Little did he know then, but Washington Township senior Chris Kelly may've locked up South Jersey's most improved award four years ago.
The then-freshman toiled the mile in 5:59, a pace that wouldn't win ribbons in gym nor have him confused for Speed Racer.
Slowly but surely, though, Kelly got faster, much faster.
At the stacked Henderson Invitational in West Chester, Pa. on May 2, Kelly, "the poster boy for hard work" as told by coach Rich Bostwick, ran the 3,200 in 9:53.51 and the 1,600 in a personal-best 4:27.55.
At the Woodbury Relays last month, Kelly anchored his distance medley relay team to a season-best 10:35.9, splitting 4:29 to smash any ideas by runner-up Cherokee senior Alex Yersak.
In some ways though, Kelly – whose 3.1 mile personal best at the end of his freshman cross-country season was above 20 minutes – has been catching Yersak for years.
"Training all three seasons, that's the best he can get," Bostwick said. "And now as a senior he's starting to get a little rivalry with Yersak. Think about that. Yersak was running like 16:00 [in cross country] as a freshman. He's always been good and now, here's this guy [Kelly] right behind him."
"It's not easy. I'm not going to lie," Kelly said after anchoring then for the first time. "I just tried to go out fast. It was a really, really tough finish."
At the Gloucester County Championship Wednesday, Kelly won the 3,200 in 9:56.7, followed by senior teammate Alex Clemson. Kelly also ran the 1,600 in 4:35, taking third to junior teammate Xavier Fraction (4:29.2) and Kingsway junior Ryan Culbreath (4:31.4).
The Minutemen won easily with 119.5 points. "I've never been on this kind of level of competing before," Kelly said. "I've always been like J.V. or thought of as 'Ah, he's just a two-miler.' But now it's like, 'Oh, all right, well let's see what he can do in the mile."
Ocean Deep in Distance
Ocean City is not acting like a team that lost its Indoor Group 3 State Champion in the 1,600 for the season.
Even with senior Ryan Birchmeier sidelined with a torn left hamstring, the Red Raiders are hoping to nationally qualify in the 4x1,600 today at the Ocean City Relays, a meet revived after a dormant decade, coach Matt Purdue said.
"We figured we would give teams a shot to qualify for that 4x1,600," Purdue said.
Senior Connor Martin, freshman Miles Schoedler, senior Stephen Hoffman and junior Brett Johnson fell short of the Nike Outdoor Nationals' 17:40 standard at the South Jersey Relays last Saturday, winning in 18:00.41.
Purdue feels the standard time – an average mile split of 4:25 – is achievable for a myriad of reasons: Saturday marked the first time Martin ran the 1,600, doing so in 4:33, Hoffman and Schoedler improve with each race and Johnson ran the last leg on tired legs – having gone 3:53 in the 1,500 two days prior – knowing the goal was virtually impossible when receiving the baton.
While Johnson, who split 4:19, stars in individual events, good role players are needed to win relays.
""It's been a nice surprise to have Miles join us. He's been working hard all spring," Purdue said. "And I think all the success Connor and Stephen had in cross country is giving them the confidence to run well on the track."
Martin said that part of his confidence stems from knowing Johnson is anchoring the relay.
"You still need to perform, but he's your closer," Martin said. "He's the best."
At the Woodbury Relays last month, Johnson was handed the baton about seven seconds behind Shawnee sophomore David Forward – perhaps the second fastest distance runner in South Jersey – and won the distance medley relay by four seconds, splitting a still-talked-about 4:10.
101 Dominations
Helping Haddon Heights move into conference clinching position Tuesday was West Deptford's 78.5-61.5 win over defending champ and previously unbeaten Haddonfield last week.
The victory -- or was it the one against the tri-meet's third wheel, Collingswood? – marked the 100th win for West Deptford's winningest coach Mark Dixon.
The 14-year head coach bumped his record to 101-36 with a 115-25 thumping over Audubon Tuesday.
As is the case this year with Boys' Track Indoor Athlete of the Year senior Dan Batdorf, who had cleared an outdoor-best 15-1 against Haddonfield, the Dixon-led Eagles (7-1) have always thrived in the pole vault.
A pole-vault coach for four years before heading the team, Dixon knows the difference a good vaulter makes, having produced four state champions,12 South Jersey champions and someone who qualified for the state championship each year.
But its impact might be felt most felt during dual meets.
"I think its an advantage for us because we can walk into a lot of meets and go 'Hey, we're going to take nine points here' because the other school doesn't think about it," said Dixon, the school's gym teacher. "Coaches may not know about it and be apprehensive so they just go and give it away. So you go into many meets up 9-0. I'll take that."
Drought over
With a 93-47 win over Willingboro Thursday to end its season, Northern Burlington won its first conference title in 40 years.
Not only did the Greyhounds clinch up the Burlington County League Liberty Division since 1968, but they defeated the Chimeras for the first time ever.
Coached by Tim Tedesco, the Greyhounds are led by junior distance runner Michael Bowden and senior hurdler Chris Tomori.
Atlantic County sparkles
With four teams in the Courier-Post's Top 20 – three in the top 10 – squaring off for the Atlantic County Championship Thursday, the only thing that you could be sure of was that a lot would be learned.
Turns out Pleasantville was another sure thing.
The Greyhounds stomped Absegami (96), Oakcrest (91) and Egg Harbor Township (88) by scoring 133 points.
No stranger to winning, senior Greyhound Kenny Davis beat the Egg Harbor Township duo of Stevenson Cajuste (14.5) and Tre Lathan (14.8) to win the high hurdles in 14.3.
Absegami senior Geoff Navarro (10.5) edged Egg Harbor's Tejay Johnson (10.6) in the 100 but was outleaned by Johnson (21.8) in the 200, losing by a tenth of a second.
Absegami junior Ford Palmer doubled in the 1,600 (4:27.7) and the 800 (1:57.4) followed by Oakcrest's Aaron Johnson (1:58.0) and Ray Johnson (1:58.7).
Area Highlights
Triton pole vaulter Matt Rawlik claimed the school record by clearing 13-2 in a 89-51 loss to Seneca.
Seneca newcomer Drew Kanz led the win, taking the triple jump (42-6), the long jump (19-4), the high jump and the 200 (23.8).
Kanz also won the triple jump and the high jump (6-2) at the Lenape Regional District Championship Thursday.
Cherry Hill East won 10 of 16 events in its 81-60 victory over Eastern Tuesday with distance runner Dave Berger, sprinter Ryan Mason and hurdler/jumper Chantz Powell each taking two events. Powell won the 110 hurdles in 14.6, Mason claimed the 200 in 22.8 and Berger won the 3,200 in 10:07 after running a 4:32 mile.
Palmyra's Warren Oliver won the javelin (158-3), the triple jump (40-8), the long jump (20-4) and a share of the high jump with teammate Jim Childs in a division-clinching 79-56 win over New Egypt.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kwabena Keene
Washington Township
Grade: Senior
Events: Shot put/ Discus
Accomplishments: Keene, long known for catapulting shots to orbit, has added discus to his repertoire this year, proving just as capable of chucking the disc at the Henderson Track & Field Invitational. The University of North Carolina-bound senior set two personal bests at the West Chester, Pa. meet on May 2, winning the shot put with a man-size toss of 58-9 and placing second in the discus with a throw of 152-1. Keene won both events at Wednesday's Gloucester County Championships to lead the Minutemen to the win. With about a month left in the season, Keene hopes to reach the 60-foot milestone to join his North Jersey counterparts, Morristown's Nicholas Vena and Scotch Plains-Fanwood Mike Alleman.
Quote: "I'm trying to become the Goliath," Keene said. "I know I'm definitely the David compared to them, because Alleman and Vena are definitely not small people. I'm trying to get there though."
25 June 2008
Walls jumps himself in front at Buena
(Pub May 4)
Leaders: Glassboro won four events, the 4x800, the 4x100, the 4x110 shuttle hurdles and the triple jump, to lead Division 1. Absegami, Camden and Winslow Township each led Division 2 with two wins apiece.
Ford tough: The Absegami quartet of Kambui Little, Demetrius Rooks, Geoff Navarro
and Ford Palmer ran away with the Division 2 sprint medley, blazing to a meet-fast 3:33.76. Palmer also anchored the winning 4x800 to a meet-best 8:07.31.
On the Prowl: Camden's tandem of Wayne Walls and Ameer Waugh won the triple jump relay combining for 86-9 feet.
Quote: "We wanted to show up as a team today and together we'll try to get better for sectionals and then go into states," Waugh said.
BUENA – No matter what he tweaked or added to his triple-jump routine, Camden junior Wayne Walls knew he wasn't the same jumper as he was during the winter.
Turns out the right remedy to get the lead out of his legs, at least during the South Jersey Relays , involved five early hours of penciling in empty circles and not warming up for the event.
Even with the SAT excuse in his pocket, Walls managed to jump a season-best 44-0, Saturday's farthest jump, joining senior teammate Ameer Waugh to win the Division 2 triple jump relay with a combined total of 86-9.
Eager to give his all to the Buena meet, Walls thought about bumping his SAT test date to June 7 – until coach Greg Foster told him to think again.
"If you don't take the SATS, you're not jumping," the second-year coach told him. "I strong-armed him into taking it."
But Walls wasn't too giddy to jump anyway, not after landing a dud at Thursday's South Jersey Open. A multi-event athlete, Walls thought he had a better chance of placing in the 4x400 hurdles than in the triple jump.
"I didn't think I was going to do well at all because of the other day," Walls said. "I messed up a little bit there. I really didn't want to do it."
Given more than enough math problems to mull over in the morning, Walls was given another number to consider.
"I twisted his arm," Foster said," and said 'Listen, we got sectionals coming up in three weeks and you haven't been triple jumping. You could use the practice."
Walls jumped 43-0 feet in his first attempt raw and eventually warmed to the task, outleaping Timber Creek's Eric Smith (43-2.5) by ending it with the winning 44-0. Waugh -- who joined the other half of the winning Division 2 long-jump tandem, Syteek Farrington, to cover 41-11.25 -- placed third, hopping 42-9.
Walls had worked on slowing his steps, concentrating on each of the three phases and building leg muscle through a combination of leg exercise and workouts.
Foster knew it was just a matter of time before Walls put it all together.
"We have high expectations because he jumped 45 feet indoors," the coach said. "We're happy he's finding his rhythm back."
The Glassboro duo of Ryan Chance and PJ James won the Division 1 triple jump, combining for 85-5. Chance was also part of the 4x110 shuttle hurdles team, alongside teammates Derick Palme, Tom Jones and Chris Rennles, that outleaned Burlngton Township to win in 1:03.82.
Cherokee's foursome of Kevin Merrigan, Niraj Patel, Chris Steliga and Will Rapp won the meet's 4x100 relay for the first time in school history in a meet-best 42.81.
Traditionally a team built on distance, Cherokee has morphed with Merrigan. A senior, Merrigan has been the Chiefs' catalyst for change, dropping the baseball glove for spikes last year and recruiting Rapp, a junior, this year.
Coach Steve Shaklee said despite its inexperience, the relay team has gelled nicely under the guidance of assistant coach Chris Callihan.
"One of the things we do really well is handoffs and that's because Chris is very technically and gets them the technique they need to do it properly," Shaklee said. "That makes a big difference in a 4x100."
Two days after setting the current U.S. best in the 1,500, Ocean City junior Brett Johnson was back anchoring the Red Raiders' 4x1,600 team of Connor Martin, Miles Schoedler and Stephen Hoffman to a come-back 18:00.41 victory.
A personal-best 4:34 mile by Hoffman brought the Red Raiders from fourth to second. Then Johnson, hot on the trail of frontrunner Haddonfield sophomore Colin Baker for three laps, pulled away in a 60 second last lap for a 4:19 split.
Johnson knew he needed to run closer to the miracle mile of 4:00 to qualify his time for Nationals (the standard is 17:40), but opted to cruise instead, trailing frontrunner Haddonfield sophomore Colin Baker for three laps before pulling away with a fast 60 second final lap for a 4:19 split.
"I felt really good. I just opened it up," Johnson said. "During the last lap, I was probably being an idiot and looking back, but I didn't want to exert more than I had to do. "
Leaders: Glassboro won four events, the 4x800, the 4x100, the 4x110 shuttle hurdles and the triple jump, to lead Division 1. Absegami, Camden and Winslow Township each led Division 2 with two wins apiece.
Ford tough: The Absegami quartet of Kambui Little, Demetrius Rooks, Geoff Navarro
and Ford Palmer ran away with the Division 2 sprint medley, blazing to a meet-fast 3:33.76. Palmer also anchored the winning 4x800 to a meet-best 8:07.31.
On the Prowl: Camden's tandem of Wayne Walls and Ameer Waugh won the triple jump relay combining for 86-9 feet.
Quote: "We wanted to show up as a team today and together we'll try to get better for sectionals and then go into states," Waugh said.
BUENA – No matter what he tweaked or added to his triple-jump routine, Camden junior Wayne Walls knew he wasn't the same jumper as he was during the winter.
Turns out the right remedy to get the lead out of his legs, at least during the South Jersey Relays , involved five early hours of penciling in empty circles and not warming up for the event.
Even with the SAT excuse in his pocket, Walls managed to jump a season-best 44-0, Saturday's farthest jump, joining senior teammate Ameer Waugh to win the Division 2 triple jump relay with a combined total of 86-9.
Eager to give his all to the Buena meet, Walls thought about bumping his SAT test date to June 7 – until coach Greg Foster told him to think again.
"If you don't take the SATS, you're not jumping," the second-year coach told him. "I strong-armed him into taking it."
But Walls wasn't too giddy to jump anyway, not after landing a dud at Thursday's South Jersey Open. A multi-event athlete, Walls thought he had a better chance of placing in the 4x400 hurdles than in the triple jump.
"I didn't think I was going to do well at all because of the other day," Walls said. "I messed up a little bit there. I really didn't want to do it."
Given more than enough math problems to mull over in the morning, Walls was given another number to consider.
"I twisted his arm," Foster said," and said 'Listen, we got sectionals coming up in three weeks and you haven't been triple jumping. You could use the practice."
Walls jumped 43-0 feet in his first attempt raw and eventually warmed to the task, outleaping Timber Creek's Eric Smith (43-2.5) by ending it with the winning 44-0. Waugh -- who joined the other half of the winning Division 2 long-jump tandem, Syteek Farrington, to cover 41-11.25 -- placed third, hopping 42-9.
Walls had worked on slowing his steps, concentrating on each of the three phases and building leg muscle through a combination of leg exercise and workouts.
Foster knew it was just a matter of time before Walls put it all together.
"We have high expectations because he jumped 45 feet indoors," the coach said. "We're happy he's finding his rhythm back."
The Glassboro duo of Ryan Chance and PJ James won the Division 1 triple jump, combining for 85-5. Chance was also part of the 4x110 shuttle hurdles team, alongside teammates Derick Palme, Tom Jones and Chris Rennles, that outleaned Burlngton Township to win in 1:03.82.
Cherokee's foursome of Kevin Merrigan, Niraj Patel, Chris Steliga and Will Rapp won the meet's 4x100 relay for the first time in school history in a meet-best 42.81.
Traditionally a team built on distance, Cherokee has morphed with Merrigan. A senior, Merrigan has been the Chiefs' catalyst for change, dropping the baseball glove for spikes last year and recruiting Rapp, a junior, this year.
Coach Steve Shaklee said despite its inexperience, the relay team has gelled nicely under the guidance of assistant coach Chris Callihan.
"One of the things we do really well is handoffs and that's because Chris is very technically and gets them the technique they need to do it properly," Shaklee said. "That makes a big difference in a 4x100."
Two days after setting the current U.S. best in the 1,500, Ocean City junior Brett Johnson was back anchoring the Red Raiders' 4x1,600 team of Connor Martin, Miles Schoedler and Stephen Hoffman to a come-back 18:00.41 victory.
A personal-best 4:34 mile by Hoffman brought the Red Raiders from fourth to second. Then Johnson, hot on the trail of frontrunner Haddonfield sophomore Colin Baker for three laps, pulled away in a 60 second last lap for a 4:19 split.
Johnson knew he needed to run closer to the miracle mile of 4:00 to qualify his time for Nationals (the standard is 17:40), but opted to cruise instead, trailing frontrunner Haddonfield sophomore Colin Baker for three laps before pulling away with a fast 60 second final lap for a 4:19 split.
