Olympic Conference "Previews"

(All Previews Published March 28)
Olympic Conference
AMERICAN DIVISION
Cherokee
Twenty-two lettermen return to defend the Chiefs' division title, namely senior Chris Steliga, a standout state long jumper who jumped 22-7“ at Eastern States Championships for second this winter.
Able to run the 100 (10.84) and the 200 (22.24), senior Kevin Merrigan gives Cherokee (5-0 last year) a rare sprinting threat, an area they're been lacking for years.
Coach Steve Shaklee feels their depth in distance, led by seniors Alex Yersak and weights and jumps is solid enough to win many dual meets, but may fail them on the next level without improvement.[
Cherry Hill East
Hurdles, by way of seniors Chantz Powell and George Chuckweezer, are the Cougars' strongest area, but coach Michael Surrency said their young throwers need to develop before they can contend for a title.
Sprints are led by Ryan Mason, and Surrency sees senior Mike Williams as a possible All-Conference vaulter.
Eastern
Losing All-South Jersey sprinter Cedric Gonnett, South Jersey Group 4 400 hurdles champion Brian Smith and thrower Michael Del Rossi to graduation … and varsity throwers Kenny Fawlkes and Carlton Young to football injuries … certainly bruises the Vikings' state-championship aspirations, but coach John Shea says the team's depth eases the blows.
Winter emergences from Steven Greer in the 400 and James Eggers in the high jump keep Eastern tough.
A solid distance duo of Joe Steffney and Mike Ali will be tough to beat in dual meets and Shea promises a faster 4x400 than the one wheeled out this winter.
Lenape
Ryan Garvin emerged from this winter as one of track's bigger surprises, giving the Indians a real jolt in the distance events after senior Dom Carfello fell to season-ending injury.
Well Carfello is back, joining Garvin and talented newcomer Hayes Rainier to form a solid distance core, but with distance looking strong across the division, the question becomes whether Lenape can find an edge elsewhere.
Shot putter Ray Stinsman should top 50 feet and Rahmel Brooks is jumper, but trouble in sprints and hurdles could be the Indians' undoing.
Washington Twp.
The fact that the Minutemen can count on shot putter Kwabena Keene to throw them 10 points at every local meet is enough to make Washington Township a divisional force.
And in a division that's studded with distance runners, the Minutemen's crew, led by mid-distance runner Xavier Fraction, shines the brightest.
The Minutemen are weak in sprints, hurdles and jumps, but if the addition of four basketball players can help patch some of these holes like coach Rich Bostwick hopes, Washington Township is the team to beat in the division.

PATRIOT DIVISION
Seneca
Even after graduating their top two athletes in Josh Clark and Kevin Carullo, Seneca is not starting with a blank slate; coach Bill Fisher knows what to expect
from seniors like hurdler Nick Gossack, sprinter Matt Horner and thrower Thacher DeStefanos … consistent hard work.
Throw in some punchy newcomers and this might be a surprising rebuilding year.
Shawnee
Unlike the American Division, the Patriot Division is mainly weak in distance events; all the better for sophomore David Forward, the top 3,200 runner in South Jersey this winter, and senior Ian Boyle, a sub 2:00 runner in the 800.
With the team lacking in most other events, coach Stephen Suriano hopes its penchant in distance converts to a winning record.
Timber Creek
Last year coach Chris Grottini said he fielded his best team (4-1) during his six years at Timber Creek. With the addition of bluechip freshman Damiere Byrd, a sprinter and the maturation of his young team, his answer has probably changed.[PARA]
Byrd and senior Geoff Mock form one of South Jersey's best sprinting duos. Having cleared a SJ best 6-7 in the high jump last spring, Montez Blair, if healthy,
is also an automatic lock for points.
Throw is some capable throwers in seniors Rob Huckabee and Xavier Brown and the Chargers are legitimate contenders to break Winslow Township's divisional stronghold.
Triton
First-year coach Andrew Siganula, meet freshman Rob Rawls, South Jersey's distance
wunderkind.
Equipped with equal speed and endurance, Rawls has the potential to dip under 4:30 in the 1,600 and to challenge Shawnee's Forward in any mid-distance event.
Throwers Chris Johnston in the javelin and Steve Johnson in the discus should also score.
Winslow Twp.
Owners of the division title for the past six years, the Eagles are ready to make it seven.
Boasting the indoor Meet of Champs' winning 4x400 relay in senior sprinter Barry Cephas, Darin Washington, Davis McNeil and Gerald Stephens-Holland, the Eagles have the depth and experience to clean up sprinting points at any level.
Senior hurdlers Eric Butler, Robert Banks and Washington, and senior jumper Doug Wiggins give Winslow Township a complete team capable of winning more than its division.

