Kelly Byrnes, Julia Barker, Mary McCudden and Shannon Gillespie, the runners who helped Red Bank Catholic girls make state history in the fall, are the nucleus of the Caseys’ 2001-02 indoor track and field team.
The foursome of Byrnes, Barker, McCudden and Gillespie led RBC to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Parochial A state championship back in November. It was the 12th state title in cross country for Mary Banks’ Caseys, making them the winningest girls’ program in NJSIAA history. The win broke the tie at 11 which the Caseys had shared with Bernards.
Byrnes, Barker and McCudden are indoor veterans who will run the 1,600 and 3,200 for RBC. They were all all-county in cross country and figure to be contenders in the distance events indoors.
Gillespie is the key addition this winter. In the past, the sophomore swam in the winter, but she has made a full-time commitment to running. She is coming off a very good cross country season earning All-Shore honors with Byrnes and Barker. Gillespie’s best event is the 800.
RBC will be able to put together very strong relay teams in the distance events with the team of Byrnes, Barker, McCudden and Gillespie.
RBC’s strength isn’t just its stable of distance runners. In Jillian Danback, the Caseys have one of the best sprinter/hurdlers in the state. Danback is fresh off an All-State season in soccer, where she led RBC to the Shore Conference Tournament championship. Last winter Danback was the Monmouth County 55-meter dash champion and qualified for the Meet of Champions in the hurdles.
"Jillian is a very determined athlete," said Banks.
Katelyn Danback, Jillian’s younger sister, bolsters both the sprints and distances with her 400/800 range. She is a sophomore. She won the county indoor freshman 400-meter dash last winter.
Allison Angelo and Patricia Mahoney provide the Caseys with a pair of quality high jumpers.
"We have a lot of young kids," said. "We’re not as deep as last year, but we do have our distance crew and Jillian Danback."
Minus depth, the Caseys will be hard pressed to challenge for team championships, but they do have quality, and that will keep RBC at the top of the pack.
At Rumson-Fair Haven, coach Dan Loughlin has the numbers but not the quality, with the exception of All-State harrier Christy Planer.
The Bulldogs do have a little bit of everything. Kristina Knapp is the top returning sprinter. Stephanie Madden, Caitlin Gossert and Christina Haddad provide depth. Katie Krueger and Tara Lamberson give the Bulldogs a contender in the shot put, and Kate Gasienica is the team’s high jumper.
Of course, the Bulldogs’ top indoor threat is Planer, who can run 800, 1,600 or 3,200. After an arduous and successful cross country season where she was the Shore Conference and Central Jersey Group II champion, second at the Group II state championships, fourth at the Meet of Champions and a First Team All-Stater, Planer will lie low in December and not make her indoor debut until January. She got her feet wet indoors last winter running a limited schedule and should be an MOC contender this winter.
Planer’s cross country teammate Caitlin Moscatello will also be running indoors. She also had a solid cross country season and qualified for the MOC.
The indoor track season begins outside the area on Saturday and Sunday with the FDU Holiday Classic. The first major race of the season comes on Dec. 22 with the Monmouth County Relays.
The New Year will be rung in by the NJSIAA State Group Relays on Jan. 6 (Groups II & III) and Jan. 13 (Groups I & IV) at Princeton University.
Jan. 17 is the date for the Monmouth County boys’ championships, and Jan. 18 is the girls.’ Both meets will be held at Red Bank Regional.
The NJSIAA Group Championships are Jan. 20 (Groups II & III) and Jan. 26 (Groups I & IV) at Princeton. Red Bank Regional will host the Shore Conference Championships on Jan. 30, and the season-ending All-Groups Meet of Champions is Feb. 3 at Princeton.