"I felt really good. I just opened it up," Johnson said. "During the last lap, I was probably being an idiot and looking back, but I didn't want to exert more than I had to do. "
NB: Johnson adds to early legend
(Pub May 3)
Brett Johnson, who seems to be entering the realm of Chuck Norrisesque folklore in only his junior year after posting times of 1:52.8 in a dual-meet 800 and a split of 4:10 in the 1,600 leg of a distance medley relay, added a new wrinkle to his season story, traveling to North Country to set a U.S. best in the 1,500 Thursday.
In the Ironman Invitational race ran at Don Bosco, the Ocean City runner posted a 3:53.71, more than 11 seconds better than runner-up Dos Bosco Prep's Robert Molke (4:05.19). No sightings of a giant blue ox reported either.
The O.C. Finale
A hamstring injury initially thought to be a sprain for Ocean City senior Ryan Birchmeier is now being ruled a tear, effectively ending a dazzling year for the long-distance runner and the chance of seeing one of the greatest distance duos, alongside junior teammate Brett Johnson, in South Jersey history, assistant coach Bill Moreland said.
The Saint Joseph University-bound runner came back last spring from an IT band injury suffered during the 2006 cross-country season. Heavy summer mileage helped Birchmeier pull off two of the most impressive seasons this year, taking second only to Johnson in the Cross Country Group 3 State Championships in 16:10 and first in the Indoor Track Group 3 State Championships' 1,600 in a season-best 4:20.
Birchmeier injured himself during a pre-season sprint workout.
A Tough Loss
The cause of injury has yet to be determined, or at least discovered by this reporter, but reports from a team source say that Holy Cross senior Mike Sheehan may not compete again this spring. Best case scenario, says the source, is the long-distance runner being ready for the Non Public State Championship.
Sheehan – who anchored the team of Terrance Osborne, Rich Fisher and Matt Cusack with a 4:22 mile split to win the Group 2 distance medley relay at April 21 Woodbury Relays in 10:32.3 – plans to join the naval academy in Annapolis upon graduation.
Comes in Threes
For the sake of closure, Haddon Heights junior Josh Black is also out for the season, coach Matt Martin said. Even if healthy, Black -- who hasn't competed since injuring his back late in the cross-country season – has missed too much time to contend at the level that made him elite this past fall.
Even without Black, the Garnets are enjoying a turnaround year thanks to a myriad of surprises including jumpers Chris Roundtree, AJ Toliver and runner Colin Lynch.
After beating West Deptford April 14 and seeing West Deptford take down defending conference champ, Haddonfield, Wednesday, Haddon Heights needs to beat No.19-ranked Haddonfield Tuesday to clinch the Colonial Conference.
Names
Due to space limitations, a couple cool names were bumped to this issue. To recap, Egg Harbor Township freshman runner Dustin Roadside, Washington Township junior runner Xavier Fraction, Cherokee junior jumper Major Mobley, Haddonfield sophomore runner Boo Vitez and Glassboro junior sprinter James Brown all have some great tags. But no matter how a moniker is constructed, the holder needs a varsity letter to be considered.
Tivo Rivera – While the device with the same name can record missed episodes of "The Office", this Tivo is much more valuable. The Kingsway mid-distance runner, known as Tivosiel to his parents, entered this year as one of track's most heralded freshmen and has shown why this spring, fixing himself into the Dragons' 4x400 and 4x800 relays and belting out consistent 2:00 to 2:03 splits in the latter. Not bad for a ninth grader.
Ford Palmer – If there was ever a name that seemed to guarantee glory on the gridiron, Ford Palmer might as well be it. A rare double sport athlete in football and track, specifically mid-distance running, this Absegami junior has been among the best 800 runners in South Jersey since last spring when he placed seventh at the Meet of Champions in 1:54.41.
Last Saturday at the Penn Relays Palmer joined Geoff Navarro, Demetrius Rooks and sophomore Santiago Galeano to win a 4x400 heat (event No.192) in 3:21.40, a school record that eclipses the 20-plus-year-old mark of 3:23.
While Palmer placed second to Lenape junior Ryan Garvin (1:55.55) in the 800 at Thursday's South Jersey Open in 1:55.97, senior teammates Navarro and Rooks combined for three gold medals; Navarro won the 100 (11.1) and the 400 (48.96) and Rooks won the 400 intermediate hurdles in 54.69.
Thursday Notables
Just because a number of triple jumpers surpassed 43 feet at the South Jersey Open doesn't make the feat any less impressive. Coming in first with a moon jump of 43-5.5 was Schalick senior Matt Kates, second was Haddon Heights junior Chris Roundtree (43-2.75), third was Glassboro freshman P.J. James (43-2.25) and fourth was Glassboro junior Ryan Chance (43-2).
Pennsauken shot putter Joseph Carmichael threw a personal-best 52-11 to stave off Holy Cross senior Frank Allen (49-1).
And despite coming in second in the 1,600, Bishop Eustace junior Andy Arnold came a long way from last year in the event, finishing behind only Shawnee sophomore David Forward in a personal-best 4:24.66. Arnold finished 16th in the 1,600 in 4:29.73 at the Indoor Meet of Champions this past winter.
Reach Steve Wood at swood@courierpostonline.com.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
David Forward
Shawnee
Grade: Sophomore
Event: Distance
Accomplishment: Success in the 3,200 has kept Forward away from his first love, the 1,600, at group meets. When given the chance, though, Forward makes it count. After lowering his personal record by 11 seconds last year at the SJ Open, the sophomore came full circle Thursday, shaving nearly seven more seconds off his personal record by finishing the last 800 in 2:08 to hold off Bishop Eustace's Andy Arnold in 4:22.82. Forward plans to run another 1,600 today as part of the South Jersey Relays' 4x1,600.
Quote: "I think I could've gone out faster," Forward said. "All week I was planning to go out in 64 [seconds], 65 , but every time when there's one lap left there's doubts in my mind and I'm like 'Let him go just this once.' But I felt pretty good. The striders on the line, my legs felt really light and I knew I had something left."
Brett Johnson, who seems to be entering the realm of Chuck Norrisesque folklore in only his junior year after posting times of 1:52.8 in a dual-meet 800 and a split of 4:10 in the 1,600 leg of a distance medley relay, added a new wrinkle to his season story, traveling to North Country to set a U.S. best in the 1,500 Thursday.
In the Ironman Invitational race ran at Don Bosco, the Ocean City runner posted a 3:53.71, more than 11 seconds better than runner-up Dos Bosco Prep's Robert Molke (4:05.19). No sightings of a giant blue ox reported either.
The O.C. Finale
A hamstring injury initially thought to be a sprain for Ocean City senior Ryan Birchmeier is now being ruled a tear, effectively ending a dazzling year for the long-distance runner and the chance of seeing one of the greatest distance duos, alongside junior teammate Brett Johnson, in South Jersey history, assistant coach Bill Moreland said.
The Saint Joseph University-bound runner came back last spring from an IT band injury suffered during the 2006 cross-country season. Heavy summer mileage helped Birchmeier pull off two of the most impressive seasons this year, taking second only to Johnson in the Cross Country Group 3 State Championships in 16:10 and first in the Indoor Track Group 3 State Championships' 1,600 in a season-best 4:20.
Birchmeier injured himself during a pre-season sprint workout.
A Tough Loss
The cause of injury has yet to be determined, or at least discovered by this reporter, but reports from a team source say that Holy Cross senior Mike Sheehan may not compete again this spring. Best case scenario, says the source, is the long-distance runner being ready for the Non Public State Championship.
Sheehan – who anchored the team of Terrance Osborne, Rich Fisher and Matt Cusack with a 4:22 mile split to win the Group 2 distance medley relay at April 21 Woodbury Relays in 10:32.3 – plans to join the naval academy in Annapolis upon graduation.
Comes in Threes
For the sake of closure, Haddon Heights junior Josh Black is also out for the season, coach Matt Martin said. Even if healthy, Black -- who hasn't competed since injuring his back late in the cross-country season – has missed too much time to contend at the level that made him elite this past fall.
Even without Black, the Garnets are enjoying a turnaround year thanks to a myriad of surprises including jumpers Chris Roundtree, AJ Toliver and runner Colin Lynch.
After beating West Deptford April 14 and seeing West Deptford take down defending conference champ, Haddonfield, Wednesday, Haddon Heights needs to beat No.19-ranked Haddonfield Tuesday to clinch the Colonial Conference.
Names
Due to space limitations, a couple cool names were bumped to this issue. To recap, Egg Harbor Township freshman runner Dustin Roadside, Washington Township junior runner Xavier Fraction, Cherokee junior jumper Major Mobley, Haddonfield sophomore runner Boo Vitez and Glassboro junior sprinter James Brown all have some great tags. But no matter how a moniker is constructed, the holder needs a varsity letter to be considered.
Tivo Rivera – While the device with the same name can record missed episodes of "The Office", this Tivo is much more valuable. The Kingsway mid-distance runner, known as Tivosiel to his parents, entered this year as one of track's most heralded freshmen and has shown why this spring, fixing himself into the Dragons' 4x400 and 4x800 relays and belting out consistent 2:00 to 2:03 splits in the latter. Not bad for a ninth grader.
Ford Palmer – If there was ever a name that seemed to guarantee glory on the gridiron, Ford Palmer might as well be it. A rare double sport athlete in football and track, specifically mid-distance running, this Absegami junior has been among the best 800 runners in South Jersey since last spring when he placed seventh at the Meet of Champions in 1:54.41.
Last Saturday at the Penn Relays Palmer joined Geoff Navarro, Demetrius Rooks and sophomore Santiago Galeano to win a 4x400 heat (event No.192) in 3:21.40, a school record that eclipses the 20-plus-year-old mark of 3:23.
While Palmer placed second to Lenape junior Ryan Garvin (1:55.55) in the 800 at Thursday's South Jersey Open in 1:55.97, senior teammates Navarro and Rooks combined for three gold medals; Navarro won the 100 (11.1) and the 400 (48.96) and Rooks won the 400 intermediate hurdles in 54.69.
Thursday Notables
Just because a number of triple jumpers surpassed 43 feet at the South Jersey Open doesn't make the feat any less impressive. Coming in first with a moon jump of 43-5.5 was Schalick senior Matt Kates, second was Haddon Heights junior Chris Roundtree (43-2.75), third was Glassboro freshman P.J. James (43-2.25) and fourth was Glassboro junior Ryan Chance (43-2).
Pennsauken shot putter Joseph Carmichael threw a personal-best 52-11 to stave off Holy Cross senior Frank Allen (49-1).
And despite coming in second in the 1,600, Bishop Eustace junior Andy Arnold came a long way from last year in the event, finishing behind only Shawnee sophomore David Forward in a personal-best 4:24.66. Arnold finished 16th in the 1,600 in 4:29.73 at the Indoor Meet of Champions this past winter.
Reach Steve Wood at swood@courierpostonline.com.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
David Forward
Shawnee
Grade: Sophomore
Event: Distance
Accomplishment: Success in the 3,200 has kept Forward away from his first love, the 1,600, at group meets. When given the chance, though, Forward makes it count. After lowering his personal record by 11 seconds last year at the SJ Open, the sophomore came full circle Thursday, shaving nearly seven more seconds off his personal record by finishing the last 800 in 2:08 to hold off Bishop Eustace's Andy Arnold in 4:22.82. Forward plans to run another 1,600 today as part of the South Jersey Relays' 4x1,600.
Quote: "I think I could've gone out faster," Forward said. "All week I was planning to go out in 64 [seconds], 65 , but every time when there's one lap left there's doubts in my mind and I'm like 'Let him go just this once.' But I felt pretty good. The striders on the line, my legs felt really light and I knew I had something left."
Penn Relays: Winslow 4x400 wins then bows with bronze - Day 3
(Pub April 27)
Winslow Wins: The team of Darin Washington, Barry Cephas, Gerald Stephens-Holland and Davis McNeil won the 4x400 South Jersey Large School Championship in a year-best 3:17.98, holding off Delsea, the 2007 winner.
Big Penn: An estimated crowd of 49,831 attended the final day of the 114th Annual Penn Relays, the largest turnout this weekend and the second largest ever.
Quote: "I'm not saying it's not scary, because you have all these people watching you," McNeil said. But you got to remember to keep your mind straight, and focus on the race and give it everything you got."
PHILADELPHIA – Winslow Township won't say that missing the cut for the 4x400 Championship of America, arguably the biggest high-school race at the Penn Relays, was beneficial, but things sure went its way in the 4x400 Philadelphia Area Championship Saturday.
Having beaten Delsea by nearly six seconds in a year-best 3:17.78 to win the 4x400 South Jersey Large School Championship, Winslow Township soon discovered its time was two tenths of a second too slow to qualify for the eight-team race, sending the Eagles to scrap in the 12-team consolation race.
And scrap the Eagles' team of Darin Washington, Barry Cephas, Gerald Stephens-Holland and Davis McNeil did, placing third in 3:22.59
Representing the top seed, Washington, a senior, started off on the inside lane and then – with the bang of a gun – restarted after the fight for inside position left two runners facedown.
It hurt Washington to race having had strained his right calf during his previous race, but he welcomed a new start after being boxed in the moment he left the stripe.
And he wasn't about to make the same mistake with 49,831 fanatics watching.
"I knew I had to get out much faster," the senior said.
This time Washington launched off the line, grabbing the lead after 100 meters and then slipping to second before his handoff with Cephas .
"The restart to me was a godsend," coach Larry Hickman said. "On the second start Darin really got out and did what he was supposed to do."
Before running out of luck, the Eagles lucked out once more when the frontrunner from Father Judge (Pa.) dropped off along the homestretch to pick up his dropped baton, a mistake that Cephas – who ran a team-quick 48.0 leg in the preliminary – pounced on, dusting him before the stunned crowd.
The Eagles' foursome lost to Engineering & Science (3:22.24) and North Penn (3:22.40), suffering their first head-to-head defeat since last spring's Meet of Champions, but kept their unblemished record against state schools intact. Delsea finished sixth in 3:26.17.
Sterling's 4x400 team of Chris Ward, Greg Taylor, Robert Friedman and Matt Long outlasted Burlington Township (3:29.23), Holy Cross (3:30.06) and others to win the South Jersey Small School Championship in 3:27.85, but did not advance.
Throughout the final day of the Penn Relays, many teams slowed even when stacked among better competition, a phenomenon that Hickman chalks up to fatigue and chilly, breezy weather.
West Deptford pole vaulter Dan Batdorf only had to look at the flags to see a bad omen.
The flags atop Franklin Field rippled in one direction, the towel wrapped around the standard pole blew another and the end result was Batdorf tying for sixth with a jump of 14-3.25.
"You can feel it when you run," said the senior who arched 15-6 indoors. "Sometimes you'll be running and you feel a gust of wind and it completely ruins the jump."
Egg Harbor Township senior Stevenson Cajuste started the high-school portion of the meet by placing seventh in the 400-meter Hurdles Championship in a personal-best 54.94.
A week after jumping 7-0, Timber Creek high jumper Montez Blair came back to Earth, clearing 6-7.75, good for a medal and a share of fourth pace.
The field wasn't kind to Cherokee senior Chris Steliga either. After advancing to the championship round with a jump of 22-8, the long jumper fouled three times, finishing eighth.
Steliga tried to make adjustments in between his botched attempts,
"After my first [foul] I was thinking 'No big deal, it happens,'" Steliga said, "but on the second one, I was off by like three feet and I was like 'Oh, shoot' so I had to move my steps up. The last one I fouled by a quarter of an inch."
Seeded second in the 4x800 Championship of America after running a school-record 7:51.07, Washington Township's team of Steve Morrone, Nick Krauss, Tim Carey and Xavier Fraction had trouble finding their legs, finishing in 8:06.95.
Although most of the girl events concluded Friday, the 4x400 Philadelphia Area Championship was saved for Saturday. After winning the South Jersey Large School Championship Thursday, the Camden relay team of Jamie Jones, Miriam Boyd, Shaquanda Gainey and Kamice Smalls finished fourth in 3:57.67. Woodrow Wilson placed sixth in 4:01.11.
Winslow Wins: The team of Darin Washington, Barry Cephas, Gerald Stephens-Holland and Davis McNeil won the 4x400 South Jersey Large School Championship in a year-best 3:17.98, holding off Delsea, the 2007 winner.
Big Penn: An estimated crowd of 49,831 attended the final day of the 114th Annual Penn Relays, the largest turnout this weekend and the second largest ever.
Quote: "I'm not saying it's not scary, because you have all these people watching you," McNeil said. But you got to remember to keep your mind straight, and focus on the race and give it everything you got."
PHILADELPHIA – Winslow Township won't say that missing the cut for the 4x400 Championship of America, arguably the biggest high-school race at the Penn Relays, was beneficial, but things sure went its way in the 4x400 Philadelphia Area Championship Saturday.
