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.