and then crammed them into her bag before the announcer could reel off a single question, promising to save them "for another day."
Such fan interaction is vital to the life of the eighth-year Riversharks, a professional club that plays in the independent eight-team Atlantic League at a level between the minors' AA and AAA leagues, Filomeno said.
"You're more into the game," said Kate McGurk, a senior of Pennsylvania's Ridley High School. "I feel you're into it and they get your feedback."
McGurk wasn't kidding.
After making the necessary arrangements with Filomeno , McGurk and her senior classmates – wanting to make their final field trip unforgettable – took the field seventh inning and danced with Mr. Trash, a garbage-collecting usher who wears a top hat and a tuxedo.
"We were helping with the trash bag," she said.
Silly, sure, but Filomeno knows – even with the Riversharks standing at a league-best 16-6 – the sideshow often steals the spotlight.
"Our fans come because they want to see the fireworks, they want to see the giveaway, they want to see their child out in the infield singing the anthem," said Filomeno, 26, a Princeton resident. "We put all of our focus on the show.
"If the fans go home and don't know what the score was at the end of the night, we did our jobs during the game."
Every day is some day at Campbell's.
Friday means fireworks, Saturday spins kids around bases, Sunday is for team autographs, Monday has theme Karaoke, Tuesday brings the Bingo crowd and Wednesday is a wildcard, meaning anything from the upcoming "Christmas in July Night" to such gems as "Superhero Night" and "Fear Factor Night."
"We had them [kids] eating preserved duck eggs and chocolate covered bugs," said Filomeno of "Fear Factor Night," basing the concept on the extreme-eating reality show. "It was revolting. The kids signed up for it."
The 'Sharks play the Lancaster Barnstormers during their next home game Monday, June 2, or, as it's known at Campbell's Field, "Salute to Boy Bands Karaoke Night."
Filomeno has curtailed the number of the theme nights last year in favor of the moneymaker: more firework nights.
About 40 percent of fans – an average draw of 3636 according to 2007 data by Ballpark Digest – are new to the Riversharks, Filomeno estimates.
And for all they do to reach out to new fans, the 'Sharks partly have Major League Baseball to thank.
Major League Baseball's average ticket price rose 10.1 percent this year to $25.43, a trend the Philadelphia Phillies have partaken in and one Washington Township resident Michael Petulla cannot grasp.
"From a working-class, blue-collar standpoint, the Phillies are not as comfortable or affordable," said Petulla, 70, who was there for the first time Thursday wife Arlene. "They make an exorbitant amount of money, they get it from the TV, radio, ads and everything they sell … and yet they continue to raise ticket prices every year."
World Series champion Boston Red Sox lead the majors for the 10th straight year in ticket price, averaging $48.80. The New York Yankees, in spirit of Yankee Stadium's final year, have closed the gap on their divisional rival, increasing prices a league-high 18.1 percent for an average of $41.40.
The Phillies charge between $17 and $50 for an individual ticket, according to the team's Web site.
"Your average working Joe definitely cannot afford that and it's a shame because you should be able to take your older kids to a Yankees game," Filomeno said. "And it shouldn't be about 'Well, it's $80 for one ticket.' That's where we come in."
25 June 2008
One long jump for Heights' Roundtree
(Pub May 20)
New Heights: Haddon Heights junior Chris Roundtree leaped South Jersey's farthest triple jump this year when he came down 45-3.5 feet later.
Two timers: Haddon Heights Erica Bell won the triple jump in 33-11 and the 100 high hurdles in 15.9. West Deptford sprinter Bryan Johnson won the 100 (10.8) and the 200 (22.4).
Last race: Haddonfield junior Greta Feldman ended the track portion of the meet by catchingHaddon Heights' anchor to win the 4x400 relay in 4:09.4 with teammate Kirsten King, Lisa Bailey and Becky Schafer.
Quote: "I think right now when [Feldman] gets into that race with 200 to go, she's willing to do whatever it takes to try to win it," Russo said. "She really had to fight to make it up. She's really, really tough."
WOODBURY – Looking back on it, Haddon Heights jumper Chris Roundtree knew exactly where it all went right at the Colonial Conference All-Star Meet Monday.
Somewhere between the first and second phase of the triple jump, Roundtree checked off 'Hold' and 'Explode' from his list of things to do.
And after springing himself deep into Woodbury High School's sandpit on his final phase, Roundtree didn't need to dust himself off to know he landed the best jump in South Jersey this year – a 45-3.5.
"I held my second phase longer," said Roundtree, whose previous best was 44-6. "You really don't think about it, but when you do it it's like 'OK, I did that right, I did that right, now I got to finish it up.'
"My coach always tells me my speed, when I turn it up, I go farther. So when I jumped that's what happened."
Lindenwold's Perry Asare was second with an impressive jump of 44-3.25.
Before his triple jump and his fourth jump – the celebratory jump for joy – Roundtree looked well on his way in winning the long jump after sticking a 21-4.75.
But senior teammate AJ Toliver wouldn't allow it, jumping 21-5.25 in his final attempt. After all, Roundtree asked for it, Toliver said.
"He came back and said 'Don't let me beat you,'" Toliver said.
"We always push each other in everything," Roundtree said.
Roundtree thinks this jump will boost his confidence in time for next week's sectionals.
""There're a lot of good guys at sectionals and I just want to win," he said. "I'll look back on this day, and be like 'I just got to beat that.'"
Roundtree also placed third in the 110 high hurdles in 15.0, topped only by the West Deptford duo of Steve Mitchell (14.8) and Kevon Brown (14.9).
West Deptford sprinter Bryan Jackson made his medals clang, winning both the 100 (10.8) and the 200 (22.4) to become the meet's only male double champion.
Although there was no team scoring nor team trophy given in the fourth-year meet, the Haddon Heights' boys and girls brought back the most gold medals, each leading their conference rivals with four wins.
Senior Tartan Erica Bell has two of them and made it a team sweep in the triple jump by outleaping Sterling's Sam Hunger (31-4) with a 33-11 jump. Bell, the only girl double champion, won the 100 high hurdles in 15.9, beating runner-up West Deptford sophomore Magan Kustera (17.1).
The last time Kustera competed in Woodbury, the sophomore cleared a personal-best 5-6 in the high jump, tops among individuals at the Woodbury Relays.
And yet with all her success there, Kustera's expectations hit the floor once she saw a strong gust blow over the high-jump bar.
"I feel like it messed with my head a little," she said. "I was like 'I don't know if I'm going to be able to do this. Even if I do get over, the wind might blow it off or something."
Needing only 4-8 for a share of the win, Kustera managed to clear 5-2. The sophomore credits her training, focus and the guidance of coach Bill Moore, who, if it were up to her, wouldn't be leaning toward retirement after 36 years as head coach.
"This was going to be his last year, but I think I got him to stay for next year," Kustera said, smiling. "Maybe even the year after that."
So how about it, coach? Two more years?
"I can't tell you that far ahead right not," Moore said.
West Deptford freshman Bryanna Williams beat both the school record and runner-up Haddon Heights' Lanie Adams by a tenth of a second when she sprinted 12.2 in the 100.
After winning the open 800 in 2:19.3, Haddonfield junior Greta Feldman anchored her relay team of Kirsten King, Lisa Bailey and Becky Schaffer to a comeback win 4:09.4, making up 10 meters against Haddon Heights' anchor in the last 200.
"I didn't think I was going to catch her," said Feldman, splitting in around 60.0. "Usually my second half is stronger than the first half."
"I think right now when [Feldman] gets into that race with 200 to go, she's willing to do whatever it takes to try to win it," girls' coach Jason Russo said. "She really had to fight to make it up. She's really, really tough."
The Sterling team of Chris Ward, Matt Long, Greg Taylor and Rob Friedman won the 4x400 relay, closing in on the 2002 school record of 3:21.
Although given a nice lead over runner-up Haddon Heights (3:31.7), Friedman split a team-fast 49.8. The junior also held off Paulsboro's Willie Anderson (50.6) in the open 400, winning in 50.4.
Haddon Township runner Eileen O'Mara won the 1,600 easily in 5:25.9.
New Heights: Haddon Heights junior Chris Roundtree leaped South Jersey's farthest triple jump this year when he came down 45-3.5 feet later.
Two timers: Haddon Heights Erica Bell won the triple jump in 33-11 and the 100 high hurdles in 15.9. West Deptford sprinter Bryan Johnson won the 100 (10.8) and the 200 (22.4).
Last race: Haddonfield junior Greta Feldman ended the track portion of the meet by catchingHaddon Heights' anchor to win the 4x400 relay in 4:09.4 with teammate Kirsten King, Lisa Bailey and Becky Schafer.
Quote: "I think right now when [Feldman] gets into that race with 200 to go, she's willing to do whatever it takes to try to win it," Russo said. "She really had to fight to make it up. She's really, really tough."
WOODBURY – Looking back on it, Haddon Heights jumper Chris Roundtree knew exactly where it all went right at the Colonial Conference All-Star Meet Monday.
Somewhere between the first and second phase of the triple jump, Roundtree checked off 'Hold' and 'Explode' from his list of things to do.
And after springing himself deep into Woodbury High School's sandpit on his final phase, Roundtree didn't need to dust himself off to know he landed the best jump in South Jersey this year – a 45-3.5.
"I held my second phase longer," said Roundtree, whose previous best was 44-6. "You really don't think about it, but when you do it it's like 'OK, I did that right, I did that right, now I got to finish it up.'
"My coach always tells me my speed, when I turn it up, I go farther. So when I jumped that's what happened."
Lindenwold's Perry Asare was second with an impressive jump of 44-3.25.
Before his triple jump and his fourth jump – the celebratory jump for joy – Roundtree looked well on his way in winning the long jump after sticking a 21-4.75.
But senior teammate AJ Toliver wouldn't allow it, jumping 21-5.25 in his final attempt. After all, Roundtree asked for it, Toliver said.
"He came back and said 'Don't let me beat you,'" Toliver said.
"We always push each other in everything," Roundtree said.
Roundtree thinks this jump will boost his confidence in time for next week's sectionals.
""There're a lot of good guys at sectionals and I just want to win," he said. "I'll look back on this day, and be like 'I just got to beat that.'"
Roundtree also placed third in the 110 high hurdles in 15.0, topped only by the West Deptford duo of Steve Mitchell (14.8) and Kevon Brown (14.9).
West Deptford sprinter Bryan Jackson made his medals clang, winning both the 100 (10.8) and the 200 (22.4) to become the meet's only male double champion.
Although there was no team scoring nor team trophy given in the fourth-year meet, the Haddon Heights' boys and girls brought back the most gold medals, each leading their conference rivals with four wins.
Senior Tartan Erica Bell has two of them and made it a team sweep in the triple jump by outleaping Sterling's Sam Hunger (31-4) with a 33-11 jump. Bell, the only girl double champion, won the 100 high hurdles in 15.9, beating runner-up West Deptford sophomore Magan Kustera (17.1).
The last time Kustera competed in Woodbury, the sophomore cleared a personal-best 5-6 in the high jump, tops among individuals at the Woodbury Relays.
And yet with all her success there, Kustera's expectations hit the floor once she saw a strong gust blow over the high-jump bar.
"I feel like it messed with my head a little," she said. "I was like 'I don't know if I'm going to be able to do this. Even if I do get over, the wind might blow it off or something."
Needing only 4-8 for a share of the win, Kustera managed to clear 5-2. The sophomore credits her training, focus and the guidance of coach Bill Moore, who, if it were up to her, wouldn't be leaning toward retirement after 36 years as head coach.
"This was going to be his last year, but I think I got him to stay for next year," Kustera said, smiling. "Maybe even the year after that."
So how about it, coach? Two more years?
"I can't tell you that far ahead right not," Moore said.
West Deptford freshman Bryanna Williams beat both the school record and runner-up Haddon Heights' Lanie Adams by a tenth of a second when she sprinted 12.2 in the 100.
After winning the open 800 in 2:19.3, Haddonfield junior Greta Feldman anchored her relay team of Kirsten King, Lisa Bailey and Becky Schaffer to a comeback win 4:09.4, making up 10 meters against Haddon Heights' anchor in the last 200.
"I didn't think I was going to catch her," said Feldman, splitting in around 60.0. "Usually my second half is stronger than the first half."
"I think right now when [Feldman] gets into that race with 200 to go, she's willing to do whatever it takes to try to win it," girls' coach Jason Russo said. "She really had to fight to make it up. She's really, really tough."
The Sterling team of Chris Ward, Matt Long, Greg Taylor and Rob Friedman won the 4x400 relay, closing in on the 2002 school record of 3:21.
Although given a nice lead over runner-up Haddon Heights (3:31.7), Friedman split a team-fast 49.8. The junior also held off Paulsboro's Willie Anderson (50.6) in the open 400, winning in 50.4.
Haddon Township runner Eileen O'Mara won the 1,600 easily in 5:25.9.
Alas, Chiefs king of the county
(Pub May 18)
Winners: The Cherokee boys' team won its first county championship in its 33-year school history by scoring in all but two events for a 111.5 point total. The Lenape girls' team defended its championship, winning six events and placing in all but four for an 89-point beating.
Sophomore doubles: Sophomores Shawnee's David Forward and Lenape's Caitlin Orr each won the 1,600 and the 3,200.
Quote: "I just wanted for me and [teammate Erika Griffth] to get a good seed time for sectionals," Orr said of the 1,600. "The game plan was to stay with whoever wanted to lead. "
MAPLE SHADE -- The Burlington County Open turned 70 Saturday and the Cherokee boys' team made it a pre-season priority to be there to celebrate.
The Chiefs have made the trip to the meet's Maple Shade location the last 14 years, and before that, met wherever the competition was since establishing themselves in 1975.
But the Chiefs have never come so far as they did Saturday, improving upon fourth-place finishes their previous two years to win their first county championship ever, outscoring runner-up Northern Burlington by 59.5 points to win with 111.5 points.
Although the Chiefs never trailed after the first event, coach Steve Shaklee said they won this championship from behind, claiming only two events – both starring senior Chris Steliga – but scoring in all but two of the meet's 16 events.
"It was a definitely an overall team effort and that's what makes it so rewarding because, other than [Chris Steliga], we don't really have superstar athletes," Shaklee said. "They just nickel and dime you to death.
"Thirds, fourths, fifths, it all adds up. And if you do that in enough events you win a meet."
Steliga leaped 22-3.5 to win the long jump and collected two of Cherokee's four silver medals in the 400 (50.1) and the triple jump (41-4.25) all before coming back to anchor the 4x400 relay team of Kevin Merrigan, Niraj Patel and Will Rapp to a 3:25.96 come-back win, catching front-running Burlington Township with a 49.6 split.
"He's like a one-man team," Shaklee said of the senior.
Despite clinching the meet before the 4x400 finale, the relay team was still pressed to perform by coach Chris Callahan.
"He wanted us to go in with a winning mindset, to walk away as champions but to be completely honest, we all felt like total crap," Steliga said, laughing. "My legs were shot and I'm thinking like 'I don't wanna do this.' I get the baton in second and I'm like 'Great, now I actually have to do some work."
Senior runners Alex Yersak scored major points in the distance events, taking second in the 3,200 (9:36.14) and third in the 1,600 (4:30.4), just ahead of teammates Kevin Schlicking and Steve Burkeholder and behind winner Shawnee sophomore David Forward (4:26 .8) and runner-up Lenape junior Ryan Garvin (4:27.53)
After winning the 3,200 in an outdoor-best 9:29.11, Forward passed Garvin with about 300 to go in the 1,600 and managed to hold off the fleet junior on the homestretch. Teammate Ian Boyle won the 800 in a personal-best 1:58.0, passing Cinnaminson's Kenny Hoff (1:59.0) along the outside lane of the final bend.
Willingboro senior sprinter Tyrone McRae was the other male athlete to double victories, taking the 200 (22.38) and the 400 (49.57)
Thanks partly to wins by Cherokee's high hurdler Rachel Montague (14.91) and discus thrower Erika Cotton (104-3), the Lenape girls trailed 42-41 after six events, but won five of the next 10 en route to their second straight county championship, beating Seneca (57) and Cherokee (54) with 146 points.
Sophomore Caitlin Orr and senior Erika Griffith started the Indians' party, going 1,2 in the 3,200.
Orr later coupled her 11:31.18 win with a gutsy 5:13.68 performance in the 1,600, one in which an early kick – to stave off Moorestown's tandem of Allison Tetreault and Brianna Rogers -- slowed to a crawl.
"I poured it on so much with 300 to go, and I couldn't keep it. I could barely move," Orr said, smiling. "I don't know whether [Tetreault] was right behind me, but I heard [distance coach Jack] Walsh yelling at me, 'Go, Caitlin.' And I was like 'Oh, God' so I really just tried to go."
Senior Lindsey Walsh won the high jump with a modest 5-2 win, but was challenged on the second leg of the 4x400 relay.
