RBR’s Trotters repeat as state indoor MOC champs
Monmouth’s Kuehl
second in the shot put
VERONICA YANKOWSKI Red Bank Regional junior Amanda Trotter falls to the ground after winning the girls’ 3,200 meter race at the Meet of Champions at Princeton University’s Jadwin Gymnasium. Trotter defended her title in the 3,200, while her sister, Katy, did the same in the 800m race.
Amanda and Katy Trotter revealed more about themselves in defeat than in victory, and that’s saying a lot considering their impressive triumphs at Sunday’s NJSIAA Indoor Meet of Champions at Princeton University.
After winning respective state championships, Amanda in the 3,200 and Katy in the 800, they came back to attempt a very rare double against a well-rested Casey Nelson of Hunterdon Central, who has been the find of the indoor season and did not run either the 3,200 or 800.
Nelson, a sophomore, had never run track before this winter, but a 5:01 mile at the New York City Armory raised a few eyebrows. She easily won the Group IV title in 5:16.83 (Amanda had won Group III in 5:05.71 with Katy second in 5:09.62).
Both Trotters said that they would have been "disappointed" if they hadn’t given the 1,600 a try, and at the last minute they decided to run the metric mile. They weren’t going to walk away from a challenge.
The first meeting between Nelson and the Trotters produced the best race of the girls’ meet.
Nelson went to the front early and had Amanda and Katy shadowing her the entire time. The Trotters have been dominating opponents with their ability to run negative splits (running the second half of a race faster), and Nelson couldn’t have felt very comfortable.
"I knew they were going to put pressure on me on that last lap because I knew they were great runners," said Nelson.
The Trotters indeed applied the pressure on the final lap with Amanda, at times, inching closer and closer to the Hunterdon Central runner as all were going flat out. But Nelson had the speed to hold them both off, taking the race in 5:09.21 with fast-charging Katy second at 5:09.64.
It was the first time that the Trotters have been outkicked since Howell’s Lindsey Gallo did it at the 2000 Monmouth County championships outdoors.
"I felt good," Katy said after the 1,600. "I knew she was excellent runner. She was going just as fast as we were. I’m glad that I did it."
Amanda said she was not surprised by Nelson.
"I knew she would be tough," said Amanda, third in 5:10.16. "I felt I had nothing to lose. I tried my best."
The Trotters left Princeton satisfied that they had given it their best shot in all of their races. A year ago, the Trotters were the first sisters to ever win indoor MOC titles in the same year, and now they have done it twice.
Amanda had started things off in the 3,200, turning in her fastest time and the second best in the nation this year, 10:41.63. She beat a star-studded field that included Rumson-Fair Haven’s Christy Planer, the Group I state champion who had the second best time in the state; Hawthorne Christian’s Lindsay Van Alstine, the MOC cross country champion; and Columbia’s Courtney Epps, the Group IV 3,200 champion.
Van Alstine took the field through a respectable opening 800 of 2:43, then Trotter took off. Planer tried to match Trotter’s pace, but by the mile in 5:23, Trotter had broken away.
The Buc junior, who won the indoor 1,600 last year, did not back off. She continued surging and ran the second 1,600 in 5:18 to finish off her speedy 10:41.63, the third-fastest winning time in meet history.
Trotter, who has made the 1,600 her priority, said that she may start paying more attention to the longer 3,200.
"I’m stronger now, but I don’t want to lose my speed," she said.
Translation— she’ still a miler.
Planer, whose goal was to push Trotter and get under 11:00, was caught by Liz Wort (11:06.38) on the final turn and finished third in 11:07.78.
Amanda’s turn came in the 800 where she was the defending champion. Her title defense was made more difficult before she stepped on the track. Her Shore area rival, Lauren Lewis of Southern Regional, was not in the seeded section and went out and won her heat in a blistering 2:17.30. The pressure was on for the seeded runners.
Things got worse for Katy when she got boxed in at the start.
"The start is always tough with everyone rushing to the middle," she said. "I didn’t get out fast and had to make it up on the outside. I would have liked to run the first lap faster. Lewis’ time was on the back of my mind, and it made me nervous."