Having beaten Delsea by nearly six seconds in a year-best 3:17.78 to win the 4x400 South Jersey Large School Championship, Winslow Township soon discovered its time was two tenths of a second too slow to qualify for the eight-team race, sending the Eagles to scrap in the 12-team consolation race.
And scrap the Eagles' team of Darin Washington, Barry Cephas, Gerald Stephens-Holland and Davis McNeil did, placing third in 3:22.59
Representing the top seed, Washington, a senior, started off on the inside lane and then – with the bang of a gun – restarted after the fight for inside position left two runners facedown.
It hurt Washington to race having had strained his right calf during his previous race, but he welcomed a new start after being boxed in the moment he left the stripe.
And he wasn't about to make the same mistake with 49,831 fanatics watching.
"I knew I had to get out much faster," the senior said.
This time Washington launched off the line, grabbing the lead after 100 meters and then slipping to second before his handoff with Cephas .
"The restart to me was a godsend," coach Larry Hickman said. "On the second start Darin really got out and did what he was supposed to do."
Before running out of luck, the Eagles lucked out once more when the frontrunner from Father Judge (Pa.) dropped off along the homestretch to pick up his dropped baton, a mistake that Cephas – who ran a team-quick 48.0 leg in the preliminary – pounced on, dusting him before the stunned crowd.
The Eagles' foursome lost to Engineering & Science (3:22.24) and North Penn (3:22.40), suffering their first head-to-head defeat since last spring's Meet of Champions, but kept their unblemished record against state schools intact. Delsea finished sixth in 3:26.17.
Sterling's 4x400 team of Chris Ward, Greg Taylor, Robert Friedman and Matt Long outlasted Burlington Township (3:29.23), Holy Cross (3:30.06) and others to win the South Jersey Small School Championship in 3:27.85, but did not advance.
Throughout the final day of the Penn Relays, many teams slowed even when stacked among better competition, a phenomenon that Hickman chalks up to fatigue and chilly, breezy weather.
West Deptford pole vaulter Dan Batdorf only had to look at the flags to see a bad omen.
The flags atop Franklin Field rippled in one direction, the towel wrapped around the standard pole blew another and the end result was Batdorf tying for sixth with a jump of 14-3.25.
"You can feel it when you run," said the senior who arched 15-6 indoors. "Sometimes you'll be running and you feel a gust of wind and it completely ruins the jump."
Egg Harbor Township senior Stevenson Cajuste started the high-school portion of the meet by placing seventh in the 400-meter Hurdles Championship in a personal-best 54.94.
A week after jumping 7-0, Timber Creek high jumper Montez Blair came back to Earth, clearing 6-7.75, good for a medal and a share of fourth pace.
The field wasn't kind to Cherokee senior Chris Steliga either. After advancing to the championship round with a jump of 22-8, the long jumper fouled three times, finishing eighth.
Steliga tried to make adjustments in between his botched attempts,
"After my first [foul] I was thinking 'No big deal, it happens,'" Steliga said, "but on the second one, I was off by like three feet and I was like 'Oh, shoot' so I had to move my steps up. The last one I fouled by a quarter of an inch."
Seeded second in the 4x800 Championship of America after running a school-record 7:51.07, Washington Township's team of Steve Morrone, Nick Krauss, Tim Carey and Xavier Fraction had trouble finding their legs, finishing in 8:06.95.
Although most of the girl events concluded Friday, the 4x400 Philadelphia Area Championship was saved for Saturday. After winning the South Jersey Large School Championship Thursday, the Camden relay team of Jamie Jones, Miriam Boyd, Shaquanda Gainey and Kamice Smalls finished fourth in 3:57.67. Woodrow Wilson placed sixth in 4:01.11.
Penn Relays: Carey helps Minutemen 4x800 to silver, school record - Day 2
(Pub April 25)
PHILADELPHIA – Hidden away on the third leg of Washington Township's 4x800, junior Tim Carey can easily be forgotten.
In fact, if done right, Carey hands off the lead to anchor Xavier Fraction, who, in turn, blazes to a glorious finish, leaving everyone before Fraction remembered as just that: everyone before Fraction.
But entering the Penn Relays Friday, coach Rich Bostwick had trouble forgetting Carey's 1,600 performance last Tuesday. Carey struggled to break five minutes in the dual meet, an atypical performance for someone accustomed to breaking 2:00 in the 800.
"He said he was trying," Bostwick said. "Tell me that shouldn't scare me."
But if Bostwick's confidence in Carey wavered at all Saturday, he didn't show it, keeping Carey -- one fourth of the relay team that once held the nation's best time this past winter -- in the fastest 4x800 heat at the Penn Relays.
"We got to have him there because he might run up to his potential," he said, "and that is 1:52."
The move helped the Minutemen's team of Steve Morrone, Nick Krauss, Carey and Fraction finish second in both its heat and the field of 70 teams in 7:51.07, a school record.
With an estimated crowd of 39,904 looking on, Carey belt out a 1:58.1, a time bested by only one teammate, Fraction, who clocked in the second fastest leg of the meet, a blazing 1:54.7 that swallowed three frontrunners. Hillsborough, NJ. won in 7:47.44.
"They didn't give up. They went for it and took some chances," Bostwick said.
The Minutemen had their chance to compete against the country's best teams at the Indoor National Championships last winter, but Bostwick opted not to, knowing that a race that deep into the indoor season would disrupt their spring training.
So the big test was moved to April 26, a day known by track athletes as the middle block of Penn's three-day meet, and one known by Washington Township juniors, including Carey, Fraction and Krauss (1:58.6), as the Junior Prom.
Despite every relay member but sophomore Morrone (1:59.7) morphing into tuxedoes Friday night, Bostwick said the focus never shifted.
"They're been wanting this one ever since indoors," he said.
The performance advances the Minutemen and the day's other top seven teams to today's Championship of America 4x800. If the Minutemen should contend today, they would need to be conscious of their international competition," Bostwick said.
"We know a lot of those Jamaican schools were just chilling," he said. "They weren't running all out. They'll be ready to go out a lot faster tomorrow. We're just hoping to put four legs together."
Washington Township did well in the field too with shot putter Kwabena Keene placing fifth after throwing 56-7.75.
Despite medaling, the University of North Carolina-bound senior said he was disappointed that he didn't gain any ground on the giants from North Jersey, Morristown freshman Nicholas Vena (63-6.5) and Scotch Plains-Fairwood senior Mike Alleman (62-1.5), who dwarf Keene in both skill and size.
"I'm trying to become the Goliath," Keene said. "I know I'm definitely the David compared to them, because Alleman and Vena are definitely not small people. I'm trying to get there though."
Pleasantville's 4x100 team of Richard Gregory, Kenny Davis, Jamal Roberts and Raymond Wilson will compete in the Small Schools Championship of America 4x100 today after making the eight-team cutoff by a mere five hundredths of a second after winning its heat in a season-best 42.88.
"I'm surprised that we made it back," coach Alan Laws said. "I didn't expect that out of the 4x100. I thought we were going to run good, but I just wanted them to warm up their legs for the 4x400 tomorrow."
The Greyhounds are the lone small-school team to represent New Jersey today and will line against five superior Jamaican teams, one of which ran 40.72. Davis, the fastest leg, said his team is not daunted by the challenge.
"They're just like us -- they're just faster," the senior said, "but we can do the same thing they do. We just got to work harder.
"If we have somebody to run with, we'll gonna push ourselves harder. "
Winslow Township's relay team of Rueben Johnson, Darin Washington, Keith Robinson and Barry Cephas finished seventh in the Large Schools 4x100 in a state-best 42.43 and will also compete today.
Other South Jersey performers include Woodstown senior Brian Owens, who took 10th overall in the Javelin Throw Championships after blasting a 186-11, and Haddonfield sophomore Boo Vitez, who placed 14th in the 3,000 in 8:49.93
"I was trying to go with them for [2,000] and see what I had left for [1,000]," said Vitez, who shot for 8:50.
PHILADELPHIA – Hidden away on the third leg of Washington Township's 4x800, junior Tim Carey can easily be forgotten.
In fact, if done right, Carey hands off the lead to anchor Xavier Fraction, who, in turn, blazes to a glorious finish, leaving everyone before Fraction remembered as just that: everyone before Fraction.
But entering the Penn Relays Friday, coach Rich Bostwick had trouble forgetting Carey's 1,600 performance last Tuesday. Carey struggled to break five minutes in the dual meet, an atypical performance for someone accustomed to breaking 2:00 in the 800.
"He said he was trying," Bostwick said. "Tell me that shouldn't scare me."
But if Bostwick's confidence in Carey wavered at all Saturday, he didn't show it, keeping Carey -- one fourth of the relay team that once held the nation's best time this past winter -- in the fastest 4x800 heat at the Penn Relays.
"We got to have him there because he might run up to his potential," he said, "and that is 1:52."
The move helped the Minutemen's team of Steve Morrone, Nick Krauss, Carey and Fraction finish second in both its heat and the field of 70 teams in 7:51.07, a school record.
With an estimated crowd of 39,904 looking on, Carey belt out a 1:58.1, a time bested by only one teammate, Fraction, who clocked in the second fastest leg of the meet, a blazing 1:54.7 that swallowed three frontrunners. Hillsborough, NJ. won in 7:47.44.
"They didn't give up. They went for it and took some chances," Bostwick said.
The Minutemen had their chance to compete against the country's best teams at the Indoor National Championships last winter, but Bostwick opted not to, knowing that a race that deep into the indoor season would disrupt their spring training.
So the big test was moved to April 26, a day known by track athletes as the middle block of Penn's three-day meet, and one known by Washington Township juniors, including Carey, Fraction and Krauss (1:58.6), as the Junior Prom.
Despite every relay member but sophomore Morrone (1:59.7) morphing into tuxedoes Friday night, Bostwick said the focus never shifted.
"They're been wanting this one ever since indoors," he said.
The performance advances the Minutemen and the day's other top seven teams to today's Championship of America 4x800. If the Minutemen should contend today, they would need to be conscious of their international competition," Bostwick said.
"We know a lot of those Jamaican schools were just chilling," he said. "They weren't running all out. They'll be ready to go out a lot faster tomorrow. We're just hoping to put four legs together."
Washington Township did well in the field too with shot putter Kwabena Keene placing fifth after throwing 56-7.75.
Despite medaling, the University of North Carolina-bound senior said he was disappointed that he didn't gain any ground on the giants from North Jersey, Morristown freshman Nicholas Vena (63-6.5) and Scotch Plains-Fairwood senior Mike Alleman (62-1.5), who dwarf Keene in both skill and size.
"I'm trying to become the Goliath," Keene said. "I know I'm definitely the David compared to them, because Alleman and Vena are definitely not small people. I'm trying to get there though."
Pleasantville's 4x100 team of Richard Gregory, Kenny Davis, Jamal Roberts and Raymond Wilson will compete in the Small Schools Championship of America 4x100 today after making the eight-team cutoff by a mere five hundredths of a second after winning its heat in a season-best 42.88.
"I'm surprised that we made it back," coach Alan Laws said. "I didn't expect that out of the 4x100. I thought we were going to run good, but I just wanted them to warm up their legs for the 4x400 tomorrow."
The Greyhounds are the lone small-school team to represent New Jersey today and will line against five superior Jamaican teams, one of which ran 40.72. Davis, the fastest leg, said his team is not daunted by the challenge.
"They're just like us -- they're just faster," the senior said, "but we can do the same thing they do. We just got to work harder.
"If we have somebody to run with, we'll gonna push ourselves harder. "
Winslow Township's relay team of Rueben Johnson, Darin Washington, Keith Robinson and Barry Cephas finished seventh in the Large Schools 4x100 in a state-best 42.43 and will also compete today.
Other South Jersey performers include Woodstown senior Brian Owens, who took 10th overall in the Javelin Throw Championships after blasting a 186-11, and Haddonfield sophomore Boo Vitez, who placed 14th in the 3,000 in 8:49.93
"I was trying to go with them for [2,000] and see what I had left for [1,000]," said Vitez, who shot for 8:50.
NB: McDonnell making up lost time
(Pub April 25)
Several weeks ago at the Camden-Gloucester Relays, Kevin McDonnell toed his first high-school race since he suffered a season-ending stress fracture. The injury happened midway through the cross-country season, roughly thereabouts. Ballpark.
"178 days ago I broke my foot," the Camden Catholic senior said after clocking in a 3:19 in the 1,200 leg of the distance medley.
Oh.
For a guy who doesn't lose – McDonnell went the entire season without taking second to a single South Jersey runner – losing time to his competition is devastating, especially as a senior.
The time away hasn't tapered his expectations as McDonnell, who kicked off his revival in late March running a 1,500 unattached in 4:10 at Widener College, had hoped to break 15:20 in a rare 5,000 (12.5 laps) at the Moorestown Invitational two weeks ago.
He won the race in 15:18.68. Haddonfield sophomore Boo Vitez placed in 15:30.85 and one of North Jersey's best, Brick Memorial's Andrew Brodeur, finished a distant third in 15:52.80.
McDonnell has been training since Jan. 9, cutting back on his 85-mile weeks during the fall with 50-mile weeks and punishing workouts, and has occasionally joined Vitez and Haddonfield sophomore Colin Baker on some Sunday runs, none of which, Baker stresses, fall under the category of "Long Slow Distance'.
"Our last two miles can be below 5:20 and that's at the end of a long run. So they're booking it," said Baker, noting the pace is a far cry from the duo's normal stride of 7:00. "We may dip down to 6:30 maybe and then he shows up and he's flying.
"It's what we need but we like giving him a hard time for that."
Reasons for his injury remain unclear and range from wearing the wrong sneakers to running too long or too hard, McDonnell said.
While his shoes and mileage have changed, one look at his performances this spring will tell you his last-race mentality has not.
"It's how I take every race. I just feel anything can happen," McDonnell said at the Cam-Glo Relays. "This could've been my last race, so why not run as hard as I can?"
Cool Running
Some athletes make a name for themselves by performing at a high level. Others don't even have to do that.
Then there are others with the full package: creative guardians, crazy talent and cool names.
For those of us you who repeat certain names to yourself just for the fun of it, here's a list of track stars that should keep you occupied. Remember them, but then again, I don't think you'll have much of a choice:
Dustin Roadside – If this Egg Harbor Township freshman ever makes it as a rock star, if that's his thing, he's already got a leg up over such bland stage acts as John Cougar Mellancamp, Jon Bon Jovi , Sting and – dare I say it – Meatloaf. No identity crisis here.
While the name may conjure up tumbleweeds blowing over the old Route 66, Roadside, the long-distance runner, crosses the line much faster, blowing by Vineland and Oakcrest runners last week in both the 1,600 (4:33) and 3,200 (10:40).
The freshman was arguably the major difference between the Eagles leaving the crucial tri-meet with two wins instead of two losses.
Xavier Fraction – Although his parents were dissuaded from naming the Washington Township junior "Damian" after watching a horror movie, Fraction still turned out to be a speed demon.
"I'm the only Xavier in my school," he said. "It's cool to have a name all to myself."
While the Minutemen have won many meets by a Fraction, the team's go-to anchor leg – known sometimes as "X-man" or just "X" to his teammates and coaches – led off his distance medley relay team at last Saturday's Woodbury Relays, running the 1,200 in 3:13 to help his team win the Group 4 relay in 10:35.9.
Major Mobley – Most majors earn their title after many pushups, pinups and buzz cuts. This Cherokee junior elevated through the ranks and achieved such status Day 1 in the crib.
Elevate is the operative word since Mobley, alongside Chris Steliga, has given the Chiefs one of the best jumping tandems in South Jersey.
Mobley was key in a dual meet win over Washington Township this month and had later teamed with Steliga to set a new triple-jump meet record (81-5) at the Hall of Fame Relays.
Boo Vitez – The name "Boo" may sound odd, if not ironic, for a light, curly haired distance runner, but that hasn't stopped anyone from calling the Haddonfield sophomore just that.
Although his birth certificate reads as Jonathan, Vitez is known to family, friends and foes as Boo, a nickname even he can't explain. Scary talented as one of South Jersey's best 3,200 runners already, having had won the Indoor Group 1 title this past winter, Vitez is a name that may linger in legacy long after he's gone (to school).
James Brown – Contrary to belief, the Glassboro junior got his name from his dad, not from the godfather of soul.
And yet the Brown continues to be the heart and soul of his team, powering the 18th-ranked Bulldogs past defending champ Penns Grove 76-64 Wednesday by winning the 100 (10.7), the 200 (22.6) and the 4x400 (3:32.5).