After lead-off runner Mikki Livingston gave Walsh the lead, a Willingboro runner pushed the boundaries of sportsmanship by pushing Walsh off track, literally, a foul that went uncalled.
"It fueled me to finish the last half of the race," Walsh said.
Walsh remained focused, speeding past the runner with 200 meters left to give a lead that neither teammates Brianna Beddall nor Moira Cunningham would relinquish, winning in 4:01.53.
Walsh looked at the bigger picture of the championship.
"We're just trying to start a tradition so that even when we're gone, everyone else is still keeping the program strong," she said. "We want to make ourselves known throughout the state. You gotta start somewhere."
Northern Burlington senior jumper Ariel Woodard-Stephens was the only athlete not from Lenape to pair wins, taking the triple jump (35-9) and long jump (16-3.5), the latter achieved in a fewer number of jumps than done by runner-up Lenape senior Dana Cataldo.
Winners: The Cherokee boys' team won its first county championship in its 33-year school history by scoring in all but two events for a 111.5 point total. The Lenape girls' team defended its championship, winning six events and placing in all but four for an 89-point beating.
Sophomore doubles: Sophomores Shawnee's David Forward and Lenape's Caitlin Orr each won the 1,600 and the 3,200.
Quote: "I just wanted for me and [teammate Erika Griffth] to get a good seed time for sectionals," Orr said of the 1,600. "The game plan was to stay with whoever wanted to lead. "
MAPLE SHADE -- The Burlington County Open turned 70 Saturday and the Cherokee boys' team made it a pre-season priority to be there to celebrate.
The Chiefs have made the trip to the meet's Maple Shade location the last 14 years, and before that, met wherever the competition was since establishing themselves in 1975.
But the Chiefs have never come so far as they did Saturday, improving upon fourth-place finishes their previous two years to win their first county championship ever, outscoring runner-up Northern Burlington by 59.5 points to win with 111.5 points.
Although the Chiefs never trailed after the first event, coach Steve Shaklee said they won this championship from behind, claiming only two events – both starring senior Chris Steliga – but scoring in all but two of the meet's 16 events.
"It was a definitely an overall team effort and that's what makes it so rewarding because, other than [Chris Steliga], we don't really have superstar athletes," Shaklee said. "They just nickel and dime you to death.
"Thirds, fourths, fifths, it all adds up. And if you do that in enough events you win a meet."
Steliga leaped 22-3.5 to win the long jump and collected two of Cherokee's four silver medals in the 400 (50.1) and the triple jump (41-4.25) all before coming back to anchor the 4x400 relay team of Kevin Merrigan, Niraj Patel and Will Rapp to a 3:25.96 come-back win, catching front-running Burlington Township with a 49.6 split.
"He's like a one-man team," Shaklee said of the senior.
Despite clinching the meet before the 4x400 finale, the relay team was still pressed to perform by coach Chris Callahan.
"He wanted us to go in with a winning mindset, to walk away as champions but to be completely honest, we all felt like total crap," Steliga said, laughing. "My legs were shot and I'm thinking like 'I don't wanna do this.' I get the baton in second and I'm like 'Great, now I actually have to do some work."
Senior runners Alex Yersak scored major points in the distance events, taking second in the 3,200 (9:36.14) and third in the 1,600 (4:30.4), just ahead of teammates Kevin Schlicking and Steve Burkeholder and behind winner Shawnee sophomore David Forward (4:26 .8) and runner-up Lenape junior Ryan Garvin (4:27.53)
After winning the 3,200 in an outdoor-best 9:29.11, Forward passed Garvin with about 300 to go in the 1,600 and managed to hold off the fleet junior on the homestretch. Teammate Ian Boyle won the 800 in a personal-best 1:58.0, passing Cinnaminson's Kenny Hoff (1:59.0) along the outside lane of the final bend.
Willingboro senior sprinter Tyrone McRae was the other male athlete to double victories, taking the 200 (22.38) and the 400 (49.57)
Thanks partly to wins by Cherokee's high hurdler Rachel Montague (14.91) and discus thrower Erika Cotton (104-3), the Lenape girls trailed 42-41 after six events, but won five of the next 10 en route to their second straight county championship, beating Seneca (57) and Cherokee (54) with 146 points.
Sophomore Caitlin Orr and senior Erika Griffith started the Indians' party, going 1,2 in the 3,200.
Orr later coupled her 11:31.18 win with a gutsy 5:13.68 performance in the 1,600, one in which an early kick – to stave off Moorestown's tandem of Allison Tetreault and Brianna Rogers -- slowed to a crawl.
"I poured it on so much with 300 to go, and I couldn't keep it. I could barely move," Orr said, smiling. "I don't know whether [Tetreault] was right behind me, but I heard [distance coach Jack] Walsh yelling at me, 'Go, Caitlin.' And I was like 'Oh, God' so I really just tried to go."
Senior Lindsey Walsh won the high jump with a modest 5-2 win, but was challenged on the second leg of the 4x400 relay.
After lead-off runner Mikki Livingston gave Walsh the lead, a Willingboro runner pushed the boundaries of sportsmanship by pushing Walsh off track, literally, a foul that went uncalled.
"It fueled me to finish the last half of the race," Walsh said.
Walsh remained focused, speeding past the runner with 200 meters left to give a lead that neither teammates Brianna Beddall nor Moira Cunningham would relinquish, winning in 4:01.53.
Walsh looked at the bigger picture of the championship.
"We're just trying to start a tradition so that even when we're gone, everyone else is still keeping the program strong," she said. "We want to make ourselves known throughout the state. You gotta start somewhere."
Northern Burlington senior jumper Ariel Woodard-Stephens was the only athlete not from Lenape to pair wins, taking the triple jump (35-9) and long jump (16-3.5), the latter achieved in a fewer number of jumps than done by runner-up Lenape senior Dana Cataldo.
NB: Suk kept same approach when approaching milestone
(Pub May 17)
Last spring Williamstown ended its streak of 14 winning seasons by going 2-4. Had a couple contests gone in the Braves' favor, coach Mark Suk would've celebrated more than just the 15th-season milestone.
The head coach entered his 19th season stuck on 99 wins and remained stuck after losing to Delsea and Kingsway.
But on April 21 against Clearview, Williamstown -- fueled by a decent distance group led by senior Mike Esperanzate -- helped Suk reach the mark with a win.
The significance of the team's first win was rumored before the season, but Esperanzate and his teammates were made sure of it by Suk himself.
"He said, 'You guys have the chance to beat them and that would be my 100th win,'" Esperanzate said.
After losing to Highland and beating Cumberland, Suk has a career record of 101-55 and a season record of 2-3.
Some of Suk's career highlights include watching 1998 grad Aaron Pedrick win the Group 3 state title in the pole vault (14-6) and 2001 grad Kevin Fitzpatrick bring home the Group 3 state title in the javelin (192-11).
During his career's rougher patches, Suk finds escape in the remembrance of Fitzpatrick and of that 2001 team – the only Braves crew that's won the Gloucester County meet.
"It was pleasure and joy working with him[Fitzpatrick]," Suk said. "He did a lot for the school that year. "Those memories stick together for a lifetime and when things don't go well, I look back on that season."
Suk hopes his Braves can stop the losing streak at one season with a win over Deptford Monday. No matter the Braves' ups and downs, Esperanzate needs to only look at his coach for consistency.
"His attitude never changes. He's always positive," the captain said. "He has faith in us. He always says no matter how tough a team is, if we do our best we couldn't go down being happier, at the least. And if we do well we have a chance to beat them. Always."
Johnson aims high
Before the season, Ocean City coach Matt Purdue handed each of his athletes a questionnaire asking "What do you want to do for the season?"
The answer was easy for runner Brett Johnson.
"For every record I put a second below," said Johnson, fully aware of 2003 grad John Richardson's 1:51 half mile and 4:09 mile marks, adding "except for the mile – there I'm shooting for 4:02 or 4:03. That's obviously up there and I don't know if that's achievable, but I'm my biggest critic. I'm always shooting for the stars."
As the season winds down, Johnson and his North Jersey rivals, namely Manalapan's Robby Andrews and Hillsborough's Jason Walton (1:51.8 split in 800), are expected to go toe-to-toe-to-toe in a race that has the makings of a record breaker. Johnson can't wait.
"South Jersey has great competition," Johnson said. "But I always feel though I can't consider myself the best until I've gone up and beaten the best.
"If me, Walton and Andrews get to run in the 800 and possibly the mile, well, I'm not going to lie, I'm excited. But for now, I just want to take it one race at a time. Hopefully it will match the hype that everyone is pumping it up to be."
Roomies
Two of South Jersey's fastest long-distance runners will be flying down Hawk Hill next fall as both teammates and roommates.
Following the winter footsteps of Ocean City senior Ryan Birchmeier, Camden Catholic senior Kevin McDonnell has also committed to Saint Joseph University.
The duo has a few things in common going in; each runner has experienced dazzling personal bests and devastating injuries during his senior campaign; both sharpened their kicks into assets; both reside seaside during the summer, McDonnell as a lifeguard.
This reporter also heard Birchmeier – who is out for the spring with a torn hamstring – can cook more than just Top Ramen and Pop Tarts.
The tandem will learn under Paul VI coaching legend Mike Glavin and run alongside South Jersey alum Justin Heinze of Haddonfield and Stephen Young of Holy Cross, both college seniors for the 2008-09 season.
Army/Navy tough
Holy Cross seniors Mike Sheehan and Frank Allen are teammates today and they'll fight for the same team after graduation, in every way outside of collegiate rivalries, at least.
An elite distance runner, Sheehan will be at the Annapolis Naval Academy by late July. A maturing thrower, Allen is headed to West Point Acamedy to fight for his country, continue a family tradition and possibly play some offensive line for Army's football team.
Both enlisted in the military, both committed to continuing track, both Allen and Sheehan should be saluted.
As for Sheehan's status at states or any point this spring: doubtful. As fierce a competitor as there is, Sheehan, who injured himself while running a 3,200 two weeks ago, is resting up to make sure he passes the military's July physical.
The Pole-sters
The Boys' Indoor Athlete of the Year suddenly does not look as dominate.
Although West Deptford pole vaulter Dan Batdorf has not taken second to anyone this spring, that could change given the progress made by some state vaulters.
Toms River North senior Rick Villanova has cleared 15-0 this spring and Highland junior Eddie Zubrzycki set the Tri-County Conference meet record when he cleared a personal-best 14-6.5 Thursday.
Batdorf beat runner-up Villanova by a foot at the Indoor Meet of Champions when he arched a personal-best 15-6. Zubrzycki is the last in-state vaulter to top Batdorf, having done so in the beginning of the indoor season when Batdorf was still nursing a sprained right ankle.
Throwing up
While Washington Township shot putter Kwabena Keene scratches his way to the 60 feet milestone, other throwers from South Jersey – even from his own school – are closing in to his.
Keene won the Olympic Conference meet shot put (58-1) Wednesday pretty easily, but gone are the days where 50 feet would win it.
Pennsauken's Joseph Carmichael threw a personal-best 54-3 and Washington Township senior David Helterbrand took third with a hurl of 51-7.
Notables
In an 86-54 loss to Vineland, Absegami senior Geoff Navarro won the 100 (10.7), 200 (21.8) and 400 (48.6).
Winslow Township senior Barry Cephas needed to split 48.2 on the final lap to keep the Eagles' varsity 4x400 relay team undefeated in the state.
Cinnaminson junior Todd Campbell looked strong at the Burlington League Division meet last Saturday, winning the Liberty Division's 3,200 convincingly in a personal-best 9:48.6.
Haddonfield sophomore Colin Baker had a nice double at the Camden County meet, winning the Division 1 1,600 in 4:25.5 and finishing second to teammate Boo Vitez (9:43.7) in the 3,200 in 9:55.9.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jason Howitt
Highland
Senior
Events: Hurdles/Sprints/Jumps/Pole vault
Achievements: Howitt, a nine-event athlete, has stepped up time and time again for the No.1 ranked Tartans, winners of the Royal Division champs after beating Kingsway 84-56 Tuesday. Howitt scored 20 points and won three events in the clincher, including the 110 high hurdles (14.7), the 400 intermediate hurdles (56.4) and the hard-fought triple jump (42-9). Last Saturday in Division 2 of the Camden County Championship, the co-captain racked up three bronzes -- one off a personal-best 55.3 performance in the intermediate hurdles – and placed fourth in the high jump to help the Tartans win Division 2 with 108 points. At the Tri-County meet Thursday, the Temple University-bound senior won silvers in both hurdle events and the 4x400 relay, the latter anchored by Howitt in 50.2.
Comment: "I knew once I saw my first track meet [while in middle school] that I wanted to do it all," Howitt said. "I pride myself on being an all-around athlete. I take after my dad. And I absolutely love the sport. I love my teammates and coaches. I love making them proud." Said coach Bob Wagner: "He was just Superman again. He just does so much and I don't know if anyone knows who he is. We never know in a meet where we're putting him."
Last spring Williamstown ended its streak of 14 winning seasons by going 2-4. Had a couple contests gone in the Braves' favor, coach Mark Suk would've celebrated more than just the 15th-season milestone.
The head coach entered his 19th season stuck on 99 wins and remained stuck after losing to Delsea and Kingsway.
But on April 21 against Clearview, Williamstown -- fueled by a decent distance group led by senior Mike Esperanzate -- helped Suk reach the mark with a win.
The significance of the team's first win was rumored before the season, but Esperanzate and his teammates were made sure of it by Suk himself.
"He said, 'You guys have the chance to beat them and that would be my 100th win,'" Esperanzate said.
After losing to Highland and beating Cumberland, Suk has a career record of 101-55 and a season record of 2-3.
Some of Suk's career highlights include watching 1998 grad Aaron Pedrick win the Group 3 state title in the pole vault (14-6) and 2001 grad Kevin Fitzpatrick bring home the Group 3 state title in the javelin (192-11).
During his career's rougher patches, Suk finds escape in the remembrance of Fitzpatrick and of that 2001 team – the only Braves crew that's won the Gloucester County meet.
"It was pleasure and joy working with him[Fitzpatrick]," Suk said. "He did a lot for the school that year. "Those memories stick together for a lifetime and when things don't go well, I look back on that season."
Suk hopes his Braves can stop the losing streak at one season with a win over Deptford Monday. No matter the Braves' ups and downs, Esperanzate needs to only look at his coach for consistency.
"His attitude never changes. He's always positive," the captain said. "He has faith in us. He always says no matter how tough a team is, if we do our best we couldn't go down being happier, at the least. And if we do well we have a chance to beat them. Always."
Johnson aims high
Before the season, Ocean City coach Matt Purdue handed each of his athletes a questionnaire asking "What do you want to do for the season?"
The answer was easy for runner Brett Johnson.
"For every record I put a second below," said Johnson, fully aware of 2003 grad John Richardson's 1:51 half mile and 4:09 mile marks, adding "except for the mile – there I'm shooting for 4:02 or 4:03. That's obviously up there and I don't know if that's achievable, but I'm my biggest critic. I'm always shooting for the stars."
As the season winds down, Johnson and his North Jersey rivals, namely Manalapan's Robby Andrews and Hillsborough's Jason Walton (1:51.8 split in 800), are expected to go toe-to-toe-to-toe in a race that has the makings of a record breaker. Johnson can't wait.
"South Jersey has great competition," Johnson said. "But I always feel though I can't consider myself the best until I've gone up and beaten the best.
"If me, Walton and Andrews get to run in the 800 and possibly the mile, well, I'm not going to lie, I'm excited. But for now, I just want to take it one race at a time. Hopefully it will match the hype that everyone is pumping it up to be."
Roomies
Two of South Jersey's fastest long-distance runners will be flying down Hawk Hill next fall as both teammates and roommates.
Following the winter footsteps of Ocean City senior Ryan Birchmeier, Camden Catholic senior Kevin McDonnell has also committed to Saint Joseph University.
The duo has a few things in common going in; each runner has experienced dazzling personal bests and devastating injuries during his senior campaign; both sharpened their kicks into assets; both reside seaside during the summer, McDonnell as a lifeguard.
This reporter also heard Birchmeier – who is out for the spring with a torn hamstring – can cook more than just Top Ramen and Pop Tarts.
The tandem will learn under Paul VI coaching legend Mike Glavin and run alongside South Jersey alum Justin Heinze of Haddonfield and Stephen Young of Holy Cross, both college seniors for the 2008-09 season.
Army/Navy tough
Holy Cross seniors Mike Sheehan and Frank Allen are teammates today and they'll fight for the same team after graduation, in every way outside of collegiate rivalries, at least.
An elite distance runner, Sheehan will be at the Annapolis Naval Academy by late July. A maturing thrower, Allen is headed to West Point Acamedy to fight for his country, continue a family tradition and possibly play some offensive line for Army's football team.