A :35 first lap on the 200-meter Jadwin Gymnasium track, followed by another 0:35, had Trotter in the lead at 400 meters in 1:10. She was leading, but was behind Lewis’ pace. Trotter increased her speed on the third lap and went through in 1:43. Erin Crawford of Hillsborough, the Group IV state champion, had run in the pack for the first 600 meters before showing why she had won her Group title in the fastest qualifying time (2:18.63). Crawford was on her toes running like a sprinter and rapidly gaining ground on Trotter, who could tell from the crowd that someone was gaining.
"I heard she was close, and I was pretty tired," she pointed out. "I had run the second and third laps faster than I usually do."
Trotter, though, had enough left to hold off Crawford and get under Lewis’ time with a 2:16.50. Lewis was right behind in 2:16.73.
"It’s always nice to win," she said. "Every year is different."
The Trotters have now collected four MOC titles between them.
Monmouth Regional’s Adam Kuehl, the Group III state champion, has clearly established himself as one of the best throwers in the country. Throwing 60+ has become a habit for the Golden Falcon, and his 61-6 1/4 is the second best in the nation this year, under cover. Unfortunately for Kuehl, the nation’s best shot putter is from Bayonne, Glenn DiGiorgio.
DiGiorgio saved his best for the MOC, getting off the best throw in the country, 65-10. Kuehl was again over 60 with his 60-3 and took the silver. Uzoma Orji of Matawan, Kuehl’s Shore rival, was third at 59-3 1/2.
Kuehl was philosophical afterward, noting that having someone like DiGiorgio makes him set his goals higher.
The state championships capped a big week for the Red Bank girls. On Jan. 27, the Bucs defended their Shore Conference Championship by getting help everywhere.
Yes, the Trotters spearheaded the win. Amanda (5:09.24) and Katy (5:12.48) ran one-two in the 1,600 after Katy had won the 800 (2:18.41). But there was plenty of help.
Katie Kingsbery came up big in the 800 for Red Bank, placing second to her teammate in 2:22.62.
The trio was then joined by Christine Hurley for the 1,60-0 relay, and it was another Buc first as they outran Brick, 4:13.39-4:14.89. Katy Trotter ran the opening leg, followed by Hurley, Amanda and Kingsbery, who brought it home.
Melissa Dooley came through with a strong effort in the 3,200, running second to Toms River East’s Jen Blank, 11:49.46-11:57.66.
The 58 points put up by the Bucs overcame Jackson (43) which was led by the meet’s outstanding performer in Lisa Schenk, who was a triple winner, taking the 55-meter dash (7.34), 55-meter hurdles (8.38) and the high jump (5-6).
Monmouth’s Erika Huggler was second to Schenk in the 55 hurdles (8.76) with Red Bank Catholic’s Jillian Danback, third (8.83). RBCs Julia Barker was fourth in the 3,200 (12:01.71).
On the boys’ side, Kuehl was pushed to his best indoor performance of the season. The Golden Falcon got off a huge 61-6 1/4, the second best throw in the nation, in topping Orji, who was second after a personal best 60-11 3/4.
Monmouth’s boys finished in fourth place (21), one point ahead of host RBR.
Erik Brown was third in the 3,200 (9:53.43), trailing the Bucs’ Robert Dennis (9:48.29) and Red Bank Catholic’s Matt Piccarello (9:52.35).
Steve McQuay was fourth in the 55-meter dash for Monmouth (6.81) that was won by Wall’s Mickey Shupin (6.67). Also scoring for the Falcons was high jumper Barry Bostick, who tied for fifth at 6-0. Keith Cashman of Christian Brothers Academy was first at 6-4.
Also scoring for the Buc boys were Joe Kingsbery (4:30.49) and Jovannie Cortez (4:35.67), who were third and fourth in the 1,600, which went to Toms River North’s Rich Hoffman (4:26.56).
Shore’s Marc Altenau was fourth in the 3,200 (9:53.49).