Burlco Track "Previews"

Burlington County League
Liberty Division
Moorestown
Twenty freshman have joined the team and 24 sophomores have returned, but the key to the Quakers -- as young as they are – for coach Troy Pappas is production from its upperclassmen, namely sprinter Bryan Burnham and his veteran distance core.
Led by seniors James Mulski and Kevin Healey, along with juniors Ben Friedman, Alex Matteson and David Ringwood, the distance team is as formidable as it is deep, but for the Quakers to find success in the bigger meets, someone needs to step up and out of the pack.
Moorestown also runs deep in javelin throwers with Connor Tuck, Dan Sargent and Anthony Sullivan.
Northern Burlington
After finishing 3-3 overall and 3-2 in the division in 2007, the Greyhounds are hoping to be above average this season. Coach Tim Tedesco is counting on many, but none more so than juniors Chris Tomori and Michael Bowden.
For a winning season to happen, Bowden, among the elite South Jersey runners in the 1,600 and the 3,200, will need to be just as successful as he was last spring when he won the Central Jersey Group 3 Championship’s 3,200 shortly after placing second in the 1,600.
With Delsea’s Aaron Younger graduated, Tomori should find greater success as he is South Jersey’s best incoming intermediate hurdler.
Rancocas Valley
Coming off a 1-4 year, coach Joseph Holland feels his current cast of athletes, nine of whom are returning letterman, can contend for the division this season.
Along with the progression of senior throwers Larry Awoysana and Mike Osterhage, Holland hopes the addition of junior sprinter/hurdler O’Shane Rennie, a transfer from Freehold Township, can make an impact this spring. Rennie was part of a Red Devils 4x400 that advanced to the State Group 3 Championship (3:35.08).
That time might not be fast enough to keep up with divisional relays like Burlington Twp or Willingboro – the defending Liberty Division champs – but it’ll win their share of dual meets.

Patriot Division
BordentownThough the Scotties are rebuilding, first-year coach Casey McAleer said they still could be competitive.
Clocking in at 6.70 in the Meet of Champion’s 55-meter dash, junior Daequan “Prince” Kim is possibly the team’s best weapon, with seniors hurdler Tom Saddler and runner Gregg Pontious also looked upon as scoring threats.
McAleer feels the steady progression of distance runner Connon Degnon could impact future outcomes.
Cinnaminson
Two distance stars shined brighter than any in South Jersey during the tail end of last spring. Matt Poskus and Brian Tetreault just happened to be teammates and their exits – by graduation – happen to raises the question of whether these Pirates can defend their Patriot Division.
Coach Dan Fourney hopes so, although he thinks Holy Cross -- the State Non-Parochial B Champions led by senior Mike Sheehan -- currently are the team to beat. But given the coachable nature and the potential of his athletes, Fourney will have his squad ready to compete.
Among the 18 returning lettermen, senior throwers Dan Ennis (javelin) and Justin Embler (discus/javelin), both runners-up at sectionals and qualifiers at the Meet of Champion last spring, stack the field this spring.
But the Pirates possess fight on the track too, by way of All-Group 2 distance runners, Todd Campbell and Kenny Hoff, and that balance should keep them in the divisional running.
Delran
After his team graduated 10 letterwinners, Michael Guzik is treating his seventh year as coach of the Bears as a rebuilding one.
The team is loaded with youth and question marks, but Guzik knows inexperience can be erased quickly though strong work ethic, something he prides his team in possessing.
Guzik particularly expects thrower Kyle Littig to lead by example and have his diligence translate into team points.
Maple Shade
A .500 record is within reach for the Wildcats, according to 34-year coach John Mitchell. With eight lettermen returning from a 2-4 record, including seven seniors, the Wildcats' experience should pay off in a winning record.
While the distance is led by two seniors, Brian Abate and Sean Timmons, each capable of competing in the 800 through the 3,200, the sprints is one of the team’s soft spots, says Mitchell.
A fan of the technical, senior Mike Caruso will be part hurdler, part pole vaulter, and possibly All Group this season.

Freedom Division
New Egypt
New Egypt has had at least a stake of the division title the last three years, winning the last two outright.
And although it goes against the math of graduating only three lettermen while maintaining 12, coach Sam Palumbo said his team now needs to catch up to the talent of Florence to think about a fourth title.
New Egypt(6-1) is strongest in distance, led by mid-distance seniors Sean Vazquez and Matt Smith and 3,200 sophomore runner Andrew Lopresti, who was All-Division last year.
New Egypt has a solid shot putter in senior Kevin Stiles, who placed fourth in the Group 1 sectionals last spring, but a crop of younger throwers who still need to develop, Palumbo said.
Palmyra
Coach Kevin Peter says his team is rebuilding with the project’s completion timetable waiting on the young team gaining experience. Peter thinks this spring could be bright for juniors javelin thrower Warren Oliver and high jumper Jimmy Childs, who tied for fourth at the State Group 1 Championships by clearing 6-0.

FIVE TO WATCH
Chris Barnes, Burlington City, Sr. – A unique double threat, Barnes can beat you on the straightaway or in the air. In the Meet of Champions high jump, the senior tied for seventh by clearing 6-4, tying the top height jumped by a South Jersey athlete this season. Barnes also topped out sprinting 6.83 in the 55-meter dash at the State Group 1 Championship to place eighth.

Mike Sheehan, Holy Cross, Sr. – If he doesn't run the fastest, the long-distance senior may just have South Jersey's biggest battery. Rarely leaving a meet without circling the track 6,000 meters – including the 3,200, the 1,600, the 800, and a leg of the 4x400 – Sheehan has the motor to produce in each. His nice kick favors mid-distance events, like the 800 (1:57.3, clocked handheld) and the 1,600 (4:20.14), but, then again, he did finish second in the Non-Parochial A's 3,200(9:35.22) last spring and as the second SJ finisher at the Cross-Country Meet of Champs (16:09) this fall.

Chris Tomori, Northern Burlington, Sr. -- The state's top 400 hurdling returnee, who ran a 54.47 at the State Group 3 Championship for fourth, Tomori fills more than one niche for the Greyhoundsby being an able high jumper; he cleared 5-8 at last spring's Central Jersey Group 3 Championships to qualify himself for the state meet.

Sean Vazquez, New Egypt, Sr. – A regular visitor of sub 2:00 two-lappers, Vazquez hopes to revisit the Meet of Champs, in which he placed 19th in the 800 (1:58.11). Of the 18 that placed ahead of him, 15 have graduated, leaving Vazquez among a small group of state contenders. And his cross-country base can only help him.

Tyrone McRae, Willingboro, -- McRae came on strong toward the end of this winter, notching two personal records at the Group 2 Championships by placing fifth in the 400 (51.47) and seventh in the 55-meter dash (6.73). With track studs Antonio Abney and Julian Boyd graduated, McRae may find himself as the new anchor of a typically fierce Chimeras 4x400.