Both enlisted in the military, both committed to continuing track, both Allen and Sheehan should be saluted.
As for Sheehan's status at states or any point this spring: doubtful. As fierce a competitor as there is, Sheehan, who injured himself while running a 3,200 two weeks ago, is resting up to make sure he passes the military's July physical.
The Pole-sters
The Boys' Indoor Athlete of the Year suddenly does not look as dominate.
Although West Deptford pole vaulter Dan Batdorf has not taken second to anyone this spring, that could change given the progress made by some state vaulters.
Toms River North senior Rick Villanova has cleared 15-0 this spring and Highland junior Eddie Zubrzycki set the Tri-County Conference meet record when he cleared a personal-best 14-6.5 Thursday.
Batdorf beat runner-up Villanova by a foot at the Indoor Meet of Champions when he arched a personal-best 15-6. Zubrzycki is the last in-state vaulter to top Batdorf, having done so in the beginning of the indoor season when Batdorf was still nursing a sprained right ankle.
Throwing up
While Washington Township shot putter Kwabena Keene scratches his way to the 60 feet milestone, other throwers from South Jersey – even from his own school – are closing in to his.
Keene won the Olympic Conference meet shot put (58-1) Wednesday pretty easily, but gone are the days where 50 feet would win it.
Pennsauken's Joseph Carmichael threw a personal-best 54-3 and Washington Township senior David Helterbrand took third with a hurl of 51-7.
Notables
In an 86-54 loss to Vineland, Absegami senior Geoff Navarro won the 100 (10.7), 200 (21.8) and 400 (48.6).
Winslow Township senior Barry Cephas needed to split 48.2 on the final lap to keep the Eagles' varsity 4x400 relay team undefeated in the state.
Cinnaminson junior Todd Campbell looked strong at the Burlington League Division meet last Saturday, winning the Liberty Division's 3,200 convincingly in a personal-best 9:48.6.
Haddonfield sophomore Colin Baker had a nice double at the Camden County meet, winning the Division 1 1,600 in 4:25.5 and finishing second to teammate Boo Vitez (9:43.7) in the 3,200 in 9:55.9.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jason Howitt
Highland
Senior
Events: Hurdles/Sprints/Jumps/Pole vault
Achievements: Howitt, a nine-event athlete, has stepped up time and time again for the No.1 ranked Tartans, winners of the Royal Division champs after beating Kingsway 84-56 Tuesday. Howitt scored 20 points and won three events in the clincher, including the 110 high hurdles (14.7), the 400 intermediate hurdles (56.4) and the hard-fought triple jump (42-9). Last Saturday in Division 2 of the Camden County Championship, the co-captain racked up three bronzes -- one off a personal-best 55.3 performance in the intermediate hurdles – and placed fourth in the high jump to help the Tartans win Division 2 with 108 points. At the Tri-County meet Thursday, the Temple University-bound senior won silvers in both hurdle events and the 4x400 relay, the latter anchored by Howitt in 50.2.
Comment: "I knew once I saw my first track meet [while in middle school] that I wanted to do it all," Howitt said. "I pride myself on being an all-around athlete. I take after my dad. And I absolutely love the sport. I love my teammates and coaches. I love making them proud." Said coach Bob Wagner: "He was just Superman again. He just does so much and I don't know if anyone knows who he is. We never know in a meet where we're putting him."
Anxious McDonnell staves off Forward at All-Star Meet
(Pub May 15)
Broken record: Seneca sophomore Michelle Brown was the only record breaker of the day, running a personal-best 55. 19 to break the 1992 mark of 56.0.
Fraction does it: Junior Xavier Fraction (1:56.67), whose status was in question after pulling his right hamstring during a recent practice, won the 800 in 1:56.67 with an impressive finish, blowing by the lead runner convincingly with 200 to go.
Quote: "I thought he had it but then I saw his arms and legs give, you know, body language," Fraction said. "He spent himself the first 600 meters and slowed down. I said to myself 'Why wait to move with 150 [meters] left?' so I just went then."
PENNSAUKEN—Camden Catholic senior Kevin McDonnell's heart was racing hours before the Olympic Conference All-Star Meet.
The anticipation of running possibly his last high school 1,600, coupled with the anxiety of going toe-to-toe with Shawnee super sophomore David Forward, had the Saint Joseph University-bound senior squirming in his chair, looking to the skies – or up at the classroom ceiling -- when taking a religion test Wednesday.
"I just looked at the paper and it'd be like 'What does Pentecost mean?'" McDonnell said, "and I'm like 'I got to race Forward today.'"
McDonnell doesn't know how he scored on the test, but, if nothing else, McDonnell passed his competition the moment he left the line, blitzing the field in a 61-second opening lap.
Thanks to a 20 meter lead and a 62-second final lap, McDonnell was able to stave off a closing Forward and avoid déjà vu of his South Jersey Open meltdown, finishing in a personal-best 4:19.13. Forward placed second, but can leave Pennsauken High knowing he achieved his sophomore goal of breaking 4:20 by finishing in 4:19.77.
"Kevin just went for it in the beginning," Forward said. "It was a really gutsy race. I'm glad he did because he pulled a lot of guys to a fast time."
"I really wanted this one today and to really get a 'W' in the mile too," said McDonnell, who is considering forgoing the 1,600 for the 3,200 at sectionals. "It's definitely a confidence booster."
In the girls' 1,600, Shawnee freshman Casey Doyle outlasted Seneca's Nicole McGrainer (5:09.18), winning in 5:08.4.
Seneca sophomore Michelle Brown was the only record breaker of the day, running a personal-best 55. 19 to break the 1992 mark of 56.0.
As well as she ran, Brown is kicking herself for her kick, one in which the clock –yes, the ol' distracting clock -- might have slowed her down.
I was looking at the clock, and was like 'OK, I'm going to get a good time' but I really wasn't finishing through," Brown said. "I'm still happy with it."
The unbeaten-in-New Jersey streak of Winslow Township's 4x400 relay team of Gerald Stephens-Holland, Davis McNeil, Barry Cephas and Eric Smith was in jeopardy heading into the bell lap.
Smith, who was substituting in for Darin Washington -- who was busy competing at the conflicting long jump – handed the baton to Cephas in a distant fifth place.
It was a strange spot for the Eagles to be, but Cephas was not rattled, splitting a 48.2 anchor lap to keep the streak alive with a 3:22.9 finish.
Although Cherokee senior Chris Steliga had cameras flashing with his final lap, which pulled the Chiefs to second in a season-best 4:23.14, Cephas was more concerned with Camden's closer during the top of the straightaway
"I know I had it in me," said the senior, who finished second to teammate Washington (10.91) in the 100. "But I thought he had me when we pulled up even at the curve."
No matter the gender competing, Washington Township owned the 400 intermediate hurdles with junior Tim Carey winning in 56.44 and senior Jackie Dim winning in 62.47.
Senior thrower Kwabena Keene won the shot put with a toss of 58-1 and placed second to Timber Creek sophomore Matt Huckabee (143-6) in the discus, something the sophomore conceived was possible only until the final throw.
"I didn't think I could do it at first, but during the last flight I knew I won," he said.
Teammate Montez Blair was the meet's only double male champion, winning the high jump (6-6) and the triple jump in a personal-best 43-8.5, outrulering Camden's Wayne Walls (43-8.25).
While that was the closest jump, Cherry Hill East senior Chantz Powell won the meet's closest race, edging Camden sophomore Syteek Farrington (14.61) in the 110 hurdles by one hundredth of a second, finishing in 14.60.
Reach Steve Wood at swood@courierpostonline.com.
Broken record: Seneca sophomore Michelle Brown was the only record breaker of the day, running a personal-best 55. 19 to break the 1992 mark of 56.0.
Fraction does it: Junior Xavier Fraction (1:56.67), whose status was in question after pulling his right hamstring during a recent practice, won the 800 in 1:56.67 with an impressive finish, blowing by the lead runner convincingly with 200 to go.
Quote: "I thought he had it but then I saw his arms and legs give, you know, body language," Fraction said. "He spent himself the first 600 meters and slowed down. I said to myself 'Why wait to move with 150 [meters] left?' so I just went then."
PENNSAUKEN—Camden Catholic senior Kevin McDonnell's heart was racing hours before the Olympic Conference All-Star Meet.
The anticipation of running possibly his last high school 1,600, coupled with the anxiety of going toe-to-toe with Shawnee super sophomore David Forward, had the Saint Joseph University-bound senior squirming in his chair, looking to the skies – or up at the classroom ceiling -- when taking a religion test Wednesday.
"I just looked at the paper and it'd be like 'What does Pentecost mean?'" McDonnell said, "and I'm like 'I got to race Forward today.'"
McDonnell doesn't know how he scored on the test, but, if nothing else, McDonnell passed his competition the moment he left the line, blitzing the field in a 61-second opening lap.
Thanks to a 20 meter lead and a 62-second final lap, McDonnell was able to stave off a closing Forward and avoid déjà vu of his South Jersey Open meltdown, finishing in a personal-best 4:19.13. Forward placed second, but can leave Pennsauken High knowing he achieved his sophomore goal of breaking 4:20 by finishing in 4:19.77.
"Kevin just went for it in the beginning," Forward said. "It was a really gutsy race. I'm glad he did because he pulled a lot of guys to a fast time."
"I really wanted this one today and to really get a 'W' in the mile too," said McDonnell, who is considering forgoing the 1,600 for the 3,200 at sectionals. "It's definitely a confidence booster."
In the girls' 1,600, Shawnee freshman Casey Doyle outlasted Seneca's Nicole McGrainer (5:09.18), winning in 5:08.4.
Seneca sophomore Michelle Brown was the only record breaker of the day, running a personal-best 55. 19 to break the 1992 mark of 56.0.
As well as she ran, Brown is kicking herself for her kick, one in which the clock –yes, the ol' distracting clock -- might have slowed her down.
I was looking at the clock, and was like 'OK, I'm going to get a good time' but I really wasn't finishing through," Brown said. "I'm still happy with it."
The unbeaten-in-New Jersey streak of Winslow Township's 4x400 relay team of Gerald Stephens-Holland, Davis McNeil, Barry Cephas and Eric Smith was in jeopardy heading into the bell lap.
Smith, who was substituting in for Darin Washington -- who was busy competing at the conflicting long jump – handed the baton to Cephas in a distant fifth place.
It was a strange spot for the Eagles to be, but Cephas was not rattled, splitting a 48.2 anchor lap to keep the streak alive with a 3:22.9 finish.
Although Cherokee senior Chris Steliga had cameras flashing with his final lap, which pulled the Chiefs to second in a season-best 4:23.14, Cephas was more concerned with Camden's closer during the top of the straightaway
"I know I had it in me," said the senior, who finished second to teammate Washington (10.91) in the 100. "But I thought he had me when we pulled up even at the curve."
No matter the gender competing, Washington Township owned the 400 intermediate hurdles with junior Tim Carey winning in 56.44 and senior Jackie Dim winning in 62.47.
Senior thrower Kwabena Keene won the shot put with a toss of 58-1 and placed second to Timber Creek sophomore Matt Huckabee (143-6) in the discus, something the sophomore conceived was possible only until the final throw.
"I didn't think I could do it at first, but during the last flight I knew I won," he said.
Teammate Montez Blair was the meet's only double male champion, winning the high jump (6-6) and the triple jump in a personal-best 43-8.5, outrulering Camden's Wayne Walls (43-8.25).
While that was the closest jump, Cherry Hill East senior Chantz Powell won the meet's closest race, edging Camden sophomore Syteek Farrington (14.61) in the 110 hurdles by one hundredth of a second, finishing in 14.60.
Reach Steve Wood at swood@courierpostonline.com.
Cherokee duo makes quick work at Lenape Districts
(Whoops, pub May 9)
Hail to the Sprints: Cherokee sprinters Kevin Merrigan, Will Rapp and Niraj Patel nearly swept the 100. Merrigan won in 11.21, Rapp followed in 11.31 and Patel finished fourth in 11.50.
Early dominance: Lead by a number of athletes, including throwers Jennifer Houghton and Andrea Leach, the Lenape girls' team swept four of the meet's first seven events.
Quote: "I like [this meet] because you get to see who's in your district and how you stack up," Leach said.
DELRAN -- Only until Cherokee sprinters Kevin Merrigan and Will Rapp left the baseball diamond did they really start to shine.
Both former junior varsity outfielders, Merrigan and Rapp have found greener pastures on whichever track they run, and the one at Seneca High, host of the Lenape Regional High School Districts meet Thursday, was no exception.
The duo went 1, 2 in the 100 – Merrigan winning in 11.22 – to help give the Chiefs, a team not known for its sprinters in recent years, a real force.
Merrigan was not accustomed to seeing positive numbers on the score sheet.
"I hit all right and my fielding, well it wasn't that good, so I didn't really standout," the Monmouth University-bound senior said. "Not like track where I could excel and compete with the top athletes in South Jersey."
The Chiefs have undergone a major transformation in the sprinting department this year. While Merrigan debuted in track last spring, joining marquee multi-athlete Chris Steliga, he recruited Rapp (11.31) this year.
And senior Niraj Patel, who was known as best sprinter on the 2007 junior varsity squad, is now known by coach Steve Shaklee as one of the Chiefs' most improved athletes, evident of his fourth-place finish in the 100 (11.5).
And their newfound depth was flexed last Saturday at the South Jersey Relays when the Chiefs' foursome punched their ticket to the North Carolina-based Nationals by meeting the 4x100 standard of 42.9, spiraling to a team-best 42.81.
"We know what we're capable of and we're capable of a lot because of all the hard work we put in," Merrigan said.
The 100 was one of many events the Chiefs excelled in Thursday. Junior Major Mobley won the 110 hurdles in 15.31 and senior Kevin Schlicking took second in the 1,500 in 4:13.08.
Shawnee sophomore David Forward entered the 1,500 wanting to couple his strong finish with an equally strong start.
Forward said he felt like he was on his first-lap target pace of 64 seconds after 300 meters, but the watch said otherwise, clocking him at 68 seconds after 400.
Despite the slow start, the sophomore broke free from the pack after another lap to finish in a meet-record 4:06.41.
"I should just sprint the first lap next time," Forward said, smiling. "But that's something I've been trying to practice on, getting out faster."
Not counting its dominant win in the 4x800, ran in 9:35:43 by the quartet of Carmen Delph, Miya Johnson, Allie Richman and Brianna Beddall, the Lenape girls' team swept four of the meet's first seven events.
Lenape's throwing duo of senior Jen Houghton and junior Andrea Leach flourished in the field, sweeping the shot put and individually setting meet records in two events; Houghton in the shot put (37-10) and Leach in the discus (33-3).
"I like [this meet] because you get to see who's in your district and how you stack up," said Leach, who also threw 33-3 for second in the shot put.
Turns out the Indians stack up well and girls' throwing coach Steve Lee knows why.
"They work hard and they know what it takes to compete," Lee said of Houghton and Leach. "They respond week in and week out."
Doing their best to break up the Indian's early monopoly, Cherokee's Rachel Montague won the 110 hurdles in 15.18 and Seneca's Michelle Brown took the 400 in 57.58.
The Lenape boys also fared well and no one better than junior Ryan Garvin. After anchoring the 4x800 relay team of Corey Halloway, Corey Halloway and Hayes Rainier to victory and to a season-best time of 8:18.09, Garvin came back in the open 800, outlasting Shawnee senior Ian Boyle by running a meet-record 1:59.
Hail to the Sprints: Cherokee sprinters Kevin Merrigan, Will Rapp and Niraj Patel nearly swept the 100. Merrigan won in 11.21, Rapp followed in 11.31 and Patel finished fourth in 11.50.
Early dominance: Lead by a number of athletes, including throwers Jennifer Houghton and Andrea Leach, the Lenape girls' team swept four of the meet's first seven events.
Quote: "I like [this meet] because you get to see who's in your district and how you stack up," Leach said.
DELRAN -- Only until Cherokee sprinters Kevin Merrigan and Will Rapp left the baseball diamond did they really start to shine.
Both former junior varsity outfielders, Merrigan and Rapp have found greener pastures on whichever track they run, and the one at Seneca High, host of the Lenape Regional High School Districts meet Thursday, was no exception.
The duo went 1, 2 in the 100 – Merrigan winning in 11.22 – to help give the Chiefs, a team not known for its sprinters in recent years, a real force.
Merrigan was not accustomed to seeing positive numbers on the score sheet.
"I hit all right and my fielding, well it wasn't that good, so I didn't really standout," the Monmouth University-bound senior said. "Not like track where I could excel and compete with the top athletes in South Jersey."
The Chiefs have undergone a major transformation in the sprinting department this year. While Merrigan debuted in track last spring, joining marquee multi-athlete Chris Steliga, he recruited Rapp (11.31) this year.
