Boys Track & FieldThe Hopewell Valley Central High School boys track and field team is up to its old tricks.
By: Matt Nalbone
The Bulldogs won two dual meets this past week, but also performed extremely well at the Monmouth Invitational over the weekend. Records were falling and people were setting personal bests in contagious fashion.
In a dual meet against Hightstown this past Tuesday, the Hopewell boys (5-1) won a tight one, 73-58.
Matt Nini was a key contributor getting three first places, winning the 100-meter dash in 11.4 seconds, the 400 in 49.2, and the 200 in 22.9.
Hopewell also enjoyed a sweep in the javelin, which was key because Hightstown has one of the top shot put and discus throwers in the area. David Rout took first with a throw of 156 feet, eight inches, while Chris Seiz threw 148-9 and Mike Moore completed the sweep with a throw of 142-9.
"That was very important to us," coach Dean DeKok said. "It set the tone for the whole day."
Another nice day was turned in by junior Min-Kee Lee, who had a couple of second-place finishes to pick up some much needed points. He was second in the 100 with a time of 11.7 and also the 200, finishing in 23.8.
"He’s really showing nice for next year, but he’s stepped up nice in Andy’s (Blecha) absence," said Dekok.
Also important was another sweep for Hopewell, this time in the pole vault.
Shawn Starcher was first with a Colonial Valley Conference best clearance of 12 feet. Matt Lynch was next, clearing 11-6, and Dave Jackson was third, clearing 11 feet.
One of the more exciting events of the day was the discus, where a back and forth battle resulted in a second- and third-place finish for Hopewell. Mike Snook took second with a throw of 139-3 a personal best while Ben Samara was third at 136-9.
"It was a good competition," DeKok said. "It’s what you like to see, back and forth until the end."
Samara also took first in the high jump, clearing 6-2. Joe Davidson had a nice showing in the 1,600 with his best time of the year, 4:36.5, finishing third behind the two best mile runners in the county.
Nick Wright took over in the 400 hurdles, winning the event with a time of 16 seconds.
"We thought it would be close," DeKok said. "It was nice getting ready for the rest of the year and fun when the kids respond like that."
Prior to that, the boys team went to Tinton Falls on Saturday to participate in the invitational.
Nini set two school records and turned in two performances that were tops in the CVC so far this year. He won the 400-meter intermediate hurdles in a time of 53.9 that was not only a school record, personal best, and CVC best, but it was also a meet record.
His first-place time in the open 400 was 48.9, a CVC best by almost two seconds. He also broke a school record that he had set earlier in the year.
And just for good measure, he ran in the 200, finishing third with a time of 22.6.
"He had a nice day," said coach DeKok. "Matt ran a nice smooth race (in the 400 hurdles) he had good timing over the hurdles and finished strong. We are going to take advantage of his individual talent from this point on, keeping him out of the relays."
Nini wasn’t the only Bulldog to achieve success on the day, as Nicco McGee won the javelin event, throwing 153-3. McGee was joined by teammate Seiz, who came in third with a throw of 149-11.
Samara set the standard in the high jump, clearing 6-6, tops in the CVC and good enough for second place.
Joe Davidson also had a good day, finishing second in the 1,600 with a time of 4:17, while Starcher took third in the pole vault, clearing 10-6.
Thrower Mike Snook took home a pair of thirds, getting there in the shot put with a throw of 44-6¾, and the discus going for 131-4.
"He’s been nice and consistent," coach DeKok said. "His discus is coming along and he is ready to spring out in the shot."
The only other action of the week saw Hopewell crush West Windsor-Plainsboro North, 104-27, in a meet that saw Hopewell win every event but two.
Snook won both of shot put and discus, while McGee won the javelin. Nini won three more times, in the 200 and both the 100 and 400 hurdles.
Samara was the only other double winner, taking both the long jump and high jump.