NATIONAL DIVISION
Bishop Eustace
Sporting two indoor state champions in Brian Laskowski (400 and 800) and Joe Gianndrea (shot put), the Crusaders already looked good.[PARA]
With the arrival of Andy Arnold, who ran a divisional-best 4:28 in the 1,600, and the team showing strength where Camden is weak, the team is rightfully eyeing the division title.
Camden
A share of the Indoor State Group 3 championship should give one a glimpse of Camden's awesomeness.
Senior Matt Marshall, the All-South Jersey 55-meter hurdler, leads a team that exudes quickness, namely Kadeer Lone, Zachery Clarke and State Group 3 400 champion Terry Alston.
But besides fielding two shot putters who threw farther than 44 feet this winter, last year's division champions are lacking in the weight department.
But for all the team's star power, the growth of junior Jose Santiago … who ran 2:04 in the 800 last year … may be what it takes to win an outdoor state championship.
Paul VI
The Eagles return 14 letterwinners including Renaissance seniors Jon Grimes and Greg Smith. Both adept at hurdling, jumping and sprinting, Grimes and Smith give the Eagles a strong 1,2 in most dual meets.
Coach Keith Walters hopes that such leadership results in a winning record.
Woodrow Wilson
After losing jumper Rhodnei Spence and sprinter Fransico Jimenez to graduation, senior sprinter Lamar Goffney becomes the leader of a team coach Greg Arnett thinks can contend.
Arnett looks to junior Emmanuel Rivera and senior Daniel Perez to replace Jimenez's scoring in the 400 and thinks senior high hurdler Sergio Rivera could place at states.

FIVE TO WATCH
Kwabena Keene, Washington Township, Senior – The big man from South Jersey, this senior shot putter is unrivaled in South Jersey, having left the indoor season unbeaten and with a personal-best hurl of 57-11 – more than five feet farther than South Jersey's next longest -- at Eastern States Championships. With the school record in hand last spring, Keene has set his sights on joining the elusive 60-foot club this spring.

Damiere Byrd, Timber Creek, Fr. – Proving himself as no ordinary freshman this winter, Byrd gives the Chargers another formidable sprinter to line up alongside senior Geoff Mock. The youngster won the SJ Group 3 Championship's 55-meter dash in 6.60 and then later at the state meet improved upon it by placing second in 6.56, third fastest in South Jersey.

David Forward, Shawnee, So. – From the downhill finish of Holmdel Park and on, Forward has kept rolling this year, winning the Indoor South Jersey Group 3's 3,200 this winter and twice breaking 9:30, including a fifth spot at the Meet of Champions in a South Jersey-best 9:28.34. At this distance, only a handful of South Jersey runners can challenge him this spring – if that.

Matt Marshall, Camden, Sr. -- South Jersey's top high hurdler in the 55 last winter, having placed third at the Indoor Meet of Champions in a personal-best 7.53, the Panther's co-captain looks to improve upon his 10th place showing in the Meet of Champs' 110 high hurdles last spring (14.59).

Barry Cephas, Winslow Township, Sr. – A top contender in any race 400 meters or shorter, Cephas is also the backbone of the 4x400, a race the Eagles remained unbeaten through the Meet of Champions last winter, topping off at 3:23.23 during the State Group 4 win. He showcased his speed while winning the 200, his premier event, at last spring's South Jersey Group 4 Championship in a personal-best 21.64.