And senior Niraj Patel, who was known as best sprinter on the 2007 junior varsity squad, is now known by coach Steve Shaklee as one of the Chiefs' most improved athletes, evident of his fourth-place finish in the 100 (11.5).
And their newfound depth was flexed last Saturday at the South Jersey Relays when the Chiefs' foursome punched their ticket to the North Carolina-based Nationals by meeting the 4x100 standard of 42.9, spiraling to a team-best 42.81.
"We know what we're capable of and we're capable of a lot because of all the hard work we put in," Merrigan said.
The 100 was one of many events the Chiefs excelled in Thursday. Junior Major Mobley won the 110 hurdles in 15.31 and senior Kevin Schlicking took second in the 1,500 in 4:13.08.
Shawnee sophomore David Forward entered the 1,500 wanting to couple his strong finish with an equally strong start.
Forward said he felt like he was on his first-lap target pace of 64 seconds after 300 meters, but the watch said otherwise, clocking him at 68 seconds after 400.
Despite the slow start, the sophomore broke free from the pack after another lap to finish in a meet-record 4:06.41.
"I should just sprint the first lap next time," Forward said, smiling. "But that's something I've been trying to practice on, getting out faster."
Not counting its dominant win in the 4x800, ran in 9:35:43 by the quartet of Carmen Delph, Miya Johnson, Allie Richman and Brianna Beddall, the Lenape girls' team swept four of the meet's first seven events.
Lenape's throwing duo of senior Jen Houghton and junior Andrea Leach flourished in the field, sweeping the shot put and individually setting meet records in two events; Houghton in the shot put (37-10) and Leach in the discus (33-3).
"I like [this meet] because you get to see who's in your district and how you stack up," said Leach, who also threw 33-3 for second in the shot put.
Turns out the Indians stack up well and girls' throwing coach Steve Lee knows why.
"They work hard and they know what it takes to compete," Lee said of Houghton and Leach. "They respond week in and week out."
Doing their best to break up the Indian's early monopoly, Cherokee's Rachel Montague won the 110 hurdles in 15.18 and Seneca's Michelle Brown took the 400 in 57.58.
The Lenape boys also fared well and no one better than junior Ryan Garvin. After anchoring the 4x800 relay team of Corey Halloway, Corey Halloway and Hayes Rainier to victory and to a season-best time of 8:18.09, Garvin came back in the open 800, outlasting Shawnee senior Ian Boyle by running a meet-record 1:59.
Holy Cross Boys, Girls take it to Burlington Division
(Pub May 11)
Winners: The Northern Burlington boys won their first Liberty Division and the Burlington Township girls won their first since 2002. The Palmyra boys and the Florence Township girls each won the Freedom Division and both the Holy Cross boys and girl squads won their sixth straight Patriot Division.
Close call: Two individual wins by jumper/thrower Warren Oliver helped Palmyra win the meet's closest decision, a 13-point win over Florence Township, to give Palmyra its first division title since 2004.
Fast finish: Moorestown senior Kevin Healey needed a 61-second last lap to fend off Northern Burlington junior Michael Bowden (4:28) in the 1,600, winning in a 15-second personal best 4:26.
Quote: "Your goal is you. Your goal is not the other person on the track," Burlington Township coach Sorina Haddock said. "Your goal is to identify what your best is and attack that goal so the focus is always on you and not on somebody else."
NORTHERN BURLINGTON – Let's hope Holy Cross freshman Shannon Grogan approaches waiting in line differently than she does racing.
"I don't like people being in front of me," the sprinter said.
The only number Grogan took Saturday at the Burlington County Divisional meet was No.1 – four times – helping the Crusaders match the Holy Cross boys team by winning their sixth straight Patriot Division title.
Racing on Northern Burlington High's track, Grogan won the 100 (12.97), 200 (26.8), 400 (1:01.99) and joined her upperclassmen teammates, Rose Johnson, Beth Peak and Rachel Byrne, to win the 4x400 (4:22.6).
"I just try to follow the seniors and juniors because they're such great and do my best for the team," she said.
Grogan raced on her first track this past winter, and while achieving her main objective of staying in shape for spring-time soccer, the freshman took home more gold medals than a novice should. Even with her success, Grogan was set to skip spring track.
But when spring came around, so did she – at the persuasion of coaches Mike Gouth and Ed Battaglia. Still, she has trouble following everything her coaches tell her.
"They tell me to race the clock but I just race the people in front of me," she said. "If I see somebody in front of me my goal is to get them. That's the first thing."
The Crusaders won eight total events , including seven of the nine races, to help give them a meet-best 181 points. Maple Shade was second with 106.
Johnson, a senior, was the Crusaders other double champion, winning the 400 hurdles (1:08.79) and the high jump (personal-best 5-3).
Based on the scouting report Gould gives her before the race, Johnson – a self-described anxious competitor – can't afford to run a split second slower.
"He always lies and says like 'They did so great' and 'You guys got competition' and 'They're running 4:08' so I get nervous," Johnson said. "He always does that and then you start running and you're like 'What happened?"
The Holy Cross boys won the Patriot Division more narrowly, staving off a comeback by Cinnaminson by scoring 138 points. The Pirates scored 123.
Senior thrower Frank Allen hurled a personal best 52-4.5 to win the shot put and a meet-best 150-8 to win the discus.
Between the two events, Allen – a 6-4 former heavyweight wrestler who weighs in at a fit 270 pounds -- goes from yin to yang, running wind sprints with teammate Aaron Faunt (second in shot) to get hyped.
"I went from discus, where you have to be nice and relaxed, not even thinking anything, to this," Allen said. "I need something to get me going. I need to be explosive when I throw shot."
Other male winners for the Crusaders included junior Matt Cusack in the 1,600 in 4:36 and senior Rich Fisher in the 400 in 50.24. The duo joined Dan Gasper and Terrance Osborne to win the 4x400 team (3:29.23) and Cusack ran a 9:59.71 in the 3,200 to place second to Cinnaminson junior Todd Campbell's impressive personal-best 9:48.6.
Campbell separated from Cusack after a couple laps and just kept separating.
"I was just trying to keep moving in the middle," he said. "I didn't want anybody to come up on me in the last 800."
Despite three gold medals and one silver from Moorestown senior Bryan Burnham – winner of the long jump, 100, and 200 – and an "out-of-body performance" by Moorestown senior Kevin Healey, who won the 1,600 in 4:26 with a 61-second final lap, the Northern Burlington boys won their first Liberty Division title ever, scoring 145 points to Moorestown's 125.
The team Dave Specca, Thaddeus Richards, Jarrett East-Brown and Saidu Mustaphu nearly clinched the division after winning the 4x400 relay in 3:25.94, a school record.
Coach Tim Tedesco credits East-Brown, owner of three silvers, as being a major contributor.
"He brought us up in the relay to help give our anchor a chance," Tedesco said.
East-Brown passes the credit to his distance squad, led by 3,200 winner junior Michael Bowden.
"We got some pretty fast kids. Our distance kids are amazing," East-Brown said. "They just come out and perform every meet."
The Burlington Township girls outpointed Moorestown (112) and others to win the Liberty Division title, winning five events including Tiffany Chamberlain's victories in the 400 hurdles (1:05.71) and the 100 hurdles (16.06).
"We never thought we would come out here and win these kind of meets, but I think this year we're learning the importance of teamwork and how if we do our responsibility we'll get at that spot that we've always wanted to," Chamberlain said.
Palmyra –led Warren Oliver wins in the javelin (165-5) and the high jump (6-4) -- won the boys Freedom Division with 149 points and despite fielding limited numbers, Florence won the girls' with 145 points.
Winners: The Northern Burlington boys won their first Liberty Division and the Burlington Township girls won their first since 2002. The Palmyra boys and the Florence Township girls each won the Freedom Division and both the Holy Cross boys and girl squads won their sixth straight Patriot Division.
Close call: Two individual wins by jumper/thrower Warren Oliver helped Palmyra win the meet's closest decision, a 13-point win over Florence Township, to give Palmyra its first division title since 2004.
Fast finish: Moorestown senior Kevin Healey needed a 61-second last lap to fend off Northern Burlington junior Michael Bowden (4:28) in the 1,600, winning in a 15-second personal best 4:26.
Quote: "Your goal is you. Your goal is not the other person on the track," Burlington Township coach Sorina Haddock said. "Your goal is to identify what your best is and attack that goal so the focus is always on you and not on somebody else."
NORTHERN BURLINGTON – Let's hope Holy Cross freshman Shannon Grogan approaches waiting in line differently than she does racing.
"I don't like people being in front of me," the sprinter said.
The only number Grogan took Saturday at the Burlington County Divisional meet was No.1 – four times – helping the Crusaders match the Holy Cross boys team by winning their sixth straight Patriot Division title.
Racing on Northern Burlington High's track, Grogan won the 100 (12.97), 200 (26.8), 400 (1:01.99) and joined her upperclassmen teammates, Rose Johnson, Beth Peak and Rachel Byrne, to win the 4x400 (4:22.6).
"I just try to follow the seniors and juniors because they're such great and do my best for the team," she said.
Grogan raced on her first track this past winter, and while achieving her main objective of staying in shape for spring-time soccer, the freshman took home more gold medals than a novice should. Even with her success, Grogan was set to skip spring track.
But when spring came around, so did she – at the persuasion of coaches Mike Gouth and Ed Battaglia. Still, she has trouble following everything her coaches tell her.
"They tell me to race the clock but I just race the people in front of me," she said. "If I see somebody in front of me my goal is to get them. That's the first thing."
The Crusaders won eight total events , including seven of the nine races, to help give them a meet-best 181 points. Maple Shade was second with 106.
Johnson, a senior, was the Crusaders other double champion, winning the 400 hurdles (1:08.79) and the high jump (personal-best 5-3).
Based on the scouting report Gould gives her before the race, Johnson – a self-described anxious competitor – can't afford to run a split second slower.
"He always lies and says like 'They did so great' and 'You guys got competition' and 'They're running 4:08' so I get nervous," Johnson said. "He always does that and then you start running and you're like 'What happened?"
The Holy Cross boys won the Patriot Division more narrowly, staving off a comeback by Cinnaminson by scoring 138 points. The Pirates scored 123.
Senior thrower Frank Allen hurled a personal best 52-4.5 to win the shot put and a meet-best 150-8 to win the discus.
Between the two events, Allen – a 6-4 former heavyweight wrestler who weighs in at a fit 270 pounds -- goes from yin to yang, running wind sprints with teammate Aaron Faunt (second in shot) to get hyped.
"I went from discus, where you have to be nice and relaxed, not even thinking anything, to this," Allen said. "I need something to get me going. I need to be explosive when I throw shot."
Other male winners for the Crusaders included junior Matt Cusack in the 1,600 in 4:36 and senior Rich Fisher in the 400 in 50.24. The duo joined Dan Gasper and Terrance Osborne to win the 4x400 team (3:29.23) and Cusack ran a 9:59.71 in the 3,200 to place second to Cinnaminson junior Todd Campbell's impressive personal-best 9:48.6.
Campbell separated from Cusack after a couple laps and just kept separating.
"I was just trying to keep moving in the middle," he said. "I didn't want anybody to come up on me in the last 800."
Despite three gold medals and one silver from Moorestown senior Bryan Burnham – winner of the long jump, 100, and 200 – and an "out-of-body performance" by Moorestown senior Kevin Healey, who won the 1,600 in 4:26 with a 61-second final lap, the Northern Burlington boys won their first Liberty Division title ever, scoring 145 points to Moorestown's 125.
The team Dave Specca, Thaddeus Richards, Jarrett East-Brown and Saidu Mustaphu nearly clinched the division after winning the 4x400 relay in 3:25.94, a school record.
Coach Tim Tedesco credits East-Brown, owner of three silvers, as being a major contributor.
"He brought us up in the relay to help give our anchor a chance," Tedesco said.
East-Brown passes the credit to his distance squad, led by 3,200 winner junior Michael Bowden.
"We got some pretty fast kids. Our distance kids are amazing," East-Brown said. "They just come out and perform every meet."
The Burlington Township girls outpointed Moorestown (112) and others to win the Liberty Division title, winning five events including Tiffany Chamberlain's victories in the 400 hurdles (1:05.71) and the 100 hurdles (16.06).
"We never thought we would come out here and win these kind of meets, but I think this year we're learning the importance of teamwork and how if we do our responsibility we'll get at that spot that we've always wanted to," Chamberlain said.
Palmyra –led Warren Oliver wins in the javelin (165-5) and the high jump (6-4) -- won the boys Freedom Division with 149 points and despite fielding limited numbers, Florence won the girls' with 145 points.
NB: From Slow to Speedy, Kelly turns gears
Little did he know then, but Washington Township senior Chris Kelly may've locked up South Jersey's most improved award four years ago.
The then-freshman toiled the mile in 5:59, a pace that wouldn't win ribbons in gym nor have him confused for Speed Racer.
Slowly but surely, though, Kelly got faster, much faster.
At the stacked Henderson Invitational in West Chester, Pa. on May 2, Kelly, "the poster boy for hard work" as told by coach Rich Bostwick, ran the 3,200 in 9:53.51 and the 1,600 in a personal-best 4:27.55.
At the Woodbury Relays last month, Kelly anchored his distance medley relay team to a season-best 10:35.9, splitting 4:29 to smash any ideas by runner-up Cherokee senior Alex Yersak.
In some ways though, Kelly – whose 3.1 mile personal best at the end of his freshman cross-country season was above 20 minutes – has been catching Yersak for years.
"Training all three seasons, that's the best he can get," Bostwick said. "And now as a senior he's starting to get a little rivalry with Yersak. Think about that. Yersak was running like 16:00 [in cross country] as a freshman. He's always been good and now, here's this guy [Kelly] right behind him."
"It's not easy. I'm not going to lie," Kelly said after anchoring then for the first time. "I just tried to go out fast. It was a really, really tough finish."
At the Gloucester County Championship Wednesday, Kelly won the 3,200 in 9:56.7, followed by senior teammate Alex Clemson. Kelly also ran the 1,600 in 4:35, taking third to junior teammate Xavier Fraction (4:29.2) and Kingsway junior Ryan Culbreath (4:31.4).
The Minutemen won easily with 119.5 points. "I've never been on this kind of level of competing before," Kelly said. "I've always been like J.V. or thought of as 'Ah, he's just a two-miler.' But now it's like, 'Oh, all right, well let's see what he can do in the mile."
Ocean Deep in Distance
Ocean City is not acting like a team that lost its Indoor Group 3 State Champion in the 1,600 for the season.
Even with senior Ryan Birchmeier sidelined with a torn left hamstring, the Red Raiders are hoping to nationally qualify in the 4x1,600 today at the Ocean City Relays, a meet revived after a dormant decade, coach Matt Purdue said.
"We figured we would give teams a shot to qualify for that 4x1,600," Purdue said.
Senior Connor Martin, freshman Miles Schoedler, senior Stephen Hoffman and junior Brett Johnson fell short of the Nike Outdoor Nationals' 17:40 standard at the South Jersey Relays last Saturday, winning in 18:00.41.
Purdue feels the standard time – an average mile split of 4:25 – is achievable for a myriad of reasons: Saturday marked the first time Martin ran the 1,600, doing so in 4:33, Hoffman and Schoedler improve with each race and Johnson ran the last leg on tired legs – having gone 3:53 in the 1,500 two days prior – knowing the goal was virtually impossible when receiving the baton.
While Johnson, who split 4:19, stars in individual events, good role players are needed to win relays.
""It's been a nice surprise to have Miles join us. He's been working hard all spring," Purdue said. "And I think all the success Connor and Stephen had in cross country is giving them the confidence to run well on the track."
Martin said that part of his confidence stems from knowing Johnson is anchoring the relay.
"You still need to perform, but he's your closer," Martin said. "He's the best."
At the Woodbury Relays last month, Johnson was handed the baton about seven seconds behind Shawnee sophomore David Forward – perhaps the second fastest distance runner in South Jersey – and won the distance medley relay by four seconds, splitting a still-talked-about 4:10.
101 Dominations
Helping Haddon Heights move into conference clinching position Tuesday was West Deptford's 78.5-61.5 win over defending champ and previously unbeaten Haddonfield last week.
The victory -- or was it the one against the tri-meet's third wheel, Collingswood? – marked the 100th win for West Deptford's winningest coach Mark Dixon.
The 14-year head coach bumped his record to 101-36 with a 115-25 thumping over Audubon Tuesday.
As is the case this year with Boys' Track Indoor Athlete of the Year senior Dan Batdorf, who had cleared an outdoor-best 15-1 against Haddonfield, the Dixon-led Eagles (7-1) have always thrived in the pole vault.
A pole-vault coach for four years before heading the team, Dixon knows the difference a good vaulter makes, having produced four state champions,12 South Jersey champions and someone who qualified for the state championship each year.
But its impact might be felt most felt during dual meets.