Penns Grove was without star sprinter Aaron Hayward, who reportedly pulled a hamstring at the Woodbury Relays last Saturday.
Chasing Steeples
Haddon Heights junior Colin Lynch doesn't shy away from challenges, even odd ones.
"It is a goofy race," Lynch said. "It's like the hardest distance race and the hardest sprinting race put together. It's weird. Thank God there's no water pit."
If 'goofy' or 'weird' didn't clue you in, Lynch is of course referring to the steeplechase, a race he was introduced to last Saturday at the Woodbury Relays.
Lynch learned on the go how to approach the 3,000-meter event lined with hurdles, winning in an impressive 9:56.9.
"First two legs were easy," he said. "It wasn't that tall, you're nice and rested, but then it just got harder and harder. I'm not used to that.
"Three laps to go it was just murder. I didn't know what I was doing basically. I'd either hop off it or hurdle it basically. It was different every time. But as long as I got over it, it was good."
Marathon
Former Shawnee runner Adam Ambrus was the top South Jersey finisher at last Sunday's Boston Marathon, finishing 53rd out of more than 20,000 entrants in 2:29.44.
The 2001 graduate ran the first 13.2 miles in 1:15:39 and averaged a 5:43 mile pace throughout.
Before leaving for the University of Maryland, Ambrus ran a personal-best 16:13.51 at Holmdel Park, the cross-country championship site, as a senior.
Several weeks ago at the Camden-Gloucester Relays, Kevin McDonnell toed his first high-school race since he suffered a season-ending stress fracture. The injury happened midway through the cross-country season, roughly thereabouts. Ballpark.
"178 days ago I broke my foot," the Camden Catholic senior said after clocking in a 3:19 in the 1,200 leg of the distance medley.
Oh.
For a guy who doesn't lose – McDonnell went the entire season without taking second to a single South Jersey runner – losing time to his competition is devastating, especially as a senior.
The time away hasn't tapered his expectations as McDonnell, who kicked off his revival in late March running a 1,500 unattached in 4:10 at Widener College, had hoped to break 15:20 in a rare 5,000 (12.5 laps) at the Moorestown Invitational two weeks ago.
He won the race in 15:18.68. Haddonfield sophomore Boo Vitez placed in 15:30.85 and one of North Jersey's best, Brick Memorial's Andrew Brodeur, finished a distant third in 15:52.80.
McDonnell has been training since Jan. 9, cutting back on his 85-mile weeks during the fall with 50-mile weeks and punishing workouts, and has occasionally joined Vitez and Haddonfield sophomore Colin Baker on some Sunday runs, none of which, Baker stresses, fall under the category of "Long Slow Distance'.
"Our last two miles can be below 5:20 and that's at the end of a long run. So they're booking it," said Baker, noting the pace is a far cry from the duo's normal stride of 7:00. "We may dip down to 6:30 maybe and then he shows up and he's flying.
"It's what we need but we like giving him a hard time for that."
Reasons for his injury remain unclear and range from wearing the wrong sneakers to running too long or too hard, McDonnell said.
While his shoes and mileage have changed, one look at his performances this spring will tell you his last-race mentality has not.
"It's how I take every race. I just feel anything can happen," McDonnell said at the Cam-Glo Relays. "This could've been my last race, so why not run as hard as I can?"
Cool Running
Some athletes make a name for themselves by performing at a high level. Others don't even have to do that.
Then there are others with the full package: creative guardians, crazy talent and cool names.
For those of us you who repeat certain names to yourself just for the fun of it, here's a list of track stars that should keep you occupied. Remember them, but then again, I don't think you'll have much of a choice:
Dustin Roadside – If this Egg Harbor Township freshman ever makes it as a rock star, if that's his thing, he's already got a leg up over such bland stage acts as John Cougar Mellancamp, Jon Bon Jovi , Sting and – dare I say it – Meatloaf. No identity crisis here.
While the name may conjure up tumbleweeds blowing over the old Route 66, Roadside, the long-distance runner, crosses the line much faster, blowing by Vineland and Oakcrest runners last week in both the 1,600 (4:33) and 3,200 (10:40).
The freshman was arguably the major difference between the Eagles leaving the crucial tri-meet with two wins instead of two losses.
Xavier Fraction – Although his parents were dissuaded from naming the Washington Township junior "Damian" after watching a horror movie, Fraction still turned out to be a speed demon.
"I'm the only Xavier in my school," he said. "It's cool to have a name all to myself."
While the Minutemen have won many meets by a Fraction, the team's go-to anchor leg – known sometimes as "X-man" or just "X" to his teammates and coaches – led off his distance medley relay team at last Saturday's Woodbury Relays, running the 1,200 in 3:13 to help his team win the Group 4 relay in 10:35.9.
Major Mobley – Most majors earn their title after many pushups, pinups and buzz cuts. This Cherokee junior elevated through the ranks and achieved such status Day 1 in the crib.
Elevate is the operative word since Mobley, alongside Chris Steliga, has given the Chiefs one of the best jumping tandems in South Jersey.
Mobley was key in a dual meet win over Washington Township this month and had later teamed with Steliga to set a new triple-jump meet record (81-5) at the Hall of Fame Relays.
Boo Vitez – The name "Boo" may sound odd, if not ironic, for a light, curly haired distance runner, but that hasn't stopped anyone from calling the Haddonfield sophomore just that.
Although his birth certificate reads as Jonathan, Vitez is known to family, friends and foes as Boo, a nickname even he can't explain. Scary talented as one of South Jersey's best 3,200 runners already, having had won the Indoor Group 1 title this past winter, Vitez is a name that may linger in legacy long after he's gone (to school).
James Brown – Contrary to belief, the Glassboro junior got his name from his dad, not from the godfather of soul.
And yet the Brown continues to be the heart and soul of his team, powering the 18th-ranked Bulldogs past defending champ Penns Grove 76-64 Wednesday by winning the 100 (10.7), the 200 (22.6) and the 4x400 (3:32.5).
Penns Grove was without star sprinter Aaron Hayward, who reportedly pulled a hamstring at the Woodbury Relays last Saturday.
Chasing Steeples
Haddon Heights junior Colin Lynch doesn't shy away from challenges, even odd ones.
"It is a goofy race," Lynch said. "It's like the hardest distance race and the hardest sprinting race put together. It's weird. Thank God there's no water pit."
If 'goofy' or 'weird' didn't clue you in, Lynch is of course referring to the steeplechase, a race he was introduced to last Saturday at the Woodbury Relays.
Lynch learned on the go how to approach the 3,000-meter event lined with hurdles, winning in an impressive 9:56.9.
"First two legs were easy," he said. "It wasn't that tall, you're nice and rested, but then it just got harder and harder. I'm not used to that.
"Three laps to go it was just murder. I didn't know what I was doing basically. I'd either hop off it or hurdle it basically. It was different every time. But as long as I got over it, it was good."
Marathon
Former Shawnee runner Adam Ambrus was the top South Jersey finisher at last Sunday's Boston Marathon, finishing 53rd out of more than 20,000 entrants in 2:29.44.
The 2001 graduate ran the first 13.2 miles in 1:15:39 and averaged a 5:43 mile pace throughout.
Before leaving for the University of Maryland, Ambrus ran a personal-best 16:13.51 at Holmdel Park, the cross-country championship site, as a senior.
Penn Relays: Smalls dazzles on Day 1
(Published April 24)
PHILADELPHIA -- Turn the corner, walk down the stairwell through the dim corridor, and see Kamice Smalls tucked away, lying outside the doorway, sweating, huffing, smiling.
Strange place for a winner to be, but the Camden senior, in her fourth year competing at the Penn Relays and her third time Thursday, can take refuge in her day pretty much anywhere.
Smalls could have laid down at Franklin Field earlier, say during the final leg of the South Jersey Large-School 4x400 when her Lady Panthers trailed the Woodrow Wilson anchor by about 15 meters, but instead decided to win, moving her relay to a state-best 3:53.88.
She didn't catch her split time, but she caught the leader.
"I was determined," Smalls said. "I wasn't going to let anybody beat us. We were focused. We wanted this."
By zooming her team to one of the 12 qualifying times Thursday, Smalls extended her Penn Relays experience, and that of teammates Jamie Jones, Shaquanda Gainey and Miriam Boyd, to Saturday when they'll compete in the Philadelphia Area 4x400.
Smalls said she "pumped my arms, and drove my legs" to merely shadow the leader with 150 meters left. Only then did she make her move.
"I didn't want to go all hard out and then die, so I stayed with her," she said.
The outcome was never in question to coach Avis Satterfield.
"I knew she would come though. I felt confident," Satterfield said. "They were really excited for the 4x400."
Smalls kicked off the high-school portion of the three-day meet with a fourth-place finish in the 400 Hurdles Championship, earning a personal-best 1:02.4 and a medal. Woodrow Wilson senior Samantha Sharper took sixth in 1:02.53.
Camden's relay team of Jones, Smalls, Boyd and Assante Johnson took ninth overall in the 4x100 Small Schools meet, finishing its heat second in 48.24.
Millville's 4x400 grouped itself in the day's fastest heat, cashing in its 3:54.13 time for fourth overall in the international heat despite running the state's second-best time this year.
If Millville is geographically eligible for the Philadelphia area race, something coach Marissa Harris is looking into, the team of Nyrae Newman, Alyssa Barrow, Brooke Kott and Britney Kott will likely join Woodrow Wilson (3:54.21) and Camden on the stripe Saturday.
But Millville needed two big performances to get that far. The Kott twins spun the last two laps in 1:53.4 with Britney anchoring in a team-best 56.5 – and still fell 15 seconds behind race winner Elearnor Roosevelt (3:38.4).
"I was thinking that's the best 4x400 I've seen in my life," Harris said.
Britney Kott nearly lost something before taking the baton – her voice. Even though the crowd of 23,657 drowns out the loudest cries, that doesn't stop the junior from performing her obligation as a teammate: cheering on Newman and Barrow.
As for her twin Brooke? Telepathically rooting will have to do.
"I feel bad because the third leg is my sister but once she goes it's like I have to try to save my energy to run my race," Britney Kott said. "I would cheer for her if I could, but I would feel so tired."
Having already qualified as one of the region's top distance-medley teams, the Lenape squad of seniors Moira Cunningham, Brianna Beddall , Lindsey Walsh and sophomore Caitlin Orr placed seventh at the Distance Medley Championship of America in 12:07.21, a school record.
Orr ran the Penn Relays last year and the 1,600 dozens of times, but the sophomore said she felt some extra pressure anchoring a relay for her senior-laden team.
"In the individual race if I do bad I'm just disappointing myself, but if I disappoint them as the anchor, especially since they're all seniors, that would be horrible," Orr said. "I just couldn't let them down."
Fellow sophomore, Kingsway's Chelsea Ley, ran the 3,000 Championship better than last year, breaking out of a box midway through to momentarily lead before falling back to ninth in a still-sizzling 9:54.75.
PHILADELPHIA -- Turn the corner, walk down the stairwell through the dim corridor, and see Kamice Smalls tucked away, lying outside the doorway, sweating, huffing, smiling.
Strange place for a winner to be, but the Camden senior, in her fourth year competing at the Penn Relays and her third time Thursday, can take refuge in her day pretty much anywhere.
Smalls could have laid down at Franklin Field earlier, say during the final leg of the South Jersey Large-School 4x400 when her Lady Panthers trailed the Woodrow Wilson anchor by about 15 meters, but instead decided to win, moving her relay to a state-best 3:53.88.
She didn't catch her split time, but she caught the leader.
"I was determined," Smalls said. "I wasn't going to let anybody beat us. We were focused. We wanted this."
By zooming her team to one of the 12 qualifying times Thursday, Smalls extended her Penn Relays experience, and that of teammates Jamie Jones, Shaquanda Gainey and Miriam Boyd, to Saturday when they'll compete in the Philadelphia Area 4x400.
Smalls said she "pumped my arms, and drove my legs" to merely shadow the leader with 150 meters left. Only then did she make her move.
"I didn't want to go all hard out and then die, so I stayed with her," she said.
The outcome was never in question to coach Avis Satterfield.
"I knew she would come though. I felt confident," Satterfield said. "They were really excited for the 4x400."
Smalls kicked off the high-school portion of the three-day meet with a fourth-place finish in the 400 Hurdles Championship, earning a personal-best 1:02.4 and a medal. Woodrow Wilson senior Samantha Sharper took sixth in 1:02.53.
Camden's relay team of Jones, Smalls, Boyd and Assante Johnson took ninth overall in the 4x100 Small Schools meet, finishing its heat second in 48.24.
Millville's 4x400 grouped itself in the day's fastest heat, cashing in its 3:54.13 time for fourth overall in the international heat despite running the state's second-best time this year.
If Millville is geographically eligible for the Philadelphia area race, something coach Marissa Harris is looking into, the team of Nyrae Newman, Alyssa Barrow, Brooke Kott and Britney Kott will likely join Woodrow Wilson (3:54.21) and Camden on the stripe Saturday.
But Millville needed two big performances to get that far. The Kott twins spun the last two laps in 1:53.4 with Britney anchoring in a team-best 56.5 – and still fell 15 seconds behind race winner Elearnor Roosevelt (3:38.4).
"I was thinking that's the best 4x400 I've seen in my life," Harris said.
Britney Kott nearly lost something before taking the baton – her voice. Even though the crowd of 23,657 drowns out the loudest cries, that doesn't stop the junior from performing her obligation as a teammate: cheering on Newman and Barrow.
As for her twin Brooke? Telepathically rooting will have to do.
"I feel bad because the third leg is my sister but once she goes it's like I have to try to save my energy to run my race," Britney Kott said. "I would cheer for her if I could, but I would feel so tired."
Having already qualified as one of the region's top distance-medley teams, the Lenape squad of seniors Moira Cunningham, Brianna Beddall , Lindsey Walsh and sophomore Caitlin Orr placed seventh at the Distance Medley Championship of America in 12:07.21, a school record.
Orr ran the Penn Relays last year and the 1,600 dozens of times, but the sophomore said she felt some extra pressure anchoring a relay for her senior-laden team.
"In the individual race if I do bad I'm just disappointing myself, but if I disappoint them as the anchor, especially since they're all seniors, that would be horrible," Orr said. "I just couldn't let them down."
Fellow sophomore, Kingsway's Chelsea Ley, ran the 3,000 Championship better than last year, breaking out of a box midway through to momentarily lead before falling back to ninth in a still-sizzling 9:54.75.
30 May 2008
Camden's Marshall back on track
For 5/30 issue.
Camden senior Matt Marshall lugged more than just a briefcase while on the college circuit this spring.
Flown from university to university, Marshall was given the campus tour, a spiel on why this or that school was the right fit for him, and praise – lots and lots of praise.
Such is the life of a highly-touted wide receiver. But while recruiters vied for his signature, a heavy conscience tugged at Marshall, one of the state's top hurdlers.
"I wanted to be there. I wanted to be there with my teammates. I wanted to be the one to put it out there," Marshall said. "But for me, I knew I was helping my future, which is a blessing that I have the opportunity.
"Still, the selfish part of me wasn't where it was supposed to be. I wasn't thinking about me."
After missing major meets and months of practice, Marshall regained form at the right time, winning the South Jersey Group 3 title in the 110 hurdles in 14.43 Saturday. He traveled far before returning in the basics.
From early March to early May, Marshall followed up on offers from the University of Arkansas, the University of Iowa and the University of North Carolina, living in and out of hotels while missing big meets – including a possible fourth appearance at the Penn Relays – and precious practice time on the track.
As a hurdler, Marshall soon found that training, while traveling, was challenging.
Unable to practice with college teams, Marshall did so individually, using hotel hallways as staightaways and walks to lecture halls and cafeterias as training grounds. Look ma, no hurdles.
"I was trying to do straddle jumps as if I was going over the hurdle," the University of Arkansas-bound student said. "Even though a hurdle wasn't there, I was imaging as if there was."
Enough of those workouts and Marshall's most sought touchdown involved a plane touching down on a nearby runway.
Between college visits Marshall competed at the Woodbury Relays – his only major meet – and at a few dual meets. Any illusions of being the same athlete who won the 55 hurdles at the Indoor State Group 3 Championship this winter were dismissed then, when sophomore teammate Syteek Farrington and lesser competitors beat him in the 110 hurdles, his premiere event. He was sluggish, running high 15s and losing his form by the seventh hurdle.
"Guys that used to fear him wouldn't fear him," coach Greg Foster said.
