Colonial Conference Track "Preview"

Colonial Conference
Audubon
Eight lettermen are back for another year with long-time coach Dan Rowan, who has a positive outlook for the season but is first focused on rebuilding.
Although the Green Wave will miss the contributions of graduated thrower Elisio DiPrinzio, Rowan has high hopes for senior thrower Steve Gea and sophomore distance-runner JP McCarvill.
Haddonfield
Perennially long in distance talent, Haddonfield may be dangerous elsewhere too.
That elsewhere may come from sprinter senior Andrew Tsafos, a team leader who pulled his hamstring last year to abruptly end his season.
Tsafos is capable of competing in any distance not beyond 400. Senior Kevin McBeth may be the Bulldawgs’ top 400 runner, having had qualified for the Meet of the Champions this winter.
Fielding a pole vaulter already capable of clearing 12 feet in senior Zach Barber, and another who cleared 11-6 in his first season in sophomore Michael Rivard, Haddonfield should score some points in its field events in at least dual meets, but might struggle in the jumping and throwing departments, said coach Kyle Williams.
The brunt of its points, however, will come from the usual suspects, distance runners Boo Vitez, Colin Baker and Dan Carreon, the latter two superb in mid-distance events and Vitez elite in the 3,200. Although pursued by strong legs at Haddon Heights and some dominant figures at West Deptford, Haddonfield (10-0) should run away with the conference title again.
Haddon Heights
Twenty-five lettermen return for Haddon Heights this season and one from injury.
After missing the winter season due to back problems that surfaced toward the end of cross country, junior Josh Black is back, and, if healthy, should give the Tartans (7-2-1) a great 1,2 alongside senior Mickey Borsellino and a great 1,2,3,4,5 with Andrew Whitman, Colin Lynch and Colin Cole.
With the team lacking in discus and javelin throwers, coach Matt Martin is counting on Shawn Harper, a shot putter named to the All Colonial team last year, and fellow thrower Tom Miggliachio, for some field points.
Senior AJ Toliver possesses value in sprints and jumps, and junior Chris Roundtree should also jump well, being the Camden County Triple Jump Champ.
Haddon Township
In his first year coaching Haddon Township, David Donohue was able to squeeze a 7-2 season, and although losing four All-Conference athletes to graduation – Ken Wise, Nick Papinovnaov, Jason Kendall and Mike Dunn -- Donohue considers his young team a potential spoiler.
Senior Kevin Moore will try to fill Wise’s shoes in the high jump and the triple jump, senior Anthony Higuden will handle the hurdles and junior Tyler Cunningham will lead in the javelin.
And with Kendall gone, junior Chris Hubler, Mike Dinerman and Matt Whitmann will assume long-distance duties. While solid runners, this cast will likely be overmatched when pitted against the elites of Haddonfield and Haddon Heights.
Lindenwold
Lindenwold is concentrating on rebuilding from a losing record last year and, to most likely do so, will need strong seasons from their field performers, all of whom are back, including seniors Tom Mallon and Tavion Carter.
Coach Byron Brown feels junior jumper/sprinter Sheeron Rendall, a Second Team All Conference selection for jumps, will be a good source for points.
West Deptford
It might be a lot to ask Dan Batdorf to vault West Deptford to the top of the conference, but the pole vaulter will certainly try.
Batdorf, the “Boys Indoor Athlete of the Year,” was good for 10 points for every big meet during the winter and things shouldn’t change in the spring.
Long-time coach Mark Dixon also expects a lot out of fellow senior Steve Mitchell, the Group 2 sectional champ in the 55 hurdles.
Although a sophomore, sophomore Jimmy Owens – one of the area’s surprise freshman last year – will lead the Eagles (8-2) in the sprints.
Depth among throwers is in demand, but as long as the aforementioned athletes fill the voids of the Colonial Conference -- pole vault, hurdles and sprints -- the Eagles should be place no lower than top three in the conference, and possibly contend.

FIVE TO WATCH
Dan Batdorf, West Deptford, Sr. – While the "Boys' Indoor Track Athlete of the Year" has set the bar high for state vaulters this season, Batdorf's standards sit even higher. After going unbeaten after the second week of winter, including two 15-6 clearances at the Indoor Meet of Champions and the Eastern States Championships, Batdorf will sky for the South Jersey record of 16-0, set in 1992 by Bob Green, then of Haddon Heights, all while defending his Outdoor MoC title from last spring.

Colin Baker, Haddonfield, So. – With teammate Boo Vitez holding down the 3,200 for the Bulldawgs, Baker took care of the other distance events, winning the 1,600 at the Indoor State Group 1 Championship in 4:28.71 and previously the 800 at the SJ Group 1 Championships in 2:03.9. If Baker stays healthy, both he and Vitez should give Haddonfield a distance duo only rivaled by that of Ocean City.

Shawney Kersey, Woodbury, Jr. – Kersey needs to find three new relay teammates, but with or without them, the sprinter should still find a way to strike gold. In his two State Outdoor Group 1 Championships thus far, Kersey has amassed five individual wins and two relay wins. His performances in the 400 (47.88), the 200 (21.72) and the 100 ( 10.76) at last year's group meet showed others that he's no Group 1 lightweight.

Josh Black, Haddon Heights, Jr. – Before hurting his back and missing the last few races of cross country and all of winter track, Black was enjoying one of the finest, most-improved cross-country seasons in South Jersey, culminating in a SJ Group 1 Championship win by running a then-SJ best 16:21 on Holmdel Park's state course. If healthy and fit, there's no reason to think Black – an admitted mileage junkie -- won't be among SJ's long-distance elites.

Robert Friedman, Sterling, Jr. – It's not easy to run a 400 in 50 seconds – or to live with the fact that you were a second away from breaking the milestone. Friedman approached that threshold four times last spring as a sophomore, coming as close as 50.28 at the Meet of Champions. Still straddling 50 tocks, the junior doesn't need to tweak much to dip under.