"I think its an advantage for us because we can walk into a lot of meets and go 'Hey, we're going to take nine points here' because the other school doesn't think about it," said Dixon, the school's gym teacher. "Coaches may not know about it and be apprehensive so they just go and give it away. So you go into many meets up 9-0. I'll take that."
Drought over
With a 93-47 win over Willingboro Thursday to end its season, Northern Burlington won its first conference title in 40 years.
Not only did the Greyhounds clinch up the Burlington County League Liberty Division since 1968, but they defeated the Chimeras for the first time ever.
Coached by Tim Tedesco, the Greyhounds are led by junior distance runner Michael Bowden and senior hurdler Chris Tomori.
Atlantic County sparkles
With four teams in the Courier-Post's Top 20 – three in the top 10 – squaring off for the Atlantic County Championship Thursday, the only thing that you could be sure of was that a lot would be learned.
Turns out Pleasantville was another sure thing.
The Greyhounds stomped Absegami (96), Oakcrest (91) and Egg Harbor Township (88) by scoring 133 points.
No stranger to winning, senior Greyhound Kenny Davis beat the Egg Harbor Township duo of Stevenson Cajuste (14.5) and Tre Lathan (14.8) to win the high hurdles in 14.3.
Absegami senior Geoff Navarro (10.5) edged Egg Harbor's Tejay Johnson (10.6) in the 100 but was outleaned by Johnson (21.8) in the 200, losing by a tenth of a second.
Absegami junior Ford Palmer doubled in the 1,600 (4:27.7) and the 800 (1:57.4) followed by Oakcrest's Aaron Johnson (1:58.0) and Ray Johnson (1:58.7).
Area Highlights
Triton pole vaulter Matt Rawlik claimed the school record by clearing 13-2 in a 89-51 loss to Seneca.
Seneca newcomer Drew Kanz led the win, taking the triple jump (42-6), the long jump (19-4), the high jump and the 200 (23.8).
Kanz also won the triple jump and the high jump (6-2) at the Lenape Regional District Championship Thursday.
Cherry Hill East won 10 of 16 events in its 81-60 victory over Eastern Tuesday with distance runner Dave Berger, sprinter Ryan Mason and hurdler/jumper Chantz Powell each taking two events. Powell won the 110 hurdles in 14.6, Mason claimed the 200 in 22.8 and Berger won the 3,200 in 10:07 after running a 4:32 mile.
Palmyra's Warren Oliver won the javelin (158-3), the triple jump (40-8), the long jump (20-4) and a share of the high jump with teammate Jim Childs in a division-clinching 79-56 win over New Egypt.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kwabena Keene
Washington Township
Grade: Senior
Events: Shot put/ Discus
Accomplishments: Keene, long known for catapulting shots to orbit, has added discus to his repertoire this year, proving just as capable of chucking the disc at the Henderson Track & Field Invitational. The University of North Carolina-bound senior set two personal bests at the West Chester, Pa. meet on May 2, winning the shot put with a man-size toss of 58-9 and placing second in the discus with a throw of 152-1. Keene won both events at Wednesday's Gloucester County Championships to lead the Minutemen to the win. With about a month left in the season, Keene hopes to reach the 60-foot milestone to join his North Jersey counterparts, Morristown's Nicholas Vena and Scotch Plains-Fanwood Mike Alleman.
Quote: "I'm trying to become the Goliath," Keene said. "I know I'm definitely the David compared to them, because Alleman and Vena are definitely not small people. I'm trying to get there though."
The then-freshman toiled the mile in 5:59, a pace that wouldn't win ribbons in gym nor have him confused for Speed Racer.
Slowly but surely, though, Kelly got faster, much faster.
At the stacked Henderson Invitational in West Chester, Pa. on May 2, Kelly, "the poster boy for hard work" as told by coach Rich Bostwick, ran the 3,200 in 9:53.51 and the 1,600 in a personal-best 4:27.55.
At the Woodbury Relays last month, Kelly anchored his distance medley relay team to a season-best 10:35.9, splitting 4:29 to smash any ideas by runner-up Cherokee senior Alex Yersak.
In some ways though, Kelly – whose 3.1 mile personal best at the end of his freshman cross-country season was above 20 minutes – has been catching Yersak for years.
"Training all three seasons, that's the best he can get," Bostwick said. "And now as a senior he's starting to get a little rivalry with Yersak. Think about that. Yersak was running like 16:00 [in cross country] as a freshman. He's always been good and now, here's this guy [Kelly] right behind him."
"It's not easy. I'm not going to lie," Kelly said after anchoring then for the first time. "I just tried to go out fast. It was a really, really tough finish."
At the Gloucester County Championship Wednesday, Kelly won the 3,200 in 9:56.7, followed by senior teammate Alex Clemson. Kelly also ran the 1,600 in 4:35, taking third to junior teammate Xavier Fraction (4:29.2) and Kingsway junior Ryan Culbreath (4:31.4).
The Minutemen won easily with 119.5 points. "I've never been on this kind of level of competing before," Kelly said. "I've always been like J.V. or thought of as 'Ah, he's just a two-miler.' But now it's like, 'Oh, all right, well let's see what he can do in the mile."
Ocean Deep in Distance
Ocean City is not acting like a team that lost its Indoor Group 3 State Champion in the 1,600 for the season.
Even with senior Ryan Birchmeier sidelined with a torn left hamstring, the Red Raiders are hoping to nationally qualify in the 4x1,600 today at the Ocean City Relays, a meet revived after a dormant decade, coach Matt Purdue said.
"We figured we would give teams a shot to qualify for that 4x1,600," Purdue said.
Senior Connor Martin, freshman Miles Schoedler, senior Stephen Hoffman and junior Brett Johnson fell short of the Nike Outdoor Nationals' 17:40 standard at the South Jersey Relays last Saturday, winning in 18:00.41.
Purdue feels the standard time – an average mile split of 4:25 – is achievable for a myriad of reasons: Saturday marked the first time Martin ran the 1,600, doing so in 4:33, Hoffman and Schoedler improve with each race and Johnson ran the last leg on tired legs – having gone 3:53 in the 1,500 two days prior – knowing the goal was virtually impossible when receiving the baton.
While Johnson, who split 4:19, stars in individual events, good role players are needed to win relays.
""It's been a nice surprise to have Miles join us. He's been working hard all spring," Purdue said. "And I think all the success Connor and Stephen had in cross country is giving them the confidence to run well on the track."
Martin said that part of his confidence stems from knowing Johnson is anchoring the relay.
"You still need to perform, but he's your closer," Martin said. "He's the best."
At the Woodbury Relays last month, Johnson was handed the baton about seven seconds behind Shawnee sophomore David Forward – perhaps the second fastest distance runner in South Jersey – and won the distance medley relay by four seconds, splitting a still-talked-about 4:10.
101 Dominations
Helping Haddon Heights move into conference clinching position Tuesday was West Deptford's 78.5-61.5 win over defending champ and previously unbeaten Haddonfield last week.
The victory -- or was it the one against the tri-meet's third wheel, Collingswood? – marked the 100th win for West Deptford's winningest coach Mark Dixon.
The 14-year head coach bumped his record to 101-36 with a 115-25 thumping over Audubon Tuesday.
As is the case this year with Boys' Track Indoor Athlete of the Year senior Dan Batdorf, who had cleared an outdoor-best 15-1 against Haddonfield, the Dixon-led Eagles (7-1) have always thrived in the pole vault.
A pole-vault coach for four years before heading the team, Dixon knows the difference a good vaulter makes, having produced four state champions,12 South Jersey champions and someone who qualified for the state championship each year.
But its impact might be felt most felt during dual meets.
"I think its an advantage for us because we can walk into a lot of meets and go 'Hey, we're going to take nine points here' because the other school doesn't think about it," said Dixon, the school's gym teacher. "Coaches may not know about it and be apprehensive so they just go and give it away. So you go into many meets up 9-0. I'll take that."
Drought over
With a 93-47 win over Willingboro Thursday to end its season, Northern Burlington won its first conference title in 40 years.
Not only did the Greyhounds clinch up the Burlington County League Liberty Division since 1968, but they defeated the Chimeras for the first time ever.
Coached by Tim Tedesco, the Greyhounds are led by junior distance runner Michael Bowden and senior hurdler Chris Tomori.
Atlantic County sparkles
With four teams in the Courier-Post's Top 20 – three in the top 10 – squaring off for the Atlantic County Championship Thursday, the only thing that you could be sure of was that a lot would be learned.
Turns out Pleasantville was another sure thing.
The Greyhounds stomped Absegami (96), Oakcrest (91) and Egg Harbor Township (88) by scoring 133 points.
No stranger to winning, senior Greyhound Kenny Davis beat the Egg Harbor Township duo of Stevenson Cajuste (14.5) and Tre Lathan (14.8) to win the high hurdles in 14.3.
Absegami senior Geoff Navarro (10.5) edged Egg Harbor's Tejay Johnson (10.6) in the 100 but was outleaned by Johnson (21.8) in the 200, losing by a tenth of a second.
Absegami junior Ford Palmer doubled in the 1,600 (4:27.7) and the 800 (1:57.4) followed by Oakcrest's Aaron Johnson (1:58.0) and Ray Johnson (1:58.7).
Area Highlights
Triton pole vaulter Matt Rawlik claimed the school record by clearing 13-2 in a 89-51 loss to Seneca.
Seneca newcomer Drew Kanz led the win, taking the triple jump (42-6), the long jump (19-4), the high jump and the 200 (23.8).
Kanz also won the triple jump and the high jump (6-2) at the Lenape Regional District Championship Thursday.
Cherry Hill East won 10 of 16 events in its 81-60 victory over Eastern Tuesday with distance runner Dave Berger, sprinter Ryan Mason and hurdler/jumper Chantz Powell each taking two events. Powell won the 110 hurdles in 14.6, Mason claimed the 200 in 22.8 and Berger won the 3,200 in 10:07 after running a 4:32 mile.
Palmyra's Warren Oliver won the javelin (158-3), the triple jump (40-8), the long jump (20-4) and a share of the high jump with teammate Jim Childs in a division-clinching 79-56 win over New Egypt.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kwabena Keene
Washington Township
Grade: Senior
Events: Shot put/ Discus
Accomplishments: Keene, long known for catapulting shots to orbit, has added discus to his repertoire this year, proving just as capable of chucking the disc at the Henderson Track & Field Invitational. The University of North Carolina-bound senior set two personal bests at the West Chester, Pa. meet on May 2, winning the shot put with a man-size toss of 58-9 and placing second in the discus with a throw of 152-1. Keene won both events at Wednesday's Gloucester County Championships to lead the Minutemen to the win. With about a month left in the season, Keene hopes to reach the 60-foot milestone to join his North Jersey counterparts, Morristown's Nicholas Vena and Scotch Plains-Fanwood Mike Alleman.
Quote: "I'm trying to become the Goliath," Keene said. "I know I'm definitely the David compared to them, because Alleman and Vena are definitely not small people. I'm trying to get there though."
Walls jumps himself in front at Buena
(Pub May 4)
Leaders: Glassboro won four events, the 4x800, the 4x100, the 4x110 shuttle hurdles and the triple jump, to lead Division 1. Absegami, Camden and Winslow Township each led Division 2 with two wins apiece.
Ford tough: The Absegami quartet of Kambui Little, Demetrius Rooks, Geoff Navarro
and Ford Palmer ran away with the Division 2 sprint medley, blazing to a meet-fast 3:33.76. Palmer also anchored the winning 4x800 to a meet-best 8:07.31.
On the Prowl: Camden's tandem of Wayne Walls and Ameer Waugh won the triple jump relay combining for 86-9 feet.
Quote: "We wanted to show up as a team today and together we'll try to get better for sectionals and then go into states," Waugh said.
BUENA – No matter what he tweaked or added to his triple-jump routine, Camden junior Wayne Walls knew he wasn't the same jumper as he was during the winter.
Turns out the right remedy to get the lead out of his legs, at least during the South Jersey Relays , involved five early hours of penciling in empty circles and not warming up for the event.
Even with the SAT excuse in his pocket, Walls managed to jump a season-best 44-0, Saturday's farthest jump, joining senior teammate Ameer Waugh to win the Division 2 triple jump relay with a combined total of 86-9.
Eager to give his all to the Buena meet, Walls thought about bumping his SAT test date to June 7 – until coach Greg Foster told him to think again.
"If you don't take the SATS, you're not jumping," the second-year coach told him. "I strong-armed him into taking it."
But Walls wasn't too giddy to jump anyway, not after landing a dud at Thursday's South Jersey Open. A multi-event athlete, Walls thought he had a better chance of placing in the 4x400 hurdles than in the triple jump.
"I didn't think I was going to do well at all because of the other day," Walls said. "I messed up a little bit there. I really didn't want to do it."
Given more than enough math problems to mull over in the morning, Walls was given another number to consider.
"I twisted his arm," Foster said," and said 'Listen, we got sectionals coming up in three weeks and you haven't been triple jumping. You could use the practice."
Walls jumped 43-0 feet in his first attempt raw and eventually warmed to the task, outleaping Timber Creek's Eric Smith (43-2.5) by ending it with the winning 44-0. Waugh -- who joined the other half of the winning Division 2 long-jump tandem, Syteek Farrington, to cover 41-11.25 -- placed third, hopping 42-9.
Walls had worked on slowing his steps, concentrating on each of the three phases and building leg muscle through a combination of leg exercise and workouts.
Foster knew it was just a matter of time before Walls put it all together.
"We have high expectations because he jumped 45 feet indoors," the coach said. "We're happy he's finding his rhythm back."
The Glassboro duo of Ryan Chance and PJ James won the Division 1 triple jump, combining for 85-5. Chance was also part of the 4x110 shuttle hurdles team, alongside teammates Derick Palme, Tom Jones and Chris Rennles, that outleaned Burlngton Township to win in 1:03.82.
Cherokee's foursome of Kevin Merrigan, Niraj Patel, Chris Steliga and Will Rapp won the meet's 4x100 relay for the first time in school history in a meet-best 42.81.
Traditionally a team built on distance, Cherokee has morphed with Merrigan. A senior, Merrigan has been the Chiefs' catalyst for change, dropping the baseball glove for spikes last year and recruiting Rapp, a junior, this year.
Coach Steve Shaklee said despite its inexperience, the relay team has gelled nicely under the guidance of assistant coach Chris Callihan.
"One of the things we do really well is handoffs and that's because Chris is very technically and gets them the technique they need to do it properly," Shaklee said. "That makes a big difference in a 4x100."
Two days after setting the current U.S. best in the 1,500, Ocean City junior Brett Johnson was back anchoring the Red Raiders' 4x1,600 team of Connor Martin, Miles Schoedler and Stephen Hoffman to a come-back 18:00.41 victory.
A personal-best 4:34 mile by Hoffman brought the Red Raiders from fourth to second. Then Johnson, hot on the trail of frontrunner Haddonfield sophomore Colin Baker for three laps, pulled away in a 60 second last lap for a 4:19 split.
Johnson knew he needed to run closer to the miracle mile of 4:00 to qualify his time for Nationals (the standard is 17:40), but opted to cruise instead, trailing frontrunner Haddonfield sophomore Colin Baker for three laps before pulling away with a fast 60 second final lap for a 4:19 split.
"I felt really good. I just opened it up," Johnson said. "During the last lap, I was probably being an idiot and looking back, but I didn't want to exert more than I had to do. "
Leaders: Glassboro won four events, the 4x800, the 4x100, the 4x110 shuttle hurdles and the triple jump, to lead Division 1. Absegami, Camden and Winslow Township each led Division 2 with two wins apiece.
Ford tough: The Absegami quartet of Kambui Little, Demetrius Rooks, Geoff Navarro
and Ford Palmer ran away with the Division 2 sprint medley, blazing to a meet-fast 3:33.76. Palmer also anchored the winning 4x800 to a meet-best 8:07.31.
On the Prowl: Camden's tandem of Wayne Walls and Ameer Waugh won the triple jump relay combining for 86-9 feet.
Quote: "We wanted to show up as a team today and together we'll try to get better for sectionals and then go into states," Waugh said.
BUENA – No matter what he tweaked or added to his triple-jump routine, Camden junior Wayne Walls knew he wasn't the same jumper as he was during the winter.
Turns out the right remedy to get the lead out of his legs, at least during the South Jersey Relays , involved five early hours of penciling in empty circles and not warming up for the event.
Even with the SAT excuse in his pocket, Walls managed to jump a season-best 44-0, Saturday's farthest jump, joining senior teammate Ameer Waugh to win the Division 2 triple jump relay with a combined total of 86-9.
Eager to give his all to the Buena meet, Walls thought about bumping his SAT test date to June 7 – until coach Greg Foster told him to think again.
"If you don't take the SATS, you're not jumping," the second-year coach told him. "I strong-armed him into taking it."