"I couldn't be mad at them," Marshall said. "I was always taught there're always guys doing something when you're not. And what they were doing, I wasn't doing."
While he could have hung it up when he arrived home for good in May and coasted on his two-sport, full-ride scholarship to Arkansas, Marshall insisted on persisting for his team and himself.
"He would work extra hard in the practice, come back the next week, and get beaten by guys he had no problem beating before, but he never got frustrated," Foster said. "It showed me a lot about his character."
An epiphany – and his Aunt Becky – woke Marshall up on a free Saturday, both telling him "you better start running."
He took his household hurdle, sat it on his driveway and practiced jumping over it and jump rope for two furious hours, an old training regimen that shaped him into the athlete he was – and came to be.
"I had to build the hunger back," he said.
Marshall spent the next two weeks at another gear. That's why he expected to speed to a season-best time Saturday.
"I honestly was training for that kind of performance," he said. "The great thing with that is there's a lot of room for improvement."
Marshall feels capable of breaking his personal-best 14.28 and hopes to dip down to 13.8 at the State Group 3 Championship Saturday at South Plainsfield. He will be joined on the line by Farrington, who placed third in 14.61.
Marshall won't race in ruby red slippers. After all, now that he's home, he has no need for them.
"It feels good to be back," Marshall said, "Home with my teammates and family."
Decade best
Along with tossing a personal-best 156-7 in the discus Saturday, Washington Township senior Kwabena Keene threw a personal-best 59-3 in the shot put, becoming South Jersey's best shot putter since Paulsboro's 1998 alum Jon Kalnas.
While Kalnas' high-school best of 64-4.25 may be out of reach, there is no state thrower closer to 60 feet than Keene.
"I really want to break it," said the University of North Carolina-bound senior this season. "I'm so close."
Keene is the top seed in the Group 4 meet today and if he doesn't reach the mark then, will get another chance at the Meet of Champions Wednesday provided he places in today's top six.
Camden senior Matt Marshall lugged more than just a briefcase while on the college circuit this spring.
Flown from university to university, Marshall was given the campus tour, a spiel on why this or that school was the right fit for him, and praise – lots and lots of praise.
Such is the life of a highly-touted wide receiver. But while recruiters vied for his signature, a heavy conscience tugged at Marshall, one of the state's top hurdlers.
"I wanted to be there. I wanted to be there with my teammates. I wanted to be the one to put it out there," Marshall said. "But for me, I knew I was helping my future, which is a blessing that I have the opportunity.
"Still, the selfish part of me wasn't where it was supposed to be. I wasn't thinking about me."
After missing major meets and months of practice, Marshall regained form at the right time, winning the South Jersey Group 3 title in the 110 hurdles in 14.43 Saturday. He traveled far before returning in the basics.
From early March to early May, Marshall followed up on offers from the University of Arkansas, the University of Iowa and the University of North Carolina, living in and out of hotels while missing big meets – including a possible fourth appearance at the Penn Relays – and precious practice time on the track.
As a hurdler, Marshall soon found that training, while traveling, was challenging.
Unable to practice with college teams, Marshall did so individually, using hotel hallways as staightaways and walks to lecture halls and cafeterias as training grounds. Look ma, no hurdles.
"I was trying to do straddle jumps as if I was going over the hurdle," the University of Arkansas-bound student said. "Even though a hurdle wasn't there, I was imaging as if there was."
Enough of those workouts and Marshall's most sought touchdown involved a plane touching down on a nearby runway.
Between college visits Marshall competed at the Woodbury Relays – his only major meet – and at a few dual meets. Any illusions of being the same athlete who won the 55 hurdles at the Indoor State Group 3 Championship this winter were dismissed then, when sophomore teammate Syteek Farrington and lesser competitors beat him in the 110 hurdles, his premiere event. He was sluggish, running high 15s and losing his form by the seventh hurdle.
"Guys that used to fear him wouldn't fear him," coach Greg Foster said.
"I couldn't be mad at them," Marshall said. "I was always taught there're always guys doing something when you're not. And what they were doing, I wasn't doing."
While he could have hung it up when he arrived home for good in May and coasted on his two-sport, full-ride scholarship to Arkansas, Marshall insisted on persisting for his team and himself.
"He would work extra hard in the practice, come back the next week, and get beaten by guys he had no problem beating before, but he never got frustrated," Foster said. "It showed me a lot about his character."
An epiphany – and his Aunt Becky – woke Marshall up on a free Saturday, both telling him "you better start running."
He took his household hurdle, sat it on his driveway and practiced jumping over it and jump rope for two furious hours, an old training regimen that shaped him into the athlete he was – and came to be.
"I had to build the hunger back," he said.
Marshall spent the next two weeks at another gear. That's why he expected to speed to a season-best time Saturday.
"I honestly was training for that kind of performance," he said. "The great thing with that is there's a lot of room for improvement."
Marshall feels capable of breaking his personal-best 14.28 and hopes to dip down to 13.8 at the State Group 3 Championship Saturday at South Plainsfield. He will be joined on the line by Farrington, who placed third in 14.61.
Marshall won't race in ruby red slippers. After all, now that he's home, he has no need for them.
"It feels good to be back," Marshall said, "Home with my teammates and family."
Decade best
Along with tossing a personal-best 156-7 in the discus Saturday, Washington Township senior Kwabena Keene threw a personal-best 59-3 in the shot put, becoming South Jersey's best shot putter since Paulsboro's 1998 alum Jon Kalnas.
While Kalnas' high-school best of 64-4.25 may be out of reach, there is no state thrower closer to 60 feet than Keene.
"I really want to break it," said the University of North Carolina-bound senior this season. "I'm so close."
Keene is the top seed in the Group 4 meet today and if he doesn't reach the mark then, will get another chance at the Meet of Champions Wednesday provided he places in today's top six.
28 May 2008
In Memory Of...
Like all good drivers, Bridget Bayliss routinely looks into her rearview mirror to check who's behind her.
But no matter her location or speed, the Clementon resident already knows who's riding just inches off her rear bumper: her mother, Janine Cara Bayliss, who passed away from cervical cancer 20 years ago at the age of 35.
Last year, 19 years after Cara Bayliss' body was buried, her memory was resurrected through a growing trend: a memorial car decal.
While tailgaters may look at the decal and read the ``In Loving Memory of Janine Cara'' inscription, Bayliss sees something else.
``I see her face and I see her smile,'' Bayliss, 37, said. ``And that reminds me of her. She always had a smile on her face.''
Bayliss is not alone.
While death may be final, many folks are finding innovative ways to commemorate their loved ones by etching - and stretching - one's memory across their car, shirt or skin.
My Mother the Car
To a stranger, the epitaph may be considered morbid, a mobile reminder of mortality, but to Bayliss, it's the stuff of bedtime stories.
A mother of three, Bayliss said the sign sparks her children's wonder about the grandmother they never knew.
Bayliss tells them of her mother's constant laugh, her unshakable love for her and her sister, Kara, and her struggle to raise the two of them as a stay-at-home mom. They want more.
``They know her just as Grandma, but she was a real person. And I like to keep her memory alive,'' said Bayliss, a state worker. ``I don't want to bury it.''
Bayliss bought the customized decal at Mr. Auto/Tire at the Berlin Farmer's Market for $20 last year, applied it to the outer back window of her 1997 Dodge Caravan, dampened the backing and peeled it off to reveal the memorial.
She hopes people read in to it.
``It's a reminder of who she was and I wouldn't be the person I am today with out her,'' Bayliss said. ``I just want to share with the world how great of a person she was. My kids missed out.''
Lucy Bregman, a religion professor at Temple University who teaches the course ``Death and Dying,'' said the need for such pub lic exercises of grief is nor mal and as old as the color black.
Before the end of World War I, bereaved Americans would wear black clothes, arm bands or special hair styles often for longer than a year to show others they were still suffering.
``It was something like a uniform. Think of professions and jobs,'' Bregman said. ``It's to let the world know this is who I am, treat me in a certain way.''
Threads of Love
Not every automobile is reared with remembrance.
Najeeb Green-Lewis was riding his electric scooter last May when a fellow Winslow Township resident, driving a rental car with a suspended license, a previous DWI conviction and a blood-alcohol level of .20, struck and killed the 12 year old.
As his guardian grandmother, Monica Durell could have languished in despair, but instead has taken up the mightly task of living for Najeeb.
Months after the former football and basketball player made his last pass posthumously by donating his heart, liver and kidneys to four grateful recipients, Durell has picked up where he left off.
Durell drafted a bill, the proposed ``Najeeb Green-Lewis Law,'' that would force car rental agencies to confirm a driver's legal status before releasing a vehicle.
``I'm trying to make [his death] positive and to save a life,'' said Durell, also of Winslow. ``If that law is passed, you don't know how many lives you can save.
``It's amazing to see a 12 year old have such an impact on people.''
Durell has also set up a couple foundations in his name: a $500 scholarship open to area high-school seniors who were raised by their grandparents, and a sports fund eligible to youth athletes of Winslow.
To raise the funds, Durell will sell T-shirts of Najeeb's image that read ``You will be missed But not for gotten!'' at a commemorative basketball tournament on May 24. First, however, she needed to find a T-shirt printer that could meet her specifications.
``I wanted [the photo] in color. I did't want it black and white, or ironed on because it would crack,'' she said. ``I wanted it to last.''
Karl Baker has handled such orders before.
The owner of GTM Signs, a printing press in Deptford that specializes in custom signs and apparel, said even though he receives requests like Durell's monthly, each job is unique.
``We care,'' Baker, 56, said. ``We've all had pain.''
Rest in Pieces
Baker lost his older sister, Jaine, to brain cancer four years ago. Her memory remains grounded in him, her remains, though, scattered.
With cremations becoming increasingly more common in America, public tributes have grown even more fleeting, often ending with the funeral procession's caboose or yesterday's obituary.
Professor Bayliss said the longer the dead - particularly those who die young - rest outside of society's consciousness, the more restless some of the living become.
``There's a lot more cremations and the graves are tucked off in the cemetery. ...,'' she said. ``It's important to claim that they are remembered. It's important to carry some symbolic thing to remember them with.''
According to the latest survey by the Cremation Association of North America, 32.3 percent of the American deceased were cremated in 2005, up from 27 percent in 2001.
During that period, New Jersey cremations rose from 23.9 to 27.6 percent.
Unlike most who are cremated, Najeeb was entombed in a mausoluem. Durell can't bring herself to visit, though; not when it only causes her to revisit May 3.
``Who would want to visit their kids like that, to be honest?'' Durell said. ``This is the last way we would want to think of him, not being here. He had his whole life in front of him.''
Lasting Impressions
Four years ago when Spanky's Tattoo Studio opened in Camden, like thunder to lightning, tattoo artist Spanky needed only to hear gunfire - or word of it - to know business wasn't far behind.
The heavy hearted would file in, pull up their sleeve, bite down and leave with the most traditional tat: R.I.P., name of the fallen and birth-death timeline.
``It seemed like we were the stop between the church, which is four doors down, and the after funeral gathering,'' said Spanky, the husband of owner Aileen Metzger. ``It'd be the funeral, the tattoo, I guess they'd pick up their shirts and that was sort of how it was.
``And then in the last year and a half it's really started to change.''
Commemorative tattoos continue to be the Levittown, Pa. couple's ``bread
and butter,'' but nowadays people give the design a bit more thought, said Spanky, 50.
The ``R.I.P.'' has given way to portraits and personal symbols for loved ones.No names are mentioned, no reminders of death given.
``The whole feeling of finality goes away in terms of seeing their name and [that] they died as opposed to us ing that far more euphemis tic type of wording like 'Sunrise' and 'Sunset,''' Spanky said.
For most of his 27 years drilling tattoos, back when tats were considered signs of rebellion, not accessories, Spanky's clientele consisted mainly of ``hooligans, ruffi ans and bikers.''
Like many of its wearers, a certain memorial tattoo also caught the eye of the law.
Before being outlawed, a teardrop tattoo, worn within a too-close inch of the eye, signified when someone, often a gangmember, lost a loved one or killed a rival, Metzger said.
Having inked memorials on hundreds of patrons since then, Spanky knows how the tats trend; they're common on the upper bicep and shoulder areas, among first timers and for all ages 18 and older.
But despite fitting the profile, even Sparky was surprised when a 75-year-old woman came into the Camden parlor nine months ago. She was too.
``She sat there and she swore she never thought she would get a tattoo in her life,'' he said.
She lost her vow after she lost her son. Unsure how to pay her son tribute, the woman consulted with Spanky and proceeded to remember his love for basketball and tattoos.
Spanky drew up a basketball player going up for a dunk with heaven bursting outside the rim, a design that adorns her right arm today.
During the process, she spoke about the tattoo hurting the least. This didn't surprise Spanky.
``Almost always the people end up crying and it's not about the tattoo,'' he said. ``We'll be talking about it and they start to relive everything. They'll be all happy and say it's something they really wanted. And then they'll look at it and it all kind of comes back and hits them again.
``They'll say the least I can do is this little bit of pain to remember them.''
18 May 2008
Cherokee wins first BurlCo Championship
MAPLE SHADE -- The Burlington County Open turned 70 Saturday and the Cherokee boys' team made it a pre-season priority to be there to celebrate.
The Chiefs have made the trip to the meet's Maple Shade location the last 14 years, and before that, met wherever the competition was since establishing themselves in 1975.
But the Chiefs have never come so far as they did Saturday, improving upon fourth-place finishes their previous two years to win their first county championship ever, outscoring runner-up Northern Burlington by 59.5 points to win with 111.5 points.
Although the Chiefs never trailed after the first event, coach Steve Shaklee said they won this championship from behind, claiming only two events – both starring senior Chris Steliga – but scoring in all but two of the meet's 16 events.
"It was a definitely an overall team effort and that's what makes it so rewarding because, other than [Chris Steliga], we don't really have superstar athletes," Shaklee said. "They just nickel and dime you to death.
"Thirds, fourths, fifths, it all adds up. And if you do that in enough events you win a meet."
Steliga leaped 22-3.5 to win the long jump and collected two of Cherokee's four silver medals in the 400 (50.1) and the triple jump (41-4.25) all before coming back to anchor the 4x400 relay team of Kevin Merrigan, Niraj Patel and Will Rapp to a 3:25.96 come-back win, catching front-running Burlington Township with a 49.6 split.
"He's like a one-man team," Shaklee said of the senior.
Despite clinching the meet before the 4x400 finale, the relay team was still pressed to perform by coach Chris Callahan.
"He wanted us to go in with a winning mindset, to walk away as champions but to be completely honest, we all felt like total crap," Steliga said, laughing. "My legs were shot and I'm thinking like 'I don't wanna do this.' I get the baton in second and I'm like 'Great, now I actually have to do some work."
Senior runners Alex Yersak scored major points in the distance events, taking second in the 3,200 (9:36.14) and third in the 1,600 (4:30.4), just ahead of teammates Kevin Schlicking and Steve Burkeholder and behind winner Shawnee sophomore David Forward (4:26 .8) and runner-up Lenape junior Ryan Garvin (4:27.53)
After winning the 3,200 in an outdoor-best 9:29.11, Forward passed Garvin with about 300 to go in the 1,600 and managed to hold off the fleet junior on the homestretch. Teammate Ian Boyle won the 800 in a personal-best 1:58.0, passing Cinnaminson's Kenny Hoff (1:59.0) along the outside lane of the final bend.
Willingboro senior sprinter Tyrone McRae was the other male athlete to double victories, taking the 200 (22.38) and the 400 (49.57)
Thanks partly to wins by Cherokee's high hurdler Rachel Montague (14.91) and discus thrower Erika Cotton (104-3), the Lenape girls trailed 42-41 after six events, but won five of the next 10 en route to their second straight county championship, beating Seneca (57) and Cherokee (54) with 146 points.
Sophomore Caitlin Orr and senior Erika Griffith started the Indians' party, going 1,2 in the 3,200.
Orr later coupled her 11:31.18 win with a gutsy 5:13.68 performance in the 1,600, one in which an early kick – to stave off Moorestown's tandem of Allison Tetreault and Brianna Rogers -- slowed to a crawl.
"I poured it on so much with 300 to go, and I couldn't keep it. I could barely move," Orr said, smiling. "I don't know whether [Tetreault] was right behind me, but I heard [distance coach Jack] Walsh yelling at me, 'Go, Caitlin.' And I was like 'Oh, God' so I really just tried to go."
Senior Lindsey Walsh won the high jump with a modest 5-2 win, but was challenged on the second leg of the 4x400 relay.
