NB: Montez Blair can (almost) jump over Samuel Dalembert .

(Notebook published April 4)
Suffice it to say, that whole matter of getting disqualified at last spring's sectionals for a misplaced earring – meaning it was placed in his ear – is all water under the bar for high jumper Montez Blair.
Like the sign of any great high jumper, the Timber Creek junior just got over it.
"We can laugh about it now," coach Chris Grottini said. "It wasn't funny then."
And in a 101-38 win over Seneca Wednesday, in his first competition since the Great Earring Faux Paus of 2007, this stud shined brighter than ever, clearing an incredible 6-10 to win by about a foot.
Clearing all heights up to 6-6 cleanly, Blair set a new personal best by clearing 6-8, and finally, on his third attempt, lifted himself over 6-10. Mainland's Paul Klemic set the state record of 7-4.5 in 2000.
"He has big plans for himself," the six-year coach said. "And he wanted to start this season off right."
To put Blair's launch in perspective, it's two inches higher than the winning height of both the most recent indoor and outdoor Meet of Champions, six inches more than that cleared by South Jersey's best jumpers this winter and one inch from Sixers center Samuel Dalembert's fro.
And while a handheld time at a dual meet may be subject to skepticism, there is no mistiming 6-10. But Blair is aiming higher, and with the junior still learning his steps, coupled with a confidence that's rolled over from a banner basketball season that saw his team play in the State Group 3 game, Grottini certainly thinks 7-0 is within his reach.
"That was one of his goals outdoor," Grottini said. "Every event has a barrier. For milers it may be 4:20, for 800 runners it might be to break 2:00 and for Montez it's seven feet. But, you know, 2:00 isn't seven feet."
The Chargers, ranked No.12 in the Courier-Post's Top 20, will compete at the Camden-Gloucester Relays at Pennsauken today at 10 a.m.

The Comebacks
The indoor season sure had its stars, but due to an injury or to a conflicting winter sport, the presences of some athletes' were missed. Here are some notables that could make a big impact:
Brett Johnson – The last time the Boys' 2007 Cross-Country Athlete of the Year took the track, Johnson was leaving the Group 3 sectionals with two wins – in the 1,600 (4:22.22) and in the 3,200 (9:51.00) – and a pronounced limp.
After inspection, the limp was determined to be caused by a stress fracture in his left foot, effectively ending his season. Johnson shook off whatever rust during the fall, joining senior teammate Ryan Birchmeier to form South Jersey's toughest duo.
The Ocean City junior took off the indoor season to play basketball for the Red Raiders, another passion of his and one that he credits in helping to build his formidable kick.
Kevin McDonnell -- No runner started the cross-country season as impressively as McDonnell.
The senior remained undefeated against South Jersey opposition, racing at full throttle while breaking meet records and team winning streaks, like the 244 consecutive dual meets won by Paul VI.
But his approach of stepping to each race as if it was his last ultimately proved prophetic as he developed a stress fracture in his left ankle that cut his season tragically short only weeks before the cross-country sectionals. McDonnell is ready to roll in the spring.
RJ Page -- A guard in the winter, the Kingsway senior will try to reestablish himself as one of the state's top sprinters this spring.
Placing in the top three in the 100, 400 (49.71) and triple jump (42-2.25) at the South Jersey Group 3 Championships last spring, including a victory in the 200, Page can lead a better Kingsway's team farther this spring.
Page joins junior sprinter Demurri Gaines, who took third in the indoor Group 3 sectionals' 55 dash (6.67), to give the Dragons one of the best 1, 2 punches in the state and an excellent jumper.
Josh Black -- Heavy mileage during the summer helped Haddon Heights junior Josh Black become South Jersey's most improved cross-country runner of 2007, but it also may've contributed to a sacral stress fracture that's sidelined the junior from the cross country's Group 1 state meet and to today.
The lower back injury usually takes five to nine months to heal and since Black is only entering his fifth month of recovery, coach Mark Martin isn't sure whether Black will return to action this year.
Senior teammate Mickey Borsellino has also been inactive the last two weeks as he suffers from mononucleosis.
Even without the team's two long-distance studs, the Garnets opened the season with two wins, beating Woodstown (88-41) and Audubon (107-33) thanks in part to sprinter/jumper AJ Toliver and runner Colin Lynch, who each had hands in winning two events.

Olympic clash EDITED
Washington Township looked like one of the best teams in the Olympic Conference this past winter, and looked primed to win the American Division this spring, but Cherokee, the defending champs, had other plans.
Led with five victories between seniors sprinter Kevin Merrigan and jumper Chris Steliga, the 11-ranked Chiefs downed the 5th-ranked Minutemen 78-62 Wednesday.
Steliga won the triple jump (43-1) and the long jump (21-2.5) and Merrigan captured the 100 (11.5), 200 (23.5) and the 400 (51.4).
Junior runner Xavier Fraction and senior thrower Kwabena Keene led the Minutemen with two wins apiece.
With both teams heavy in distance, Cherokee senior Alex Yersak gave the Chiefs a huge boost by winning the 3,200 (10:01).