But Walls wasn't too giddy to jump anyway, not after landing a dud at Thursday's South Jersey Open. A multi-event athlete, Walls thought he had a better chance of placing in the 4x400 hurdles than in the triple jump.
"I didn't think I was going to do well at all because of the other day," Walls said. "I messed up a little bit there. I really didn't want to do it."
Given more than enough math problems to mull over in the morning, Walls was given another number to consider.
"I twisted his arm," Foster said," and said 'Listen, we got sectionals coming up in three weeks and you haven't been triple jumping. You could use the practice."
Walls jumped 43-0 feet in his first attempt raw and eventually warmed to the task, outleaping Timber Creek's Eric Smith (43-2.5) by ending it with the winning 44-0. Waugh -- who joined the other half of the winning Division 2 long-jump tandem, Syteek Farrington, to cover 41-11.25 -- placed third, hopping 42-9.
Walls had worked on slowing his steps, concentrating on each of the three phases and building leg muscle through a combination of leg exercise and workouts.
Foster knew it was just a matter of time before Walls put it all together.
"We have high expectations because he jumped 45 feet indoors," the coach said. "We're happy he's finding his rhythm back."
The Glassboro duo of Ryan Chance and PJ James won the Division 1 triple jump, combining for 85-5. Chance was also part of the 4x110 shuttle hurdles team, alongside teammates Derick Palme, Tom Jones and Chris Rennles, that outleaned Burlngton Township to win in 1:03.82.
Cherokee's foursome of Kevin Merrigan, Niraj Patel, Chris Steliga and Will Rapp won the meet's 4x100 relay for the first time in school history in a meet-best 42.81.
Traditionally a team built on distance, Cherokee has morphed with Merrigan. A senior, Merrigan has been the Chiefs' catalyst for change, dropping the baseball glove for spikes last year and recruiting Rapp, a junior, this year.
Coach Steve Shaklee said despite its inexperience, the relay team has gelled nicely under the guidance of assistant coach Chris Callihan.
"One of the things we do really well is handoffs and that's because Chris is very technically and gets them the technique they need to do it properly," Shaklee said. "That makes a big difference in a 4x100."
Two days after setting the current U.S. best in the 1,500, Ocean City junior Brett Johnson was back anchoring the Red Raiders' 4x1,600 team of Connor Martin, Miles Schoedler and Stephen Hoffman to a come-back 18:00.41 victory.
A personal-best 4:34 mile by Hoffman brought the Red Raiders from fourth to second. Then Johnson, hot on the trail of frontrunner Haddonfield sophomore Colin Baker for three laps, pulled away in a 60 second last lap for a 4:19 split.
Johnson knew he needed to run closer to the miracle mile of 4:00 to qualify his time for Nationals (the standard is 17:40), but opted to cruise instead, trailing frontrunner Haddonfield sophomore Colin Baker for three laps before pulling away with a fast 60 second final lap for a 4:19 split.
"I felt really good. I just opened it up," Johnson said. "During the last lap, I was probably being an idiot and looking back, but I didn't want to exert more than I had to do. "
NB: Johnson adds to early legend
(Pub May 3)
Brett Johnson, who seems to be entering the realm of Chuck Norrisesque folklore in only his junior year after posting times of 1:52.8 in a dual-meet 800 and a split of 4:10 in the 1,600 leg of a distance medley relay, added a new wrinkle to his season story, traveling to North Country to set a U.S. best in the 1,500 Thursday.
In the Ironman Invitational race ran at Don Bosco, the Ocean City runner posted a 3:53.71, more than 11 seconds better than runner-up Dos Bosco Prep's Robert Molke (4:05.19). No sightings of a giant blue ox reported either.
The O.C. Finale
A hamstring injury initially thought to be a sprain for Ocean City senior Ryan Birchmeier is now being ruled a tear, effectively ending a dazzling year for the long-distance runner and the chance of seeing one of the greatest distance duos, alongside junior teammate Brett Johnson, in South Jersey history, assistant coach Bill Moreland said.
The Saint Joseph University-bound runner came back last spring from an IT band injury suffered during the 2006 cross-country season. Heavy summer mileage helped Birchmeier pull off two of the most impressive seasons this year, taking second only to Johnson in the Cross Country Group 3 State Championships in 16:10 and first in the Indoor Track Group 3 State Championships' 1,600 in a season-best 4:20.
Birchmeier injured himself during a pre-season sprint workout.
A Tough Loss
The cause of injury has yet to be determined, or at least discovered by this reporter, but reports from a team source say that Holy Cross senior Mike Sheehan may not compete again this spring. Best case scenario, says the source, is the long-distance runner being ready for the Non Public State Championship.
Sheehan – who anchored the team of Terrance Osborne, Rich Fisher and Matt Cusack with a 4:22 mile split to win the Group 2 distance medley relay at April 21 Woodbury Relays in 10:32.3 – plans to join the naval academy in Annapolis upon graduation.
Comes in Threes
For the sake of closure, Haddon Heights junior Josh Black is also out for the season, coach Matt Martin said. Even if healthy, Black -- who hasn't competed since injuring his back late in the cross-country season – has missed too much time to contend at the level that made him elite this past fall.
Even without Black, the Garnets are enjoying a turnaround year thanks to a myriad of surprises including jumpers Chris Roundtree, AJ Toliver and runner Colin Lynch.
After beating West Deptford April 14 and seeing West Deptford take down defending conference champ, Haddonfield, Wednesday, Haddon Heights needs to beat No.19-ranked Haddonfield Tuesday to clinch the Colonial Conference.
Names
Due to space limitations, a couple cool names were bumped to this issue. To recap, Egg Harbor Township freshman runner Dustin Roadside, Washington Township junior runner Xavier Fraction, Cherokee junior jumper Major Mobley, Haddonfield sophomore runner Boo Vitez and Glassboro junior sprinter James Brown all have some great tags. But no matter how a moniker is constructed, the holder needs a varsity letter to be considered.
Tivo Rivera – While the device with the same name can record missed episodes of "The Office", this Tivo is much more valuable. The Kingsway mid-distance runner, known as Tivosiel to his parents, entered this year as one of track's most heralded freshmen and has shown why this spring, fixing himself into the Dragons' 4x400 and 4x800 relays and belting out consistent 2:00 to 2:03 splits in the latter. Not bad for a ninth grader.
Ford Palmer – If there was ever a name that seemed to guarantee glory on the gridiron, Ford Palmer might as well be it. A rare double sport athlete in football and track, specifically mid-distance running, this Absegami junior has been among the best 800 runners in South Jersey since last spring when he placed seventh at the Meet of Champions in 1:54.41.
Last Saturday at the Penn Relays Palmer joined Geoff Navarro, Demetrius Rooks and sophomore Santiago Galeano to win a 4x400 heat (event No.192) in 3:21.40, a school record that eclipses the 20-plus-year-old mark of 3:23.
While Palmer placed second to Lenape junior Ryan Garvin (1:55.55) in the 800 at Thursday's South Jersey Open in 1:55.97, senior teammates Navarro and Rooks combined for three gold medals; Navarro won the 100 (11.1) and the 400 (48.96) and Rooks won the 400 intermediate hurdles in 54.69.
Thursday Notables
Just because a number of triple jumpers surpassed 43 feet at the South Jersey Open doesn't make the feat any less impressive. Coming in first with a moon jump of 43-5.5 was Schalick senior Matt Kates, second was Haddon Heights junior Chris Roundtree (43-2.75), third was Glassboro freshman P.J. James (43-2.25) and fourth was Glassboro junior Ryan Chance (43-2).
Pennsauken shot putter Joseph Carmichael threw a personal-best 52-11 to stave off Holy Cross senior Frank Allen (49-1).
And despite coming in second in the 1,600, Bishop Eustace junior Andy Arnold came a long way from last year in the event, finishing behind only Shawnee sophomore David Forward in a personal-best 4:24.66. Arnold finished 16th in the 1,600 in 4:29.73 at the Indoor Meet of Champions this past winter.
Reach Steve Wood at swood@courierpostonline.com.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
David Forward
Shawnee
Grade: Sophomore
Event: Distance
Accomplishment: Success in the 3,200 has kept Forward away from his first love, the 1,600, at group meets. When given the chance, though, Forward makes it count. After lowering his personal record by 11 seconds last year at the SJ Open, the sophomore came full circle Thursday, shaving nearly seven more seconds off his personal record by finishing the last 800 in 2:08 to hold off Bishop Eustace's Andy Arnold in 4:22.82. Forward plans to run another 1,600 today as part of the South Jersey Relays' 4x1,600.
Quote: "I think I could've gone out faster," Forward said. "All week I was planning to go out in 64 [seconds], 65 , but every time when there's one lap left there's doubts in my mind and I'm like 'Let him go just this once.' But I felt pretty good. The striders on the line, my legs felt really light and I knew I had something left."
Brett Johnson, who seems to be entering the realm of Chuck Norrisesque folklore in only his junior year after posting times of 1:52.8 in a dual-meet 800 and a split of 4:10 in the 1,600 leg of a distance medley relay, added a new wrinkle to his season story, traveling to North Country to set a U.S. best in the 1,500 Thursday.
In the Ironman Invitational race ran at Don Bosco, the Ocean City runner posted a 3:53.71, more than 11 seconds better than runner-up Dos Bosco Prep's Robert Molke (4:05.19). No sightings of a giant blue ox reported either.
The O.C. Finale
A hamstring injury initially thought to be a sprain for Ocean City senior Ryan Birchmeier is now being ruled a tear, effectively ending a dazzling year for the long-distance runner and the chance of seeing one of the greatest distance duos, alongside junior teammate Brett Johnson, in South Jersey history, assistant coach Bill Moreland said.
The Saint Joseph University-bound runner came back last spring from an IT band injury suffered during the 2006 cross-country season. Heavy summer mileage helped Birchmeier pull off two of the most impressive seasons this year, taking second only to Johnson in the Cross Country Group 3 State Championships in 16:10 and first in the Indoor Track Group 3 State Championships' 1,600 in a season-best 4:20.
Birchmeier injured himself during a pre-season sprint workout.
A Tough Loss
The cause of injury has yet to be determined, or at least discovered by this reporter, but reports from a team source say that Holy Cross senior Mike Sheehan may not compete again this spring. Best case scenario, says the source, is the long-distance runner being ready for the Non Public State Championship.
Sheehan – who anchored the team of Terrance Osborne, Rich Fisher and Matt Cusack with a 4:22 mile split to win the Group 2 distance medley relay at April 21 Woodbury Relays in 10:32.3 – plans to join the naval academy in Annapolis upon graduation.
Comes in Threes
For the sake of closure, Haddon Heights junior Josh Black is also out for the season, coach Matt Martin said. Even if healthy, Black -- who hasn't competed since injuring his back late in the cross-country season – has missed too much time to contend at the level that made him elite this past fall.
Even without Black, the Garnets are enjoying a turnaround year thanks to a myriad of surprises including jumpers Chris Roundtree, AJ Toliver and runner Colin Lynch.
After beating West Deptford April 14 and seeing West Deptford take down defending conference champ, Haddonfield, Wednesday, Haddon Heights needs to beat No.19-ranked Haddonfield Tuesday to clinch the Colonial Conference.
Names
Due to space limitations, a couple cool names were bumped to this issue. To recap, Egg Harbor Township freshman runner Dustin Roadside, Washington Township junior runner Xavier Fraction, Cherokee junior jumper Major Mobley, Haddonfield sophomore runner Boo Vitez and Glassboro junior sprinter James Brown all have some great tags. But no matter how a moniker is constructed, the holder needs a varsity letter to be considered.
Tivo Rivera – While the device with the same name can record missed episodes of "The Office", this Tivo is much more valuable. The Kingsway mid-distance runner, known as Tivosiel to his parents, entered this year as one of track's most heralded freshmen and has shown why this spring, fixing himself into the Dragons' 4x400 and 4x800 relays and belting out consistent 2:00 to 2:03 splits in the latter. Not bad for a ninth grader.
Ford Palmer – If there was ever a name that seemed to guarantee glory on the gridiron, Ford Palmer might as well be it. A rare double sport athlete in football and track, specifically mid-distance running, this Absegami junior has been among the best 800 runners in South Jersey since last spring when he placed seventh at the Meet of Champions in 1:54.41.
Last Saturday at the Penn Relays Palmer joined Geoff Navarro, Demetrius Rooks and sophomore Santiago Galeano to win a 4x400 heat (event No.192) in 3:21.40, a school record that eclipses the 20-plus-year-old mark of 3:23.
While Palmer placed second to Lenape junior Ryan Garvin (1:55.55) in the 800 at Thursday's South Jersey Open in 1:55.97, senior teammates Navarro and Rooks combined for three gold medals; Navarro won the 100 (11.1) and the 400 (48.96) and Rooks won the 400 intermediate hurdles in 54.69.
Thursday Notables
Just because a number of triple jumpers surpassed 43 feet at the South Jersey Open doesn't make the feat any less impressive. Coming in first with a moon jump of 43-5.5 was Schalick senior Matt Kates, second was Haddon Heights junior Chris Roundtree (43-2.75), third was Glassboro freshman P.J. James (43-2.25) and fourth was Glassboro junior Ryan Chance (43-2).
Pennsauken shot putter Joseph Carmichael threw a personal-best 52-11 to stave off Holy Cross senior Frank Allen (49-1).
And despite coming in second in the 1,600, Bishop Eustace junior Andy Arnold came a long way from last year in the event, finishing behind only Shawnee sophomore David Forward in a personal-best 4:24.66. Arnold finished 16th in the 1,600 in 4:29.73 at the Indoor Meet of Champions this past winter.
Reach Steve Wood at swood@courierpostonline.com.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
David Forward
Shawnee
Grade: Sophomore
Event: Distance
Accomplishment: Success in the 3,200 has kept Forward away from his first love, the 1,600, at group meets. When given the chance, though, Forward makes it count. After lowering his personal record by 11 seconds last year at the SJ Open, the sophomore came full circle Thursday, shaving nearly seven more seconds off his personal record by finishing the last 800 in 2:08 to hold off Bishop Eustace's Andy Arnold in 4:22.82. Forward plans to run another 1,600 today as part of the South Jersey Relays' 4x1,600.
Quote: "I think I could've gone out faster," Forward said. "All week I was planning to go out in 64 [seconds], 65 , but every time when there's one lap left there's doubts in my mind and I'm like 'Let him go just this once.' But I felt pretty good. The striders on the line, my legs felt really light and I knew I had something left."
Penn Relays: Winslow 4x400 wins then bows with bronze - Day 3
(Pub April 27)
Winslow Wins: The team of Darin Washington, Barry Cephas, Gerald Stephens-Holland and Davis McNeil won the 4x400 South Jersey Large School Championship in a year-best 3:17.98, holding off Delsea, the 2007 winner.
Big Penn: An estimated crowd of 49,831 attended the final day of the 114th Annual Penn Relays, the largest turnout this weekend and the second largest ever.
Quote: "I'm not saying it's not scary, because you have all these people watching you," McNeil said. But you got to remember to keep your mind straight, and focus on the race and give it everything you got."
PHILADELPHIA – Winslow Township won't say that missing the cut for the 4x400 Championship of America, arguably the biggest high-school race at the Penn Relays, was beneficial, but things sure went its way in the 4x400 Philadelphia Area Championship Saturday.
Having beaten Delsea by nearly six seconds in a year-best 3:17.78 to win the 4x400 South Jersey Large School Championship, Winslow Township soon discovered its time was two tenths of a second too slow to qualify for the eight-team race, sending the Eagles to scrap in the 12-team consolation race.
And scrap the Eagles' team of Darin Washington, Barry Cephas, Gerald Stephens-Holland and Davis McNeil did, placing third in 3:22.59
Representing the top seed, Washington, a senior, started off on the inside lane and then – with the bang of a gun – restarted after the fight for inside position left two runners facedown.
It hurt Washington to race having had strained his right calf during his previous race, but he welcomed a new start after being boxed in the moment he left the stripe.
And he wasn't about to make the same mistake with 49,831 fanatics watching.
"I knew I had to get out much faster," the senior said.
This time Washington launched off the line, grabbing the lead after 100 meters and then slipping to second before his handoff with Cephas .
"The restart to me was a godsend," coach Larry Hickman said. "On the second start Darin really got out and did what he was supposed to do."
Before running out of luck, the Eagles lucked out once more when the frontrunner from Father Judge (Pa.) dropped off along the homestretch to pick up his dropped baton, a mistake that Cephas – who ran a team-quick 48.0 leg in the preliminary – pounced on, dusting him before the stunned crowd.
The Eagles' foursome lost to Engineering & Science (3:22.24) and North Penn (3:22.40), suffering their first head-to-head defeat since last spring's Meet of Champions, but kept their unblemished record against state schools intact. Delsea finished sixth in 3:26.17.