After lead-off runner Mikki Livingston gave Walsh the lead, a Willingboro runner pushed the boundaries of sportsmanship by pushing Walsh off track, literally, a foul that went uncalled.
"It fueled me to finish the last half of the race," Walsh said.
Walsh remained focused, speeding past the runner with 200 meters left to give a lead that neither teammates Brianna Beddall nor Moira Cunningham would relinquish, winning in 4:01.53.
Walsh looked at the bigger picture of the championship.
"We're just trying to start a tradition so that even when we're gone, everyone else is still keeping the program strong," she said. "We want to make ourselves known throughout the state. You gotta start somewhere."
Northern Burlington senior jumper Ariel Woodard-Stephens was the only athlete not from Lenape to pair wins, taking the triple jump (35-9) and long jump (16-3.5), the latter achieved in a fewer number of jumps than done by runner-up Lenape senior Dana Cataldo.
The Chiefs have made the trip to the meet's Maple Shade location the last 14 years, and before that, met wherever the competition was since establishing themselves in 1975.
But the Chiefs have never come so far as they did Saturday, improving upon fourth-place finishes their previous two years to win their first county championship ever, outscoring runner-up Northern Burlington by 59.5 points to win with 111.5 points.
Although the Chiefs never trailed after the first event, coach Steve Shaklee said they won this championship from behind, claiming only two events – both starring senior Chris Steliga – but scoring in all but two of the meet's 16 events.
"It was a definitely an overall team effort and that's what makes it so rewarding because, other than [Chris Steliga], we don't really have superstar athletes," Shaklee said. "They just nickel and dime you to death.
"Thirds, fourths, fifths, it all adds up. And if you do that in enough events you win a meet."
Steliga leaped 22-3.5 to win the long jump and collected two of Cherokee's four silver medals in the 400 (50.1) and the triple jump (41-4.25) all before coming back to anchor the 4x400 relay team of Kevin Merrigan, Niraj Patel and Will Rapp to a 3:25.96 come-back win, catching front-running Burlington Township with a 49.6 split.
"He's like a one-man team," Shaklee said of the senior.
Despite clinching the meet before the 4x400 finale, the relay team was still pressed to perform by coach Chris Callahan.
"He wanted us to go in with a winning mindset, to walk away as champions but to be completely honest, we all felt like total crap," Steliga said, laughing. "My legs were shot and I'm thinking like 'I don't wanna do this.' I get the baton in second and I'm like 'Great, now I actually have to do some work."
Senior runners Alex Yersak scored major points in the distance events, taking second in the 3,200 (9:36.14) and third in the 1,600 (4:30.4), just ahead of teammates Kevin Schlicking and Steve Burkeholder and behind winner Shawnee sophomore David Forward (4:26 .8) and runner-up Lenape junior Ryan Garvin (4:27.53)
After winning the 3,200 in an outdoor-best 9:29.11, Forward passed Garvin with about 300 to go in the 1,600 and managed to hold off the fleet junior on the homestretch. Teammate Ian Boyle won the 800 in a personal-best 1:58.0, passing Cinnaminson's Kenny Hoff (1:59.0) along the outside lane of the final bend.
Willingboro senior sprinter Tyrone McRae was the other male athlete to double victories, taking the 200 (22.38) and the 400 (49.57)
Thanks partly to wins by Cherokee's high hurdler Rachel Montague (14.91) and discus thrower Erika Cotton (104-3), the Lenape girls trailed 42-41 after six events, but won five of the next 10 en route to their second straight county championship, beating Seneca (57) and Cherokee (54) with 146 points.
Sophomore Caitlin Orr and senior Erika Griffith started the Indians' party, going 1,2 in the 3,200.
Orr later coupled her 11:31.18 win with a gutsy 5:13.68 performance in the 1,600, one in which an early kick – to stave off Moorestown's tandem of Allison Tetreault and Brianna Rogers -- slowed to a crawl.
"I poured it on so much with 300 to go, and I couldn't keep it. I could barely move," Orr said, smiling. "I don't know whether [Tetreault] was right behind me, but I heard [distance coach Jack] Walsh yelling at me, 'Go, Caitlin.' And I was like 'Oh, God' so I really just tried to go."
Senior Lindsey Walsh won the high jump with a modest 5-2 win, but was challenged on the second leg of the 4x400 relay.
After lead-off runner Mikki Livingston gave Walsh the lead, a Willingboro runner pushed the boundaries of sportsmanship by pushing Walsh off track, literally, a foul that went uncalled.
"It fueled me to finish the last half of the race," Walsh said.
Walsh remained focused, speeding past the runner with 200 meters left to give a lead that neither teammates Brianna Beddall nor Moira Cunningham would relinquish, winning in 4:01.53.
Walsh looked at the bigger picture of the championship.
"We're just trying to start a tradition so that even when we're gone, everyone else is still keeping the program strong," she said. "We want to make ourselves known throughout the state. You gotta start somewhere."
Northern Burlington senior jumper Ariel Woodard-Stephens was the only athlete not from Lenape to pair wins, taking the triple jump (35-9) and long jump (16-3.5), the latter achieved in a fewer number of jumps than done by runner-up Lenape senior Dana Cataldo.
05 May 2008
14 April 2008
Winslow beats 65 years of history to capture Bridgeton record
(Published April 13)
BRIDGETON – Slap a pair of spikes on the four Winslow Township sprinters, line them up and watch them spin to wins.
BRIDGETON – Slap a pair of spikes on the four Winslow Township sprinters, line them up and watch them spin to wins.
This winning formula, comprised of roughly 99 percent skill and a dash of remembering the baton, has worked in the past for speedsters Barry Cephas, Darin Washington, Reuben Johnson and Keith Robinson, but has never altered it.
But Saturday at the 65th annual Bridgeton Relays the 4x200 foursome took to the line a bit of knowledge, a goal that neither rain nor 65 years worth of competition could delay: setting a meet record at the state's oldest relay meet.
"Individually, we speak for ourselves," said coach Larry Hickman, speaking mainly of seniors Cephas and Washington, "but when we put the team together, they all win, they all elevate. That's what we stand for. This is something they can talk about for years to come."
In what Hickman calls "the godfather of relays," with he and his father having had competed in it, the Eagles ran a 1:27.9 to win the Group 4 race, snapping the Eagles' 2004 mark of 1:28.0 in which neither the seniors nor the second-year coach had a hand in.
Although given a 20 meter lead when receiving the handoff, Cephas needed to run a 20.4 split – the fastest of the meet and of his career – to seize the record.
"We knew what we had to do, we knew what the competition was so we ran against the clock," said Cephas, who also anchored his relay to a 42.9 victory in the 4x100 and was named the "Athlete of the Meet" by members of the press. "When I'm running, I always run against the clock."
They also ran against the rain. Rain pestered most of the meet, combining with lightning twice to halt the meet. After the second and last 30-minute stoppage, officials resumed action on the sleek track, but canceled all remaining field events, including the high jump, pole vault and shot put for the latter groups, and the 110 hurdles while counting all previous field scoring.
With the jumping pits soggy and pocked with puddles, scratching the events was the safe, if not sage, decision, but one that certainly left the end results in question.
Bridgeton defended home field for the second straight year, scoring 60 points mainly off of one win – a combined triple jump of 42-8.25 meters by Charles Allen and Michael Cisrow – and four silvers to hold off both Glassboro (57 points) and Holy Cross (51) to capture the Group 2 championship.
Also in Group 2, the Holy Cross relay of Rich Fisher, Matt Cusack, Terrance Osborne and Mike Sheehan, set the meet's other group record, winning the distance medley in a meet-best 10:43.8 – but that's not what it was shooting for.
The relay needed a time of 10:40 or faster to qualify for the Penn Relays but, knowing it could've ran faster if not for a slick track, will send it in for review anyway.
With the skies opening before the race, Sheehan, who split a 4:26 in the 1,600 leg, was just glad to get the race in.
"I was really happy," he said. "We could've had to wait and had to stay loose for another half hour."
Winslow may've gotten its glory in after a couple races, but Absegami left Bridgeton with the Group 4 championship after rallying back from third, thanks to clutch performances by Geoff Navarro, Ford Palmer, Kambui Little and Rasheed Grandy in the sprint medley and 4x400, to leapfrog Millville (43) and Washington Township (40) and starve off Vineland (45) and Egg Harbor Township (43).
A balanced effort by Highland (74 points) more than cancelled out the contributions by Kingsway senior RJ Page in Group 3, in which he nibbled at the Tartans' lead by bringing the Dragons (64) back to win the 4x100 and the sprint medley.
Highland's relay of Jamal Davis, Steve Tiss, Anthony Brown and Zaker Brown prevented Page from a third gold by taking the 4x400 in a meet-best 3:29.7.
Coach Bill Collins credits Jason Howitt, who joined Brown to win the 2x400 intermediate hurdles by nearly nine seconds in a meet-best 1:52.7, Brown and Davis for the win.
"They are the backbone of our all team. They do all the events," Collins said. "They were good last year and this year they got better yet. And Jamal is really starting to come into his own right now. He's probably the runner in South Jersey that nobody knows about."
Penns Grove led Metuchen in Group 1 before the last rain delay, but could breathe easier when Metuchen decided to start its two-hour commute early and left.
Before scoring a meet-high 86 points, thanks in part to Aaron Haywood's anchorage in the 4x100, 4x400 and the sprint medley, Penns Grove was reminded of its job by coach Tom Mason.
"There's no need to look over our shoulders, but we're just going to try to take care of business," he said.
What: The 65th annual Bridgeton Relays, the oldest in the state.
Group Champs: Bridgeton defended its Group 2 championship with 60 points, Highland won Group 3 with 74, Penns Grove took Group 1 with a meet-high 86 and Absegami rallied back to claim Group 4 with 53.
MVP: Winslow Township senior Barry Cephas was named the "Athlete of the Meet" for propelling the Eagles to a meet record in the 4x200.
By a Fraction: Given a small lead by teammates Alex Clemson, Ryan Tiernan and Greg Krause in the 4x400, Washington Township junior Xavier Fraction fended off Absegami closer Ford Palmer to narrowly win in a meet-best 8:07.
Quote: "You're put in that mode where you wonder 'Is he behind me? How far? How hard do I have to run? Did I lose him?'" Fraction said. "It's better to sit and kick and wait for him to make his move."
NB: Neither young or old relay will outrun rain
(Notebook published April 12)
Time may be on the historic Bridgeton Relays' side and numbers may favor the Moorestown Relays, but both of today's relays may be a wash if the weather forecasts hold true.
The Friday forecast from Weather.com said there's a 40 percent chance of rain today, along with the possibility of thunderstorms that could last into the afternoon.
Come rain or shine, Moorestown coach and meet organizer Troy Pappas said the 2nd annual Moorestown Relays will proceed until lightning tells him otherwise.
Thirty-three high school teams, including Cherokee, Delsea, Oakcrest, Eastern, Bishop Eustace and Camden Catholic, have entered the meet, up from the 24 last year.
Pappas said the meet's big draw is its rare running of the open 1,500 and the 5,000, coupled with its fully automatic timing, to allow kids to qualify for the Penn Relays and, maybe if the rain holds off, Olympics.
"It gives them a chance to say, 'Compared to the college guys and the Olympic times, this is where I stand,'" said Moorestown coach and meet organizer Troy Pappas.
The 5,000 will kick off the meet at 8:30 a.m. and the field is stacked including such winners as Camden Catholic senior Kevin McDonnell, Haddonfield sophomore Boo Vitez, Northern Burlington junior Mike Bowden , Cherokee senior Alex Yersak and Brick Memorial senior Andrew Broduer.
The 65th annual Bridgeton Relays, the state's oldest relay meet, will draw more teams and should post the better relay times.
If not for running his own meet, Pappas said he would wish to be there.
"They run an excellent meet and it's going to be great this year too," Pappas said.
Surprise, Surprise
Many teams have surprised this season, for better or worse, but no team has exceeded the expectations of this reporter quite like Cherokee and Oakcrest have.
***** Track records means a lot in track, so, in that respect, many people might not be shocked by Cherokee's early success. After all, the Chiefs are the defending American Division champions.
But both Washington Township, falling five points shy of winning the Group 4 sectionals and clearly on the upswing, and Eastern appeared to pass them during the indoor season.
Only two weeks into the season, Cherokee has already squashed that idea, decapitating the division's two heads in consecutive weeks by defeating Washington Township last week and Eastern on Wednesday, 95-36.
Senior sprinter Kevin Merrigan has been key in the Chiefs' early success. On Wednesday he won the 100 (11.1), the 200 (22.6) and was part of the Chiefs' winning 4x400 relay (3:31.7). Switching over from baseball his junior year, Merrigan helped recruit fellow sprinter, junior Will Rapp, off the diamond this spring to give the Chiefs' a quality 1,2.
When it comes to duos, jumpers senior Chris Steliga and junior Major Mobley have given the Chiefs one of South Jersey's best as proven by their Hall of Fame Liberty Division meet record of 81-5 in the triple jump Saturday, breaking the old mark of 81-1 set in 1978.
As always, somewhere between death and taxes is the certainty of Cherokee sporting a nice distance platoon. Although normally led by Alex Yersak, the Chiefs received two sub 10:00 performances from senior Sean Hartnett and junior Marc Saccomanno in the 3,200 Wednesday.
***** Oakcrest's single-point effort at the indoor Group 4 sectionals this winter didn't scare anyone beside indoor spectator-outdoor coach Les Petty.
The coach of the South Jersey Group 4 champs had graduated the bulk of their scoring, jumpers Raimundo Leach, Ramon Lewis and Leonard Okoth, and appeared more set on rebuilding than defending.
"Our boys didn't make a name for ourselves in the winter," Petty said. "We were really concerned. And plus you knew Absegami had a really nice indoor season."
Ninth-ranked Absegami looked like the team to beat in the Cape-Atlantic League during the winter, having placed third at indoor Group 4 sectionals with 40 points. Unranked Oakcrest had scored 1.
But none of that mattered when Oakcrest, led by senior jumper Keenan Bell and junior thrower Kevin Miller, opened its season on April 3 with an 84-58 shocker over the Braves, winning every field event and the 400 and 3,200.
"We liked it that way," Petty said. "We liked it a little stealthy."
At the Buena Relays last Saturday, the Rams then placed second in the field portion of Division 2, scoring 48 to Southern High's 50, and third in the track portion with 28 points, losing only to Egg Harbor Township (46) and Winslow Township (44).
With its depth in the field, Petty thinks Oakcrest is safely back on other teams' radar screens.
"At this point of time, I think we have a very strong team," Petty said. "We don't have one of those individual kids at the moment, but we'll be good in the relays."
Oakcrest and Cherokee will compete today at the Moorestown Relays.
Super Tuesday
Unlike the National League East, certain divisions can be decided a couple weeks into the season without going too far out on a limb. Two showdowns will go down Tuesday:
Egg Harbor Township (2-0) and Vineland (2-0) at Oakcrest (1-0), 4 p.m. -- The last time these three teams squared off in a tri-meet, they each were squared away with one win, one loss: Vineland beat Oakcrest, Oakcrest beat Egg Harbor and Egg Harbor beat Vineland.
As a result, the three teams shared the Cape-Atlantic League American Conference title last title. Barring lightning from striking this tri-meet twice, someone should leave Oakcrest as the division winner Tuesday.
Winslow Township (1-0) at Timber Creek (2-0), 3:45 p.m. – Winslow Township has had its way in the Olympic Conference's Patriot Division the last three years, but Timber Creek can end that Tuesday and it has the studs to do it.
Jumpers Montez Blair, Dorian Evans and Eric Smith, sprinters Geoff Mock and Damiere Byrd and thrower Mike Huckabee will all need big days if that happen.
Flying Eagles
Several relays were held last Saturday, and many relay teams put up some impressive times, but no team ran as well as Winslow Township.
The 2nd-ranked Eagles, led by seniors Barry Cephas, Darin Washington, Gerald Stephens-Holland and Davis McNeil, had the day's best time in the 4x100 (42.9), the 4x200 (1:30.2) and the 4x400 (3:22.6). Their 4x400 and 4x200 was unbeaten during the winter.
The Eagles will take flight at the Bridgeton Relays at 10 a.m. today.
Time may be on the historic Bridgeton Relays' side and numbers may favor the Moorestown Relays, but both of today's relays may be a wash if the weather forecasts hold true.
The Friday forecast from Weather.com said there's a 40 percent chance of rain today, along with the possibility of thunderstorms that could last into the afternoon.
Come rain or shine, Moorestown coach and meet organizer Troy Pappas said the 2nd annual Moorestown Relays will proceed until lightning tells him otherwise.
