Babcock, Klapper, Repka qualify for Group III

BOYS TRACK & FIELD: Chris Babcock won the shot put, Chris Repka placed in the mile and two-mile and Jeremy Klapper placed in the mile in the Central Jersey Group III Championships.

By: Neil Hay
   Hightstown’s Matt Babcock, Chris Repka and Jeremy Klapper all finished in the top six in their respective events last weekend and will advance to the boys Group III track and field championships.
   As a team the Rams scored 21 points, finishing seventh. 16 teams that competed in Central Jersey Group III scored at least one point. Ewing won the team sectional title with 94 points.
   Babcock won the Central Jersey Group III shot put Saturday at Neptune with a distance of 49-feet-11. He will go on to the Group III meet this afternoon at Egg Harbor Township.
   Chris Repka will compete in two events this weekend. In Friday’s two-mile, he placed second in 9:52, tying a personal best. The next day Repka finished sixth in the mile in 4:34.9. Repka will be joined in the mile tomorrow by teammate Jeremy Klapper, who placed fifth in the mile in 4:32.5.
   Also joining Babcock, Klapper and Repka this weekend will be Eric Katz, who will compete in four wheelchair events: 200, 800, mile, two mile.
   Babcock will have to approach his personal best of 53-feet to have a chance to qualify for the Meet of Champions.
   "He’s been consistent at 51, 52, 53 feet all year," said boys coach Jim Firtek. "He’ll need 53 to advance."
   In the past Klapper has run the mile under 4:30. Said Firtek, "He’ll need a personal best" to make the Meet of Champions on June 6th at South Brunswick.
   Of Repka’s possibilities, Firtek said, "The Group III field in the two-mile is pretty tight. He has to run in the 9:40’s to advance. He is more than capable of moving on. The mile will be quick. He has a chance. We’ll see what happens."