Sterling's 4x400 team of Chris Ward, Greg Taylor, Robert Friedman and Matt Long outlasted Burlington Township (3:29.23), Holy Cross (3:30.06) and others to win the South Jersey Small School Championship in 3:27.85, but did not advance.
Throughout the final day of the Penn Relays, many teams slowed even when stacked among better competition, a phenomenon that Hickman chalks up to fatigue and chilly, breezy weather.
West Deptford pole vaulter Dan Batdorf only had to look at the flags to see a bad omen.
The flags atop Franklin Field rippled in one direction, the towel wrapped around the standard pole blew another and the end result was Batdorf tying for sixth with a jump of 14-3.25.
"You can feel it when you run," said the senior who arched 15-6 indoors. "Sometimes you'll be running and you feel a gust of wind and it completely ruins the jump."
Egg Harbor Township senior Stevenson Cajuste started the high-school portion of the meet by placing seventh in the 400-meter Hurdles Championship in a personal-best 54.94.
A week after jumping 7-0, Timber Creek high jumper Montez Blair came back to Earth, clearing 6-7.75, good for a medal and a share of fourth pace.
The field wasn't kind to Cherokee senior Chris Steliga either. After advancing to the championship round with a jump of 22-8, the long jumper fouled three times, finishing eighth.
Steliga tried to make adjustments in between his botched attempts,
"After my first [foul] I was thinking 'No big deal, it happens,'" Steliga said, "but on the second one, I was off by like three feet and I was like 'Oh, shoot' so I had to move my steps up. The last one I fouled by a quarter of an inch."
Seeded second in the 4x800 Championship of America after running a school-record 7:51.07, Washington Township's team of Steve Morrone, Nick Krauss, Tim Carey and Xavier Fraction had trouble finding their legs, finishing in 8:06.95.
Although most of the girl events concluded Friday, the 4x400 Philadelphia Area Championship was saved for Saturday. After winning the South Jersey Large School Championship Thursday, the Camden relay team of Jamie Jones, Miriam Boyd, Shaquanda Gainey and Kamice Smalls finished fourth in 3:57.67. Woodrow Wilson placed sixth in 4:01.11.
Winslow Wins: The team of Darin Washington, Barry Cephas, Gerald Stephens-Holland and Davis McNeil won the 4x400 South Jersey Large School Championship in a year-best 3:17.98, holding off Delsea, the 2007 winner.
Big Penn: An estimated crowd of 49,831 attended the final day of the 114th Annual Penn Relays, the largest turnout this weekend and the second largest ever.
Quote: "I'm not saying it's not scary, because you have all these people watching you," McNeil said. But you got to remember to keep your mind straight, and focus on the race and give it everything you got."
PHILADELPHIA – Winslow Township won't say that missing the cut for the 4x400 Championship of America, arguably the biggest high-school race at the Penn Relays, was beneficial, but things sure went its way in the 4x400 Philadelphia Area Championship Saturday.
Having beaten Delsea by nearly six seconds in a year-best 3:17.78 to win the 4x400 South Jersey Large School Championship, Winslow Township soon discovered its time was two tenths of a second too slow to qualify for the eight-team race, sending the Eagles to scrap in the 12-team consolation race.
And scrap the Eagles' team of Darin Washington, Barry Cephas, Gerald Stephens-Holland and Davis McNeil did, placing third in 3:22.59
Representing the top seed, Washington, a senior, started off on the inside lane and then – with the bang of a gun – restarted after the fight for inside position left two runners facedown.
It hurt Washington to race having had strained his right calf during his previous race, but he welcomed a new start after being boxed in the moment he left the stripe.
And he wasn't about to make the same mistake with 49,831 fanatics watching.
"I knew I had to get out much faster," the senior said.
This time Washington launched off the line, grabbing the lead after 100 meters and then slipping to second before his handoff with Cephas .
"The restart to me was a godsend," coach Larry Hickman said. "On the second start Darin really got out and did what he was supposed to do."
Before running out of luck, the Eagles lucked out once more when the frontrunner from Father Judge (Pa.) dropped off along the homestretch to pick up his dropped baton, a mistake that Cephas – who ran a team-quick 48.0 leg in the preliminary – pounced on, dusting him before the stunned crowd.
The Eagles' foursome lost to Engineering & Science (3:22.24) and North Penn (3:22.40), suffering their first head-to-head defeat since last spring's Meet of Champions, but kept their unblemished record against state schools intact. Delsea finished sixth in 3:26.17.
Sterling's 4x400 team of Chris Ward, Greg Taylor, Robert Friedman and Matt Long outlasted Burlington Township (3:29.23), Holy Cross (3:30.06) and others to win the South Jersey Small School Championship in 3:27.85, but did not advance.
Throughout the final day of the Penn Relays, many teams slowed even when stacked among better competition, a phenomenon that Hickman chalks up to fatigue and chilly, breezy weather.
West Deptford pole vaulter Dan Batdorf only had to look at the flags to see a bad omen.
The flags atop Franklin Field rippled in one direction, the towel wrapped around the standard pole blew another and the end result was Batdorf tying for sixth with a jump of 14-3.25.
"You can feel it when you run," said the senior who arched 15-6 indoors. "Sometimes you'll be running and you feel a gust of wind and it completely ruins the jump."
Egg Harbor Township senior Stevenson Cajuste started the high-school portion of the meet by placing seventh in the 400-meter Hurdles Championship in a personal-best 54.94.
A week after jumping 7-0, Timber Creek high jumper Montez Blair came back to Earth, clearing 6-7.75, good for a medal and a share of fourth pace.
The field wasn't kind to Cherokee senior Chris Steliga either. After advancing to the championship round with a jump of 22-8, the long jumper fouled three times, finishing eighth.
Steliga tried to make adjustments in between his botched attempts,
"After my first [foul] I was thinking 'No big deal, it happens,'" Steliga said, "but on the second one, I was off by like three feet and I was like 'Oh, shoot' so I had to move my steps up. The last one I fouled by a quarter of an inch."
Seeded second in the 4x800 Championship of America after running a school-record 7:51.07, Washington Township's team of Steve Morrone, Nick Krauss, Tim Carey and Xavier Fraction had trouble finding their legs, finishing in 8:06.95.
Although most of the girl events concluded Friday, the 4x400 Philadelphia Area Championship was saved for Saturday. After winning the South Jersey Large School Championship Thursday, the Camden relay team of Jamie Jones, Miriam Boyd, Shaquanda Gainey and Kamice Smalls finished fourth in 3:57.67. Woodrow Wilson placed sixth in 4:01.11.
Penn Relays: Carey helps Minutemen 4x800 to silver, school record - Day 2
(Pub April 25)
PHILADELPHIA – Hidden away on the third leg of Washington Township's 4x800, junior Tim Carey can easily be forgotten.
In fact, if done right, Carey hands off the lead to anchor Xavier Fraction, who, in turn, blazes to a glorious finish, leaving everyone before Fraction remembered as just that: everyone before Fraction.
But entering the Penn Relays Friday, coach Rich Bostwick had trouble forgetting Carey's 1,600 performance last Tuesday. Carey struggled to break five minutes in the dual meet, an atypical performance for someone accustomed to breaking 2:00 in the 800.
"He said he was trying," Bostwick said. "Tell me that shouldn't scare me."
But if Bostwick's confidence in Carey wavered at all Saturday, he didn't show it, keeping Carey -- one fourth of the relay team that once held the nation's best time this past winter -- in the fastest 4x800 heat at the Penn Relays.
"We got to have him there because he might run up to his potential," he said, "and that is 1:52."
The move helped the Minutemen's team of Steve Morrone, Nick Krauss, Carey and Fraction finish second in both its heat and the field of 70 teams in 7:51.07, a school record.
With an estimated crowd of 39,904 looking on, Carey belt out a 1:58.1, a time bested by only one teammate, Fraction, who clocked in the second fastest leg of the meet, a blazing 1:54.7 that swallowed three frontrunners. Hillsborough, NJ. won in 7:47.44.
"They didn't give up. They went for it and took some chances," Bostwick said.
The Minutemen had their chance to compete against the country's best teams at the Indoor National Championships last winter, but Bostwick opted not to, knowing that a race that deep into the indoor season would disrupt their spring training.
So the big test was moved to April 26, a day known by track athletes as the middle block of Penn's three-day meet, and one known by Washington Township juniors, including Carey, Fraction and Krauss (1:58.6), as the Junior Prom.
Despite every relay member but sophomore Morrone (1:59.7) morphing into tuxedoes Friday night, Bostwick said the focus never shifted.
"They're been wanting this one ever since indoors," he said.
The performance advances the Minutemen and the day's other top seven teams to today's Championship of America 4x800. If the Minutemen should contend today, they would need to be conscious of their international competition," Bostwick said.
"We know a lot of those Jamaican schools were just chilling," he said. "They weren't running all out. They'll be ready to go out a lot faster tomorrow. We're just hoping to put four legs together."
Washington Township did well in the field too with shot putter Kwabena Keene placing fifth after throwing 56-7.75.
Despite medaling, the University of North Carolina-bound senior said he was disappointed that he didn't gain any ground on the giants from North Jersey, Morristown freshman Nicholas Vena (63-6.5) and Scotch Plains-Fairwood senior Mike Alleman (62-1.5), who dwarf Keene in both skill and size.
"I'm trying to become the Goliath," Keene said. "I know I'm definitely the David compared to them, because Alleman and Vena are definitely not small people. I'm trying to get there though."
Pleasantville's 4x100 team of Richard Gregory, Kenny Davis, Jamal Roberts and Raymond Wilson will compete in the Small Schools Championship of America 4x100 today after making the eight-team cutoff by a mere five hundredths of a second after winning its heat in a season-best 42.88.
"I'm surprised that we made it back," coach Alan Laws said. "I didn't expect that out of the 4x100. I thought we were going to run good, but I just wanted them to warm up their legs for the 4x400 tomorrow."
The Greyhounds are the lone small-school team to represent New Jersey today and will line against five superior Jamaican teams, one of which ran 40.72. Davis, the fastest leg, said his team is not daunted by the challenge.
"They're just like us -- they're just faster," the senior said, "but we can do the same thing they do. We just got to work harder.
"If we have somebody to run with, we'll gonna push ourselves harder. "
Winslow Township's relay team of Rueben Johnson, Darin Washington, Keith Robinson and Barry Cephas finished seventh in the Large Schools 4x100 in a state-best 42.43 and will also compete today.
Other South Jersey performers include Woodstown senior Brian Owens, who took 10th overall in the Javelin Throw Championships after blasting a 186-11, and Haddonfield sophomore Boo Vitez, who placed 14th in the 3,000 in 8:49.93
"I was trying to go with them for [2,000] and see what I had left for [1,000]," said Vitez, who shot for 8:50.
PHILADELPHIA – Hidden away on the third leg of Washington Township's 4x800, junior Tim Carey can easily be forgotten.
In fact, if done right, Carey hands off the lead to anchor Xavier Fraction, who, in turn, blazes to a glorious finish, leaving everyone before Fraction remembered as just that: everyone before Fraction.
But entering the Penn Relays Friday, coach Rich Bostwick had trouble forgetting Carey's 1,600 performance last Tuesday. Carey struggled to break five minutes in the dual meet, an atypical performance for someone accustomed to breaking 2:00 in the 800.
"He said he was trying," Bostwick said. "Tell me that shouldn't scare me."
But if Bostwick's confidence in Carey wavered at all Saturday, he didn't show it, keeping Carey -- one fourth of the relay team that once held the nation's best time this past winter -- in the fastest 4x800 heat at the Penn Relays.
"We got to have him there because he might run up to his potential," he said, "and that is 1:52."
The move helped the Minutemen's team of Steve Morrone, Nick Krauss, Carey and Fraction finish second in both its heat and the field of 70 teams in 7:51.07, a school record.
With an estimated crowd of 39,904 looking on, Carey belt out a 1:58.1, a time bested by only one teammate, Fraction, who clocked in the second fastest leg of the meet, a blazing 1:54.7 that swallowed three frontrunners. Hillsborough, NJ. won in 7:47.44.
"They didn't give up. They went for it and took some chances," Bostwick said.
The Minutemen had their chance to compete against the country's best teams at the Indoor National Championships last winter, but Bostwick opted not to, knowing that a race that deep into the indoor season would disrupt their spring training.
So the big test was moved to April 26, a day known by track athletes as the middle block of Penn's three-day meet, and one known by Washington Township juniors, including Carey, Fraction and Krauss (1:58.6), as the Junior Prom.
Despite every relay member but sophomore Morrone (1:59.7) morphing into tuxedoes Friday night, Bostwick said the focus never shifted.
"They're been wanting this one ever since indoors," he said.
The performance advances the Minutemen and the day's other top seven teams to today's Championship of America 4x800. If the Minutemen should contend today, they would need to be conscious of their international competition," Bostwick said.
"We know a lot of those Jamaican schools were just chilling," he said. "They weren't running all out. They'll be ready to go out a lot faster tomorrow. We're just hoping to put four legs together."
Washington Township did well in the field too with shot putter Kwabena Keene placing fifth after throwing 56-7.75.
Despite medaling, the University of North Carolina-bound senior said he was disappointed that he didn't gain any ground on the giants from North Jersey, Morristown freshman Nicholas Vena (63-6.5) and Scotch Plains-Fairwood senior Mike Alleman (62-1.5), who dwarf Keene in both skill and size.
"I'm trying to become the Goliath," Keene said. "I know I'm definitely the David compared to them, because Alleman and Vena are definitely not small people. I'm trying to get there though."
Pleasantville's 4x100 team of Richard Gregory, Kenny Davis, Jamal Roberts and Raymond Wilson will compete in the Small Schools Championship of America 4x100 today after making the eight-team cutoff by a mere five hundredths of a second after winning its heat in a season-best 42.88.
"I'm surprised that we made it back," coach Alan Laws said. "I didn't expect that out of the 4x100. I thought we were going to run good, but I just wanted them to warm up their legs for the 4x400 tomorrow."
The Greyhounds are the lone small-school team to represent New Jersey today and will line against five superior Jamaican teams, one of which ran 40.72. Davis, the fastest leg, said his team is not daunted by the challenge.
"They're just like us -- they're just faster," the senior said, "but we can do the same thing they do. We just got to work harder.
"If we have somebody to run with, we'll gonna push ourselves harder. "
Winslow Township's relay team of Rueben Johnson, Darin Washington, Keith Robinson and Barry Cephas finished seventh in the Large Schools 4x100 in a state-best 42.43 and will also compete today.
Other South Jersey performers include Woodstown senior Brian Owens, who took 10th overall in the Javelin Throw Championships after blasting a 186-11, and Haddonfield sophomore Boo Vitez, who placed 14th in the 3,000 in 8:49.93
"I was trying to go with them for [2,000] and see what I had left for [1,000]," said Vitez, who shot for 8:50.
NB: McDonnell making up lost time
(Pub April 25)
Several weeks ago at the Camden-Gloucester Relays, Kevin McDonnell toed his first high-school race since he suffered a season-ending stress fracture. The injury happened midway through the cross-country season, roughly thereabouts. Ballpark.
"178 days ago I broke my foot," the Camden Catholic senior said after clocking in a 3:19 in the 1,200 leg of the distance medley.
Oh.
For a guy who doesn't lose – McDonnell went the entire season without taking second to a single South Jersey runner – losing time to his competition is devastating, especially as a senior.
The time away hasn't tapered his expectations as McDonnell, who kicked off his revival in late March running a 1,500 unattached in 4:10 at Widener College, had hoped to break 15:20 in a rare 5,000 (12.5 laps) at the Moorestown Invitational two weeks ago.
He won the race in 15:18.68. Haddonfield sophomore Boo Vitez placed in 15:30.85 and one of North Jersey's best, Brick Memorial's Andrew Brodeur, finished a distant third in 15:52.80.
McDonnell has been training since Jan. 9, cutting back on his 85-mile weeks during the fall with 50-mile weeks and punishing workouts, and has occasionally joined Vitez and Haddonfield sophomore Colin Baker on some Sunday runs, none of which, Baker stresses, fall under the category of "Long Slow Distance'.
"Our last two miles can be below 5:20 and that's at the end of a long run. So they're booking it," said Baker, noting the pace is a far cry from the duo's normal stride of 7:00. "We may dip down to 6:30 maybe and then he shows up and he's flying.
"It's what we need but we like giving him a hard time for that."
Reasons for his injury remain unclear and range from wearing the wrong sneakers to running too long or too hard, McDonnell said.
While his shoes and mileage have changed, one look at his performances this spring will tell you his last-race mentality has not.
"It's how I take every race. I just feel anything can happen," McDonnell said at the Cam-Glo Relays. "This could've been my last race, so why not run as hard as I can?"
Cool Running
Some athletes make a name for themselves by performing at a high level. Others don't even have to do that.
Then there are others with the full package: creative guardians, crazy talent and cool names.