Thirty-three high school teams, including Cherokee, Delsea, Oakcrest, Eastern, Bishop Eustace and Camden Catholic, have entered the meet, up from the 24 last year.
Pappas said the meet's big draw is its rare running of the open 1,500 and the 5,000, coupled with its fully automatic timing, to allow kids to qualify for the Penn Relays and, maybe if the rain holds off, Olympics.
"It gives them a chance to say, 'Compared to the college guys and the Olympic times, this is where I stand,'" said Moorestown coach and meet organizer Troy Pappas.
The 5,000 will kick off the meet at 8:30 a.m. and the field is stacked including such winners as Camden Catholic senior Kevin McDonnell, Haddonfield sophomore Boo Vitez, Northern Burlington junior Mike Bowden , Cherokee senior Alex Yersak and Brick Memorial senior Andrew Broduer.
The 65th annual Bridgeton Relays, the state's oldest relay meet, will draw more teams and should post the better relay times.
If not for running his own meet, Pappas said he would wish to be there.
"They run an excellent meet and it's going to be great this year too," Pappas said.
Surprise, Surprise
Many teams have surprised this season, for better or worse, but no team has exceeded the expectations of this reporter quite like Cherokee and Oakcrest have.
***** Track records means a lot in track, so, in that respect, many people might not be shocked by Cherokee's early success. After all, the Chiefs are the defending American Division champions.
But both Washington Township, falling five points shy of winning the Group 4 sectionals and clearly on the upswing, and Eastern appeared to pass them during the indoor season.
Only two weeks into the season, Cherokee has already squashed that idea, decapitating the division's two heads in consecutive weeks by defeating Washington Township last week and Eastern on Wednesday, 95-36.
Senior sprinter Kevin Merrigan has been key in the Chiefs' early success. On Wednesday he won the 100 (11.1), the 200 (22.6) and was part of the Chiefs' winning 4x400 relay (3:31.7). Switching over from baseball his junior year, Merrigan helped recruit fellow sprinter, junior Will Rapp, off the diamond this spring to give the Chiefs' a quality 1,2.
When it comes to duos, jumpers senior Chris Steliga and junior Major Mobley have given the Chiefs one of South Jersey's best as proven by their Hall of Fame Liberty Division meet record of 81-5 in the triple jump Saturday, breaking the old mark of 81-1 set in 1978.
As always, somewhere between death and taxes is the certainty of Cherokee sporting a nice distance platoon. Although normally led by Alex Yersak, the Chiefs received two sub 10:00 performances from senior Sean Hartnett and junior Marc Saccomanno in the 3,200 Wednesday.
***** Oakcrest's single-point effort at the indoor Group 4 sectionals this winter didn't scare anyone beside indoor spectator-outdoor coach Les Petty.
The coach of the South Jersey Group 4 champs had graduated the bulk of their scoring, jumpers Raimundo Leach, Ramon Lewis and Leonard Okoth, and appeared more set on rebuilding than defending.
"Our boys didn't make a name for ourselves in the winter," Petty said. "We were really concerned. And plus you knew Absegami had a really nice indoor season."
Ninth-ranked Absegami looked like the team to beat in the Cape-Atlantic League during the winter, having placed third at indoor Group 4 sectionals with 40 points. Unranked Oakcrest had scored 1.
But none of that mattered when Oakcrest, led by senior jumper Keenan Bell and junior thrower Kevin Miller, opened its season on April 3 with an 84-58 shocker over the Braves, winning every field event and the 400 and 3,200.
"We liked it that way," Petty said. "We liked it a little stealthy."
At the Buena Relays last Saturday, the Rams then placed second in the field portion of Division 2, scoring 48 to Southern High's 50, and third in the track portion with 28 points, losing only to Egg Harbor Township (46) and Winslow Township (44).
With its depth in the field, Petty thinks Oakcrest is safely back on other teams' radar screens.
"At this point of time, I think we have a very strong team," Petty said. "We don't have one of those individual kids at the moment, but we'll be good in the relays."
Oakcrest and Cherokee will compete today at the Moorestown Relays.
Super Tuesday
Unlike the National League East, certain divisions can be decided a couple weeks into the season without going too far out on a limb. Two showdowns will go down Tuesday:
Egg Harbor Township (2-0) and Vineland (2-0) at Oakcrest (1-0), 4 p.m. -- The last time these three teams squared off in a tri-meet, they each were squared away with one win, one loss: Vineland beat Oakcrest, Oakcrest beat Egg Harbor and Egg Harbor beat Vineland.
As a result, the three teams shared the Cape-Atlantic League American Conference title last title. Barring lightning from striking this tri-meet twice, someone should leave Oakcrest as the division winner Tuesday.
Winslow Township (1-0) at Timber Creek (2-0), 3:45 p.m. – Winslow Township has had its way in the Olympic Conference's Patriot Division the last three years, but Timber Creek can end that Tuesday and it has the studs to do it.
Jumpers Montez Blair, Dorian Evans and Eric Smith, sprinters Geoff Mock and Damiere Byrd and thrower Mike Huckabee will all need big days if that happen.
Flying Eagles
Several relays were held last Saturday, and many relay teams put up some impressive times, but no team ran as well as Winslow Township.
The 2nd-ranked Eagles, led by seniors Barry Cephas, Darin Washington, Gerald Stephens-Holland and Davis McNeil, had the day's best time in the 4x100 (42.9), the 4x200 (1:30.2) and the 4x400 (3:22.6). Their 4x400 and 4x200 was unbeaten during the winter.
The Eagles will take flight at the Bridgeton Relays at 10 a.m. today.
"Pre-season" Boys' Top 25 Teams
(Published March 28)
PRESEASON BOYS' TOP 25 TEAMS
1.CAMDEN
Long on the prowl, the Panthers appear ready to pounce this season. While team hopes lay at the feet of top hurdler Matt Marshall's, sprinter Terry Alston's and jumper Wayne Walls', the maturation of senior shot putters Aaron Menoken and Je'Eric Pritchett could set them apart. Mid-distance runner Jose Santiago and multi-event sophomore Syteek Farrington also are key to the Panthers' success.
2.WINSLOW TOWNSHIP
Time after winning time this winter, the Eagles showed on the biggest of stages a 4x400 relay team (3:23.24) that could not be touched, indicative of their collective toughness and depth. Leaders on a seasoned cast of 12 seniors, sprinter Barry Cephas and multi-event athlete Darin Washington have to remain dominant for the Eagles to weather a dearth in good distance runners and throwers.
3.HIGHLAND
The most balanced team in South Jersey, the Tartans come equipped with South Jersey's fourth fastest 4x400 (3:25.62), second best pole vaulter in Eddie Zubrycki and great multi-event athlete in senior Jason Howitt. Kyle Gorycinski, a junior, also leads one of the better distance teams in the area. Although deep, the team needs to somehow hide its two Achilles' heels: no top sprinter or shot putter.
4.PLEASANTVILLE
Kenny Davis can't do it all, but his all still might be enough to thrust the Greyhounds ahead of the rest. The multi-event athlete anchored the South Jersey's fastest 4x400 (3:21.49) relay this winter, high jumped 6-2 and bobbed over five hurdles pretty quickly too. But he needs backup. The team lost a lot of key guys last year, but jumper Raymond Wilson is back and joins shot putter Davin Drinkard who is inches away from entering the 50-foot club.
5.WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
Once month-long keepers of the nation's fastest 4x800 relay time this winter, the Minutemen, led by Xavier Fraction, sport the top mid-distance platoon in South Jersey and a good distance crew. Shot putter Kwabena Keene arms the best weights department in the area. But where they're not strong, they're weak. Addressing his lack of sprinters and high jumpers, coach Rich Bostwick has recruited four basketball players.
6.EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP
Stevenson Cajuste is an elite utility athlete and a difference maker, able to score points in where many top teams can't, like in hurdling and jumping events. Cajuste also mans one of the better 4x400 relay teams (3:27.89), along with fellow senior Jared Pagano. Having run a 4:40 mile indoors, long-distance freshman Dustin Roadside may give the Eagles another vital dimension.
7.KINGSWAY
It's not like Kingsway was struggling in its sprints during the indoor season, not with junior Demurri Gaines taking third at the sectional championships' 55 dash (6.67), but the return of RJ Page – who plays basketball in the winter -- will give the Dragons one of the best 1,2 punches in the state and an excellent jumper. With a solid distance team, the Dragons are dangerous.
8.DELSEA
Only until after last spring did then-No.1 ranked Delsea suffer its greatest loss. Yes, graduation was certainly cruel on the Crusaders, turning the tassel on three-fourths of their 4x400, but that remainder, senior Panteleon Okoro, can be counted on for a lot. Terrance Burns can sprint, Joe Gregory can jump and coach Ron Flaim can score in score in various ways, as can Joe Gregory is among the top high jumpers in South Jersey.
9.ABSEGAMI
Geoff Navarro is a sprinter and Ford Palmer is a mid-distance runner. They're both better than good and together can cover seven events. That translates into a lot of scoring for the Braves and, with some added bulk in the weights department, can amount to trouble for other schools.
10.EASTERN
The Vikings made a late surge last season, rising from the unranked to the seven spot in about two weeks. The catalyst was sprinter Cedric Gonnett, who has since graduated. Although still looking for his replacement, coach John Shea is confident that 400 runner Steven Greer, jumper Joe Eggers and his distance runners can carry on.
11.CHEROKEE
You can always count on good long-distance runners to show up under coach Steve Shaklee's watch. But it doesn't end there. Along with their deep distance team led by seniors Alex Yersak and Kevin Schlicking, the Chiefs have ace sprinter Steve Merrigan and South Jersey's top returning long jumper, Chris Steliga.
12.TIMBER CREEK
Thought of as a dark horse since they're not traditionally among the best in track, the Chargers have improved immensely. Then again, landing a blue-chip freshman will do that. Freshman sprinter Damiere Byrd finished with South Jersey's third fastest time in the dash indoors (6.56). He joins elite jumper Montez Blair, runner Saliym Starkey and thrower Xavier Brown to form a team that could swing drastically in either direction.
13.VINELAND
Another team that lost a lot, the Fighting Clan enter their 12th season under coach Elliot DeShields. If it proves anything like the first 11, the Clan will be moving up. Newcomer Jamal Boozer, a sprinter, should help as he did during the winter. Mid-distance runner Anthony Rivera and thrower Travis Douglas will be counted on.
14.MILLVILLE
The Thunderbolts may be heard of in some big meets with sprinters Chris Church and Khalid Cherry and pole vaulters Kevin Dever and Josh Parr, two of the best duos in South Jersey.
15.HADDONFIELD
The Bulldawgs will go as far as their dominant distance team takes them. Led by sophomores Boo Vitez and Colin Baker, the distance crew may need some help in order to succesfully defend the Bulldawgs' conference title.
16.BRIDGETON
The Bulldogs are led by senior throwers Dominique Williams (also a hurdler) and Steven Lane.
17.PENNS GROVE
Sprinter Aaron Haywood, jumper Steven Brown and thrower Ken Jefferson lead the
Red Devils.
18.BISHOP EUSTACE
Mid-distance runner Brian Laskowski shares the track with cross country teammate Andy Arnold.
19.OCEAN CITY
The Red Raiders have a depth in distance led by senior Ryan Birchmeier and Brett Johnson.
20.LENAPE
Don Carfello is back to give the Indians some added depth. Thrower Ray Stinsman should also make an impact.
PRESEASON BOYS' TOP 25 TEAMS
1.CAMDEN
Long on the prowl, the Panthers appear ready to pounce this season. While team hopes lay at the feet of top hurdler Matt Marshall's, sprinter Terry Alston's and jumper Wayne Walls', the maturation of senior shot putters Aaron Menoken and Je'Eric Pritchett could set them apart. Mid-distance runner Jose Santiago and multi-event sophomore Syteek Farrington also are key to the Panthers' success.
2.WINSLOW TOWNSHIP
Time after winning time this winter, the Eagles showed on the biggest of stages a 4x400 relay team (3:23.24) that could not be touched, indicative of their collective toughness and depth. Leaders on a seasoned cast of 12 seniors, sprinter Barry Cephas and multi-event athlete Darin Washington have to remain dominant for the Eagles to weather a dearth in good distance runners and throwers.
3.HIGHLAND
The most balanced team in South Jersey, the Tartans come equipped with South Jersey's fourth fastest 4x400 (3:25.62), second best pole vaulter in Eddie Zubrycki and great multi-event athlete in senior Jason Howitt. Kyle Gorycinski, a junior, also leads one of the better distance teams in the area. Although deep, the team needs to somehow hide its two Achilles' heels: no top sprinter or shot putter.
4.PLEASANTVILLE
Kenny Davis can't do it all, but his all still might be enough to thrust the Greyhounds ahead of the rest. The multi-event athlete anchored the South Jersey's fastest 4x400 (3:21.49) relay this winter, high jumped 6-2 and bobbed over five hurdles pretty quickly too. But he needs backup. The team lost a lot of key guys last year, but jumper Raymond Wilson is back and joins shot putter Davin Drinkard who is inches away from entering the 50-foot club.
5.WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
Once month-long keepers of the nation's fastest 4x800 relay time this winter, the Minutemen, led by Xavier Fraction, sport the top mid-distance platoon in South Jersey and a good distance crew. Shot putter Kwabena Keene arms the best weights department in the area. But where they're not strong, they're weak. Addressing his lack of sprinters and high jumpers, coach Rich Bostwick has recruited four basketball players.
6.EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP
Stevenson Cajuste is an elite utility athlete and a difference maker, able to score points in where many top teams can't, like in hurdling and jumping events. Cajuste also mans one of the better 4x400 relay teams (3:27.89), along with fellow senior Jared Pagano. Having run a 4:40 mile indoors, long-distance freshman Dustin Roadside may give the Eagles another vital dimension.
7.KINGSWAY
It's not like Kingsway was struggling in its sprints during the indoor season, not with junior Demurri Gaines taking third at the sectional championships' 55 dash (6.67), but the return of RJ Page – who plays basketball in the winter -- will give the Dragons one of the best 1,2 punches in the state and an excellent jumper. With a solid distance team, the Dragons are dangerous.
8.DELSEA
Only until after last spring did then-No.1 ranked Delsea suffer its greatest loss. Yes, graduation was certainly cruel on the Crusaders, turning the tassel on three-fourths of their 4x400, but that remainder, senior Panteleon Okoro, can be counted on for a lot. Terrance Burns can sprint, Joe Gregory can jump and coach Ron Flaim can score in score in various ways, as can Joe Gregory is among the top high jumpers in South Jersey.
9.ABSEGAMI
Geoff Navarro is a sprinter and Ford Palmer is a mid-distance runner. They're both better than good and together can cover seven events. That translates into a lot of scoring for the Braves and, with some added bulk in the weights department, can amount to trouble for other schools.
10.EASTERN
The Vikings made a late surge last season, rising from the unranked to the seven spot in about two weeks. The catalyst was sprinter Cedric Gonnett, who has since graduated. Although still looking for his replacement, coach John Shea is confident that 400 runner Steven Greer, jumper Joe Eggers and his distance runners can carry on.
11.CHEROKEE
You can always count on good long-distance runners to show up under coach Steve Shaklee's watch. But it doesn't end there. Along with their deep distance team led by seniors Alex Yersak and Kevin Schlicking, the Chiefs have ace sprinter Steve Merrigan and South Jersey's top returning long jumper, Chris Steliga.
12.TIMBER CREEK
Thought of as a dark horse since they're not traditionally among the best in track, the Chargers have improved immensely. Then again, landing a blue-chip freshman will do that. Freshman sprinter Damiere Byrd finished with South Jersey's third fastest time in the dash indoors (6.56). He joins elite jumper Montez Blair, runner Saliym Starkey and thrower Xavier Brown to form a team that could swing drastically in either direction.
13.VINELAND
Another team that lost a lot, the Fighting Clan enter their 12th season under coach Elliot DeShields. If it proves anything like the first 11, the Clan will be moving up. Newcomer Jamal Boozer, a sprinter, should help as he did during the winter. Mid-distance runner Anthony Rivera and thrower Travis Douglas will be counted on.
14.MILLVILLE
The Thunderbolts may be heard of in some big meets with sprinters Chris Church and Khalid Cherry and pole vaulters Kevin Dever and Josh Parr, two of the best duos in South Jersey.
15.HADDONFIELD
The Bulldawgs will go as far as their dominant distance team takes them. Led by sophomores Boo Vitez and Colin Baker, the distance crew may need some help in order to succesfully defend the Bulldawgs' conference title.