For those of us you who repeat certain names to yourself just for the fun of it, here's a list of track stars that should keep you occupied. Remember them, but then again, I don't think you'll have much of a choice:
Dustin Roadside – If this Egg Harbor Township freshman ever makes it as a rock star, if that's his thing, he's already got a leg up over such bland stage acts as John Cougar Mellancamp, Jon Bon Jovi , Sting and – dare I say it – Meatloaf. No identity crisis here.
While the name may conjure up tumbleweeds blowing over the old Route 66, Roadside, the long-distance runner, crosses the line much faster, blowing by Vineland and Oakcrest runners last week in both the 1,600 (4:33) and 3,200 (10:40).
The freshman was arguably the major difference between the Eagles leaving the crucial tri-meet with two wins instead of two losses.
Xavier Fraction – Although his parents were dissuaded from naming the Washington Township junior "Damian" after watching a horror movie, Fraction still turned out to be a speed demon.
"I'm the only Xavier in my school," he said. "It's cool to have a name all to myself."
While the Minutemen have won many meets by a Fraction, the team's go-to anchor leg – known sometimes as "X-man" or just "X" to his teammates and coaches – led off his distance medley relay team at last Saturday's Woodbury Relays, running the 1,200 in 3:13 to help his team win the Group 4 relay in 10:35.9.
Major Mobley – Most majors earn their title after many pushups, pinups and buzz cuts. This Cherokee junior elevated through the ranks and achieved such status Day 1 in the crib.
Elevate is the operative word since Mobley, alongside Chris Steliga, has given the Chiefs one of the best jumping tandems in South Jersey.
Mobley was key in a dual meet win over Washington Township this month and had later teamed with Steliga to set a new triple-jump meet record (81-5) at the Hall of Fame Relays.
Boo Vitez – The name "Boo" may sound odd, if not ironic, for a light, curly haired distance runner, but that hasn't stopped anyone from calling the Haddonfield sophomore just that.
Although his birth certificate reads as Jonathan, Vitez is known to family, friends and foes as Boo, a nickname even he can't explain. Scary talented as one of South Jersey's best 3,200 runners already, having had won the Indoor Group 1 title this past winter, Vitez is a name that may linger in legacy long after he's gone (to school).
James Brown – Contrary to belief, the Glassboro junior got his name from his dad, not from the godfather of soul.
And yet the Brown continues to be the heart and soul of his team, powering the 18th-ranked Bulldogs past defending champ Penns Grove 76-64 Wednesday by winning the 100 (10.7), the 200 (22.6) and the 4x400 (3:32.5).
Penns Grove was without star sprinter Aaron Hayward, who reportedly pulled a hamstring at the Woodbury Relays last Saturday.
Chasing Steeples
Haddon Heights junior Colin Lynch doesn't shy away from challenges, even odd ones.
"It is a goofy race," Lynch said. "It's like the hardest distance race and the hardest sprinting race put together. It's weird. Thank God there's no water pit."
If 'goofy' or 'weird' didn't clue you in, Lynch is of course referring to the steeplechase, a race he was introduced to last Saturday at the Woodbury Relays.
Lynch learned on the go how to approach the 3,000-meter event lined with hurdles, winning in an impressive 9:56.9.
"First two legs were easy," he said. "It wasn't that tall, you're nice and rested, but then it just got harder and harder. I'm not used to that.
"Three laps to go it was just murder. I didn't know what I was doing basically. I'd either hop off it or hurdle it basically. It was different every time. But as long as I got over it, it was good."
Marathon
Former Shawnee runner Adam Ambrus was the top South Jersey finisher at last Sunday's Boston Marathon, finishing 53rd out of more than 20,000 entrants in 2:29.44.
The 2001 graduate ran the first 13.2 miles in 1:15:39 and averaged a 5:43 mile pace throughout.
Before leaving for the University of Maryland, Ambrus ran a personal-best 16:13.51 at Holmdel Park, the cross-country championship site, as a senior.
Several weeks ago at the Camden-Gloucester Relays, Kevin McDonnell toed his first high-school race since he suffered a season-ending stress fracture. The injury happened midway through the cross-country season, roughly thereabouts. Ballpark.
"178 days ago I broke my foot," the Camden Catholic senior said after clocking in a 3:19 in the 1,200 leg of the distance medley.
Oh.
For a guy who doesn't lose – McDonnell went the entire season without taking second to a single South Jersey runner – losing time to his competition is devastating, especially as a senior.
The time away hasn't tapered his expectations as McDonnell, who kicked off his revival in late March running a 1,500 unattached in 4:10 at Widener College, had hoped to break 15:20 in a rare 5,000 (12.5 laps) at the Moorestown Invitational two weeks ago.
He won the race in 15:18.68. Haddonfield sophomore Boo Vitez placed in 15:30.85 and one of North Jersey's best, Brick Memorial's Andrew Brodeur, finished a distant third in 15:52.80.
McDonnell has been training since Jan. 9, cutting back on his 85-mile weeks during the fall with 50-mile weeks and punishing workouts, and has occasionally joined Vitez and Haddonfield sophomore Colin Baker on some Sunday runs, none of which, Baker stresses, fall under the category of "Long Slow Distance'.
"Our last two miles can be below 5:20 and that's at the end of a long run. So they're booking it," said Baker, noting the pace is a far cry from the duo's normal stride of 7:00. "We may dip down to 6:30 maybe and then he shows up and he's flying.
"It's what we need but we like giving him a hard time for that."
Reasons for his injury remain unclear and range from wearing the wrong sneakers to running too long or too hard, McDonnell said.
While his shoes and mileage have changed, one look at his performances this spring will tell you his last-race mentality has not.
"It's how I take every race. I just feel anything can happen," McDonnell said at the Cam-Glo Relays. "This could've been my last race, so why not run as hard as I can?"
Cool Running
Some athletes make a name for themselves by performing at a high level. Others don't even have to do that.
Then there are others with the full package: creative guardians, crazy talent and cool names.
For those of us you who repeat certain names to yourself just for the fun of it, here's a list of track stars that should keep you occupied. Remember them, but then again, I don't think you'll have much of a choice:
Dustin Roadside – If this Egg Harbor Township freshman ever makes it as a rock star, if that's his thing, he's already got a leg up over such bland stage acts as John Cougar Mellancamp, Jon Bon Jovi , Sting and – dare I say it – Meatloaf. No identity crisis here.
While the name may conjure up tumbleweeds blowing over the old Route 66, Roadside, the long-distance runner, crosses the line much faster, blowing by Vineland and Oakcrest runners last week in both the 1,600 (4:33) and 3,200 (10:40).
The freshman was arguably the major difference between the Eagles leaving the crucial tri-meet with two wins instead of two losses.
Xavier Fraction – Although his parents were dissuaded from naming the Washington Township junior "Damian" after watching a horror movie, Fraction still turned out to be a speed demon.
"I'm the only Xavier in my school," he said. "It's cool to have a name all to myself."
While the Minutemen have won many meets by a Fraction, the team's go-to anchor leg – known sometimes as "X-man" or just "X" to his teammates and coaches – led off his distance medley relay team at last Saturday's Woodbury Relays, running the 1,200 in 3:13 to help his team win the Group 4 relay in 10:35.9.
Major Mobley – Most majors earn their title after many pushups, pinups and buzz cuts. This Cherokee junior elevated through the ranks and achieved such status Day 1 in the crib.
Elevate is the operative word since Mobley, alongside Chris Steliga, has given the Chiefs one of the best jumping tandems in South Jersey.
Mobley was key in a dual meet win over Washington Township this month and had later teamed with Steliga to set a new triple-jump meet record (81-5) at the Hall of Fame Relays.
Boo Vitez – The name "Boo" may sound odd, if not ironic, for a light, curly haired distance runner, but that hasn't stopped anyone from calling the Haddonfield sophomore just that.
Although his birth certificate reads as Jonathan, Vitez is known to family, friends and foes as Boo, a nickname even he can't explain. Scary talented as one of South Jersey's best 3,200 runners already, having had won the Indoor Group 1 title this past winter, Vitez is a name that may linger in legacy long after he's gone (to school).
James Brown – Contrary to belief, the Glassboro junior got his name from his dad, not from the godfather of soul.
And yet the Brown continues to be the heart and soul of his team, powering the 18th-ranked Bulldogs past defending champ Penns Grove 76-64 Wednesday by winning the 100 (10.7), the 200 (22.6) and the 4x400 (3:32.5).
Penns Grove was without star sprinter Aaron Hayward, who reportedly pulled a hamstring at the Woodbury Relays last Saturday.
Chasing Steeples
Haddon Heights junior Colin Lynch doesn't shy away from challenges, even odd ones.
"It is a goofy race," Lynch said. "It's like the hardest distance race and the hardest sprinting race put together. It's weird. Thank God there's no water pit."
If 'goofy' or 'weird' didn't clue you in, Lynch is of course referring to the steeplechase, a race he was introduced to last Saturday at the Woodbury Relays.
Lynch learned on the go how to approach the 3,000-meter event lined with hurdles, winning in an impressive 9:56.9.
"First two legs were easy," he said. "It wasn't that tall, you're nice and rested, but then it just got harder and harder. I'm not used to that.
"Three laps to go it was just murder. I didn't know what I was doing basically. I'd either hop off it or hurdle it basically. It was different every time. But as long as I got over it, it was good."
Marathon
Former Shawnee runner Adam Ambrus was the top South Jersey finisher at last Sunday's Boston Marathon, finishing 53rd out of more than 20,000 entrants in 2:29.44.
The 2001 graduate ran the first 13.2 miles in 1:15:39 and averaged a 5:43 mile pace throughout.
Before leaving for the University of Maryland, Ambrus ran a personal-best 16:13.51 at Holmdel Park, the cross-country championship site, as a senior.
Penn Relays: Smalls dazzles on Day 1
(Published April 24)
PHILADELPHIA -- Turn the corner, walk down the stairwell through the dim corridor, and see Kamice Smalls tucked away, lying outside the doorway, sweating, huffing, smiling.
Strange place for a winner to be, but the Camden senior, in her fourth year competing at the Penn Relays and her third time Thursday, can take refuge in her day pretty much anywhere.
Smalls could have laid down at Franklin Field earlier, say during the final leg of the South Jersey Large-School 4x400 when her Lady Panthers trailed the Woodrow Wilson anchor by about 15 meters, but instead decided to win, moving her relay to a state-best 3:53.88.
She didn't catch her split time, but she caught the leader.
"I was determined," Smalls said. "I wasn't going to let anybody beat us. We were focused. We wanted this."
By zooming her team to one of the 12 qualifying times Thursday, Smalls extended her Penn Relays experience, and that of teammates Jamie Jones, Shaquanda Gainey and Miriam Boyd, to Saturday when they'll compete in the Philadelphia Area 4x400.
Smalls said she "pumped my arms, and drove my legs" to merely shadow the leader with 150 meters left. Only then did she make her move.
"I didn't want to go all hard out and then die, so I stayed with her," she said.
The outcome was never in question to coach Avis Satterfield.
"I knew she would come though. I felt confident," Satterfield said. "They were really excited for the 4x400."
Smalls kicked off the high-school portion of the three-day meet with a fourth-place finish in the 400 Hurdles Championship, earning a personal-best 1:02.4 and a medal. Woodrow Wilson senior Samantha Sharper took sixth in 1:02.53.
Camden's relay team of Jones, Smalls, Boyd and Assante Johnson took ninth overall in the 4x100 Small Schools meet, finishing its heat second in 48.24.
Millville's 4x400 grouped itself in the day's fastest heat, cashing in its 3:54.13 time for fourth overall in the international heat despite running the state's second-best time this year.
If Millville is geographically eligible for the Philadelphia area race, something coach Marissa Harris is looking into, the team of Nyrae Newman, Alyssa Barrow, Brooke Kott and Britney Kott will likely join Woodrow Wilson (3:54.21) and Camden on the stripe Saturday.
But Millville needed two big performances to get that far. The Kott twins spun the last two laps in 1:53.4 with Britney anchoring in a team-best 56.5 – and still fell 15 seconds behind race winner Elearnor Roosevelt (3:38.4).
"I was thinking that's the best 4x400 I've seen in my life," Harris said.
Britney Kott nearly lost something before taking the baton – her voice. Even though the crowd of 23,657 drowns out the loudest cries, that doesn't stop the junior from performing her obligation as a teammate: cheering on Newman and Barrow.
As for her twin Brooke? Telepathically rooting will have to do.
"I feel bad because the third leg is my sister but once she goes it's like I have to try to save my energy to run my race," Britney Kott said. "I would cheer for her if I could, but I would feel so tired."
Having already qualified as one of the region's top distance-medley teams, the Lenape squad of seniors Moira Cunningham, Brianna Beddall , Lindsey Walsh and sophomore Caitlin Orr placed seventh at the Distance Medley Championship of America in 12:07.21, a school record.
Orr ran the Penn Relays last year and the 1,600 dozens of times, but the sophomore said she felt some extra pressure anchoring a relay for her senior-laden team.
"In the individual race if I do bad I'm just disappointing myself, but if I disappoint them as the anchor, especially since they're all seniors, that would be horrible," Orr said. "I just couldn't let them down."
Fellow sophomore, Kingsway's Chelsea Ley, ran the 3,000 Championship better than last year, breaking out of a box midway through to momentarily lead before falling back to ninth in a still-sizzling 9:54.75.
PHILADELPHIA -- Turn the corner, walk down the stairwell through the dim corridor, and see Kamice Smalls tucked away, lying outside the doorway, sweating, huffing, smiling.
Strange place for a winner to be, but the Camden senior, in her fourth year competing at the Penn Relays and her third time Thursday, can take refuge in her day pretty much anywhere.
Smalls could have laid down at Franklin Field earlier, say during the final leg of the South Jersey Large-School 4x400 when her Lady Panthers trailed the Woodrow Wilson anchor by about 15 meters, but instead decided to win, moving her relay to a state-best 3:53.88.
She didn't catch her split time, but she caught the leader.
"I was determined," Smalls said. "I wasn't going to let anybody beat us. We were focused. We wanted this."
By zooming her team to one of the 12 qualifying times Thursday, Smalls extended her Penn Relays experience, and that of teammates Jamie Jones, Shaquanda Gainey and Miriam Boyd, to Saturday when they'll compete in the Philadelphia Area 4x400.
Smalls said she "pumped my arms, and drove my legs" to merely shadow the leader with 150 meters left. Only then did she make her move.
"I didn't want to go all hard out and then die, so I stayed with her," she said.
The outcome was never in question to coach Avis Satterfield.
"I knew she would come though. I felt confident," Satterfield said. "They were really excited for the 4x400."
Smalls kicked off the high-school portion of the three-day meet with a fourth-place finish in the 400 Hurdles Championship, earning a personal-best 1:02.4 and a medal. Woodrow Wilson senior Samantha Sharper took sixth in 1:02.53.
Camden's relay team of Jones, Smalls, Boyd and Assante Johnson took ninth overall in the 4x100 Small Schools meet, finishing its heat second in 48.24.
Millville's 4x400 grouped itself in the day's fastest heat, cashing in its 3:54.13 time for fourth overall in the international heat despite running the state's second-best time this year.
If Millville is geographically eligible for the Philadelphia area race, something coach Marissa Harris is looking into, the team of Nyrae Newman, Alyssa Barrow, Brooke Kott and Britney Kott will likely join Woodrow Wilson (3:54.21) and Camden on the stripe Saturday.
But Millville needed two big performances to get that far. The Kott twins spun the last two laps in 1:53.4 with Britney anchoring in a team-best 56.5 – and still fell 15 seconds behind race winner Elearnor Roosevelt (3:38.4).
"I was thinking that's the best 4x400 I've seen in my life," Harris said.
Britney Kott nearly lost something before taking the baton – her voice. Even though the crowd of 23,657 drowns out the loudest cries, that doesn't stop the junior from performing her obligation as a teammate: cheering on Newman and Barrow.
As for her twin Brooke? Telepathically rooting will have to do.
"I feel bad because the third leg is my sister but once she goes it's like I have to try to save my energy to run my race," Britney Kott said. "I would cheer for her if I could, but I would feel so tired."
Having already qualified as one of the region's top distance-medley teams, the Lenape squad of seniors Moira Cunningham, Brianna Beddall , Lindsey Walsh and sophomore Caitlin Orr placed seventh at the Distance Medley Championship of America in 12:07.21, a school record.
Orr ran the Penn Relays last year and the 1,600 dozens of times, but the sophomore said she felt some extra pressure anchoring a relay for her senior-laden team.
"In the individual race if I do bad I'm just disappointing myself, but if I disappoint them as the anchor, especially since they're all seniors, that would be horrible," Orr said. "I just couldn't let them down."
Fellow sophomore, Kingsway's Chelsea Ley, ran the 3,000 Championship better than last year, breaking out of a box midway through to momentarily lead before falling back to ninth in a still-sizzling 9:54.75.
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