16.BRIDGETON
The Bulldogs are led by senior throwers Dominique Williams (also a hurdler) and Steven Lane.
17.PENNS GROVE
Sprinter Aaron Haywood, jumper Steven Brown and thrower Ken Jefferson lead the
Red Devils.
18.BISHOP EUSTACE
Mid-distance runner Brian Laskowski shares the track with cross country teammate Andy Arnold.
19.OCEAN CITY
The Red Raiders have a depth in distance led by senior Ryan Birchmeier and Brett Johnson.
20.LENAPE
Don Carfello is back to give the Indians some added depth. Thrower Ray Stinsman should also make an impact.
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 Kwabena 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 Arnold, 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 letterwinners 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.
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 Kwabena 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 Arnold, 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 letterwinners 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.
Tri-Country Conference "Preview"
(Published weeks ago)
Tri-County Conference
Royal Division
Clearview
Along with a bevy of new faces, Clearview brings back 13 lettermen and none with bigger expectations -- or size – than seniors shot putter Nick Carpo or discus thrower Erik Laskoski.
Coach Dennis Weaver feels such leadership – also provided by distance runner Zachariah Rocco -- should help groom the newcomers. Despite being excited about the team’s dynamic, Weaver feels this is a rebuilding year.
Cumberland
Lose their seniors from last year was expected by coach Greg McGraw. A season-ending football injury to senior hurdler and jumper Tydell Garrison, however, was not.
But after sidelining one, football – or specifically the prodding of senior Andrew Pierce -- brings another to the track in running back Malik Jones, who should help Pierce in the sprints.,
Senior Anthony Figueroa, a state qualifier in the shot put, and Pierce, South Jersey’s top returning javelin thrower, figure to lead this young, rebuilding team in points along with senior vaulters Brad Loatman (cleared 12-6) and Kevin Kuff (11-6).
Delsea
After winning the division title in 2005 and 2006, Delsea shared it with Kingsway and Highland last spring during the same year it beat both teams – and Camden – to win the Group 3 sectional championship and ultimately the Courier-Post Cup.
The Crusaders are hoping for déjà vu, but after graduating a huge trio in All-Groupers Aaron Younger, Melton Diggs and Fred Lavan, it will be difficult for Delsea to win the division again.
While coach Ron Flaim said they might lose some more dual meets, he thinks the team’s strong enough in sprints, jumps, and hurdles to form some formidable relays and possibly defend its sectional championship.
Sprinters Panteleon Okoro, Terrance Burns, Sean McPherson and jumper Joe Gregory will be counted on for scoring, as will many freshman. Flaim said his most improved athlete, hurdler Jay Colon, could surprise others.
Deptford
While the Highlands, Kingsways and Delseas duke it out, Deptford coach Atiba Rose is looking to just improve her team that went 2-4 last year.
Returning 14 lettermen, Rose needs the team to play to its strengths – sprints and weights – to be able to play the spoiler.
Javelin thrower Thomas Wright and Chris Whitley, who placed sixth in the indoor Group 2 sectionals’ 55-meter dash in 6.89, should help toward that goal.
Kingsway
Balanced in all areas save the pole vault, the Dragons look dangerous this year and with senior sprinter RJ Page revved and running, coach Melvin Carter can rightfully consider them bonafide contenders in the division – which they tied for last year -- and beyond.
Proven to be a top sprinter in the state, as well as 42-feet-clearing triple jumper, Page can practically contend at the bigger meets by his lonesome
But ‘practically’ wins nothing, but good thing for the Dragons he’s joined by sprinter Demurri Gaines, who whizzed 6.67 in the 55-meter dash.
If distance runner Ryan Culbreath runs well and Tivo Rivera finds the same outdoor success as he did while running sub 4:40 miles in middle school, the Dragons could dominate. If not, the title is Highland’s.
Williamstown
Returning nine letterman and losing six, the Brave bring more depth to the track this season and consequently higher goals.
While his team is solid in distance and sprints, 19-year coach Mark Suk expects senior all-around athlete Glen Williams, junior shot putter Tyrone Conley and junior javelin thrower Lawrence Johnson to help improve upon their 2-4 season in 2007.
Diamond Division
Glassboro
Even though a soul legend already did so 40 years ago, junior sprinter James Brown made a name for himself this winter, ultimately finishing fifth in the Indoor Meet of Champs’ 55-meter dash in 6.53, second fastest in South Jersey.
Although his times outdoor have yet to be seen, his presence, coupled with that of speedy juniors Lamere Buchanan, Tariq Gaines and Ryan Chance, improves the Bulldogs (5-1) greatly. If the team can weather a weak weight team, it can contend with Penns Grove for the title.
Penns Grove
Fifteen lettermen return to this division defending squad that has what no other team in the division has – a contender in sprints, throws, jumps and vaults.
Junior sprinter Aaron Hayward was the Group 1 sectional championship in the 100 (10.88) and 200 (21.90) last spring, but with new legs at Glassboro, the Red Devils' chief rival, Hayward will probably need to run faster times in order to repeat.
After graduating shot putters Wayne Scott and Dymier Sharper, senior Tyree Rudolph stepped in, placing second at Group 1 sectionals with a toss of 46-0.75. Junior Steven Brown also placed second at sectionals with a long jump of 21-01.
Also a hurdler, pole vaulting junior Shawill Green can clear 12-0. Add this balance together and you get the favorites in the division and the group.
Schalick
Coach Steve Pierangeli hopes a large turnout can help fill some new glaring holes created by a costly graduation.
Losing eight key athletes to graduation, including All-Group hurdler Jeremy Simkins, has Schalick hurting in every area besides distance running, jumps and shot put.
The Cougars' four seniors, jumper Matt Kates, distance runner Eric DuBois and shot putters Kyle Jemp (45 feet) and Andrew Johnson (43), are sure to score points but even still, it may be hard for Schalick to shake its lack of depth or to match its 3-2 record last year.
Woodstown
A large return of lettermen, 13, compared to those lost, 2, is the first of hopefully many signs of improvement for coach Ryn Tencza’s Woodies (2-3).
A large number of sprinters and throwers should produce some solid relays and tandems, none more valuable than senior javelin thrower Brian Owens, a national qualifier who threw 180-11 last year.
Classic Division
Gloucester
First-year coach Jennifer Tomkow is counting on some first-year jumpers along with 11 lettermen.
After graduating seven lettermen, four-year sprinter Shehab Uddin is one of only several upperclassmen to lead a young inexperienced team.
Still Tomkow said jumping newcomers, Ryan Harter and Steven Kumpf, and transfer pole vaulter Frank Heitman should give the Lions (1-4) a lift.
Pennsville
Two-time division champs, the Eagles (5-0) return 10 this season and part with 8.
Holes caused by graduations, particularly in speed events, have 29-year coach John Maniglia depending on several young replacements.
Until they pan out, Maniglia is relying on strong distance runners Mark Kearney, TJ Mowers and Matt Powers, All-Group pole vaulter Neco Nociti and shot putter Joe Ecret, among others, to score points. It shouldn’t take many to win this division.
FIVE TO WATCH
Robert Page, Kingsway, Sr. – A guard in the winter, Page 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 take a better Kingsway's team farther this spring.
Panteleon Okoro, Delsea, Sr. – Call him Panteleon or by his middle name, Udochi, just don't call Okoro slow. The senior -- left to build on the Crusaders' 2007 championship season in the rubble left over by the graduations of Aaron Younger, Melton Diggs and Fred Lavan -- has just fine this winter, placing second in the State Group 2 Championships' 55-meter dash (6.64), the 400 (51.27) and the 4x400 (3:31.11). A fearless competitor, Okoro has the goods to make this another special season.
James Brown, Glassboro, Sr. – Another elite sprinter from Tri-County, Brown came onto the scene this winter as one of South Jersey's biggest surprises. After placing second in the 55-meter dash at both SJ Group 1 Championships and State Group 1 Championships, the senior ran a personal-best 6.53 for fifth at the Meet of Champs. The time was the second fastest in South Jersey last winter and, yes, he feels good!
Andrew Pierce, Cumberland, Jr. – Even as a sophomore last year, Pierce was among the best javelin throwers in the state. Now, a year later, it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that Pierce, the seventh-place finisher at the Outdoor Meet of Champions, is South Jersey's best returning thrower, having speared 181-07 twice last spring. Pierce should keep Cumberland on the scoreboard for most of the spring.
Eddie Zubrzycki, Highland, Jr. – Gearing up for that next size pole is always a challenge and one that got the best of the junior vaulter during the indoor championship season. Still, people know what he's capable of – like a 14-0 clearance at an Olympic Conference meet to beat two-time Meet of Champs winner West Deptford's Dan Batdorf – and, more importantly, he knows. Expect him to regain form, sky new personal heights and give the Tartans an edge over other contenders.
Tri-County Conference
Royal Division
Clearview
Along with a bevy of new faces, Clearview brings back 13 lettermen and none with bigger expectations -- or size – than seniors shot putter Nick Carpo or discus thrower Erik Laskoski.
Coach Dennis Weaver feels such leadership – also provided by distance runner Zachariah Rocco -- should help groom the newcomers. Despite being excited about the team’s dynamic, Weaver feels this is a rebuilding year.
Cumberland
Lose their seniors from last year was expected by coach Greg McGraw. A season-ending football injury to senior hurdler and jumper Tydell Garrison, however, was not.
But after sidelining one, football – or specifically the prodding of senior Andrew Pierce -- brings another to the track in running back Malik Jones, who should help Pierce in the sprints.,
Senior Anthony Figueroa, a state qualifier in the shot put, and Pierce, South Jersey’s top returning javelin thrower, figure to lead this young, rebuilding team in points along with senior vaulters Brad Loatman (cleared 12-6) and Kevin Kuff (11-6).
Delsea
After winning the division title in 2005 and 2006, Delsea shared it with Kingsway and Highland last spring during the same year it beat both teams – and Camden – to win the Group 3 sectional championship and ultimately the Courier-Post Cup.
The Crusaders are hoping for déjà vu, but after graduating a huge trio in All-Groupers Aaron Younger, Melton Diggs and Fred Lavan, it will be difficult for Delsea to win the division again.
While coach Ron Flaim said they might lose some more dual meets, he thinks the team’s strong enough in sprints, jumps, and hurdles to form some formidable relays and possibly defend its sectional championship.
Sprinters Panteleon Okoro, Terrance Burns, Sean McPherson and jumper Joe Gregory will be counted on for scoring, as will many freshman. Flaim said his most improved athlete, hurdler Jay Colon, could surprise others.
Deptford
While the Highlands, Kingsways and Delseas duke it out, Deptford coach Atiba Rose is looking to just improve her team that went 2-4 last year.
Returning 14 lettermen, Rose needs the team to play to its strengths – sprints and weights – to be able to play the spoiler.
Javelin thrower Thomas Wright and Chris Whitley, who placed sixth in the indoor Group 2 sectionals’ 55-meter dash in 6.89, should help toward that goal.
Kingsway
Balanced in all areas save the pole vault, the Dragons look dangerous this year and with senior sprinter RJ Page revved and running, coach Melvin Carter can rightfully consider them bonafide contenders in the division – which they tied for last year -- and beyond.
Proven to be a top sprinter in the state, as well as 42-feet-clearing triple jumper, Page can practically contend at the bigger meets by his lonesome
But ‘practically’ wins nothing, but good thing for the Dragons he’s joined by sprinter Demurri Gaines, who whizzed 6.67 in the 55-meter dash.
If distance runner Ryan Culbreath runs well and Tivo Rivera finds the same outdoor success as he did while running sub 4:40 miles in middle school, the Dragons could dominate. If not, the title is Highland’s.
Williamstown
Returning nine letterman and losing six, the Brave bring more depth to the track this season and consequently higher goals.
While his team is solid in distance and sprints, 19-year coach Mark Suk expects senior all-around athlete Glen Williams, junior shot putter Tyrone Conley and junior javelin thrower Lawrence Johnson to help improve upon their 2-4 season in 2007.
Diamond Division
Glassboro
Even though a soul legend already did so 40 years ago, junior sprinter James Brown made a name for himself this winter, ultimately finishing fifth in the Indoor Meet of Champs’ 55-meter dash in 6.53, second fastest in South Jersey.
Although his times outdoor have yet to be seen, his presence, coupled with that of speedy juniors Lamere Buchanan, Tariq Gaines and Ryan Chance, improves the Bulldogs (5-1) greatly. If the team can weather a weak weight team, it can contend with Penns Grove for the title.
Penns Grove
Fifteen lettermen return to this division defending squad that has what no other team in the division has – a contender in sprints, throws, jumps and vaults.
Junior sprinter Aaron Hayward was the Group 1 sectional championship in the 100 (10.88) and 200 (21.90) last spring, but with new legs at Glassboro, the Red Devils' chief rival, Hayward will probably need to run faster times in order to repeat.
After graduating shot putters Wayne Scott and Dymier Sharper, senior Tyree Rudolph stepped in, placing second at Group 1 sectionals with a toss of 46-0.75. Junior Steven Brown also placed second at sectionals with a long jump of 21-01.
Also a hurdler, pole vaulting junior Shawill Green can clear 12-0. Add this balance together and you get the favorites in the division and the group.
Schalick
Coach Steve Pierangeli hopes a large turnout can help fill some new glaring holes created by a costly graduation.
Losing eight key athletes to graduation, including All-Group hurdler Jeremy Simkins, has Schalick hurting in every area besides distance running, jumps and shot put.
The Cougars' four seniors, jumper Matt Kates, distance runner Eric DuBois and shot putters Kyle Jemp (45 feet) and Andrew Johnson (43), are sure to score points but even still, it may be hard for Schalick to shake its lack of depth or to match its 3-2 record last year.
Woodstown
A large return of lettermen, 13, compared to those lost, 2, is the first of hopefully many signs of improvement for coach Ryn Tencza’s Woodies (2-3).
A large number of sprinters and throwers should produce some solid relays and tandems, none more valuable than senior javelin thrower Brian Owens, a national qualifier who threw 180-11 last year.
Classic Division
Gloucester
First-year coach Jennifer Tomkow is counting on some first-year jumpers along with 11 lettermen.
After graduating seven lettermen, four-year sprinter Shehab Uddin is one of only several upperclassmen to lead a young inexperienced team.
Still Tomkow said jumping newcomers, Ryan Harter and Steven Kumpf, and transfer pole vaulter Frank Heitman should give the Lions (1-4) a lift.
Pennsville
Two-time division champs, the Eagles (5-0) return 10 this season and part with 8.
Holes caused by graduations, particularly in speed events, have 29-year coach John Maniglia depending on several young replacements.
Until they pan out, Maniglia is relying on strong distance runners Mark Kearney, TJ Mowers and Matt Powers, All-Group pole vaulter Neco Nociti and shot putter Joe Ecret, among others, to score points. It shouldn’t take many to win this division.
FIVE TO WATCH
Robert Page, Kingsway, Sr. – A guard in the winter, Page 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 take a better Kingsway's team farther this spring.
Panteleon Okoro, Delsea, Sr. – Call him Panteleon or by his middle name, Udochi, just don't call Okoro slow. The senior -- left to build on the Crusaders' 2007 championship season in the rubble left over by the graduations of Aaron Younger, Melton Diggs and Fred Lavan -- has just fine this winter, placing second in the State Group 2 Championships' 55-meter dash (6.64), the 400 (51.27) and the 4x400 (3:31.11). A fearless competitor, Okoro has the goods to make this another special season.
James Brown, Glassboro, Sr. – Another elite sprinter from Tri-County, Brown came onto the scene this winter as one of South Jersey's biggest surprises. After placing second in the 55-meter dash at both SJ Group 1 Championships and State Group 1 Championships, the senior ran a personal-best 6.53 for fifth at the Meet of Champs. The time was the second fastest in South Jersey last winter and, yes, he feels good!
Andrew Pierce, Cumberland, Jr. – Even as a sophomore last year, Pierce was among the best javelin throwers in the state. Now, a year later, it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that Pierce, the seventh-place finisher at the Outdoor Meet of Champions, is South Jersey's best returning thrower, having speared 181-07 twice last spring. Pierce should keep Cumberland on the scoreboard for most of the spring.
Eddie Zubrzycki, Highland, Jr. – Gearing up for that next size pole is always a challenge and one that got the best of the junior vaulter during the indoor championship season. Still, people know what he's capable of – like a 14-0 clearance at an Olympic Conference meet to beat two-time Meet of Champs winner West Deptford's Dan Batdorf – and, more importantly, he knows. Expect him to regain form, sky new personal heights and give the Tartans an edge over other contenders.
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.
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.
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