TRACK AND FIELD: The winter season may be a harbinger of good things to come for the track teams at The Peddie School.
By: Neil Hay
If the winter season is any indication, the Peddie boys track team should fare well when the action shifts outdoors this spring.
Of the 35 boys on the squad this winter, only seven were returning varsity letter winners from the previous campaign. And many are expected to return for the upcoming spring season.
Although the Falcons had few experienced tracksters, the team progressed quickly. Over the season the team went 4-3 in dual meets and placed fifth overall in the state prep championships.
"We had an excellent season, outside of the record. A lot of guys stepped up," said Mark Gartner, who is in his 12th year as Peddie boys and girls track coach.
Several Falcons compiled outstanding performances, none so more than junior sprinter Bilal Morris. Morris, who ran spring track in 2001, played basketball last winter. This year, however, he opted to come out for track. And what a welcome addition he was. Morris led the team in points scored with 90, and qualified for the national scholastic indoor track championships in New York City last weekend. Competing in the 60 and 200, Morris placed in the top 30 in each event. In the 60 he was timed in 7.19, missing semifinals by just .03 seconds. Morris was the first member of the Peddie boys team ever to qualify for nationals.
During the regular season Morris was undefeated in the 45 and 200 and, when he ran the 400, won five of six times. He set new school records in the 45 (5.3), 55 (6.3) and 200 (22.4). At the state prep meet Morris was first in the 55 and second in the 200.
"Morris is only a junior, and the experience he got at nationals is going to help him," said Gartner.
Another sprinter is Stefan Scoon, a junior, who "just did phenomenal" this winter, according to Gartner. "He gave us a one-two punch." Scoon placed third in the 200 at states.
Make that a one-two-three punch coach, with sophomore Kirk Samuels giving the Falcons three talented sprinters.
"Against a lot of schools we scored heavily in the sprints." All three will compete for Peddie this spring.
In the distances, returnee Chris Pankiewicz, a varsity letter winner as a freshman, was an important contributor in the 800 and 4X400. Several times he ran a 2:06 800.
"His times are real nice for a sophomore," said Gartner.
Newcomers included freshman Chris Davis (800) and sophomore Lamar Sapp (1600, 3200), a transfer from Trenton Central who was the team’s second leading scorer.
"They did a really nice job."
Sapp and Pankiewicz will go out for spring track, but Davis will try his hand at lacrosse.
Senior Dave Wilson, who had an outstanding cross country season in 2001 before going down with an injury, sat out the winter season to rehab from a stress fracture in his leg. Wilson is being counted on to be in top shape for the distance events when the outdoor meets begin.
In the weight events, senior captain Derek Wai threw 41 feet and will return for the spring season. The other team captain is senior Jon Alerhand, who ran the 1600 indoors and will compete in the distance events outdoors.
With the outdoor season not too far off, Gartner understands that the spring team will not be as deep. That is because of the competition track faces from the other spring sports at Peddie.
"I’d be happy with thirty (boys) for spring. Thrilled with forty. Those who are out will be talented," said Gartner.
"I was pleased with the winter season from the standpoint that, out of 35 performers (on the boys and girls teams), 31 had personal bests. I can’t be displeased with that, even if they are dead last.
"The kids kicked butt every day. I only ask of them three things: to be on time, have a positive attitude, and work hard. And if they do, good things happen."
GIRLS
Mark Gartner is only the fourth person to coach track and field at Peddie. Before the season began, Gartner counted on 26 girls to be there for the winter. But injuries soon took its toll. Four or five of them came down with an injury at the start of the campaign and were never in the mix. The injuries, believed Gartner, were a carryover from the fall sports season, injuries that never healed fully in time for track.
"We had a rash of shin stress fractures with the girls. I am convinced they were injured at the end of the fall season. The rest of the kids had to really pull together and carry the load."
One of the tracksters who stood out for the 3-5 Falcons was Melanie Nicholas, a sophomore hurdler and high jumper. In the state prep championship meet Nicholas was second in the high jump and third in the 55 hurdles. The 5-foot-9 Nicholas ran winter and spring track last year, and was one of just three returning letter winners.
"She’s figured out hurdling," said Gartner. "She is a natural hurdler."
Nicholas competed at the Eastern States championship meet in New York City on February 26th. Her 8.88 in the 55 hurdles is a new school record. During the year she consistently high-jumped 5 feet, tying the existing school record.
"She took herself seriously as a track athlete. She’ll do a nice job for us this spring. It will be very interesting to see how she improves in the 100 hurdles."
Sprinter Titi Wilson, a senior, was second at prep states in the 55. (As a team Peddie was third at states.) Wilson qualified for nationals in the 45 and 200. But because of an injured hamstring, she chose not to compete. Wilson was never at 100 percent this winter.
"She scored a ton of points for us. I want her to be ready for outdoors. I want her senior season to be a good, positive experience for her."
Another sprinter who will help this spring is sophomore Christina Rodriguez, who ran last winter and spring but did not letter. Said Gartner, "She realized that she is one of the people we need to make it happen. She did a really nice job for us" in the 45, 200, and 400.
In the distances junior Monica Gamez, a newcomer, will move from the winter to the spring. Said Gartner, "Fortunately we had seven female distance runners, compared to two a year ago. Monica did everything I ever asked her to. She preferred the 800, but ran the mile a few times and a leg on the 4X400 relay. She worked hard in practice every day, and led by example."
One girl who will not run in the spring is senior captain Peanut Smith, who moves to lacrosse. In the state meet Smith was third in the 3200.
"She takes the pressure off because it is always hard to find a girl to run the 3200. She was a unanimous choice to be captain. She knows when to keep things light and when to keep things serious. The girls respect her."
Competing in the shot for the first time was senior Maria Nichols, who will move to softball when that season gets going. Nichols was the Falcons’ top shot putter and placed second at states (31-feet-7).
"She threw really well. She was consistently having throws over thirty feet to give the team a lift," said Gartner.
Nichols showed great improvement over the year. In her first meet she threw 26-feet-7. By the end she was up to 31-feet-7.
"That was great."
The other captain was junior Nicole Castro, the "backbone" of the throwing team.
"She and Derek Wai (of the boys team) were like having a couple of extra coaches at practice. They were absolutely wonderful. It’s rare that a girl thrower gets elected captain. She’s only a junior, and that speaks volumes about her."
The winter season is barely over, but it won’t be long until the throwers, jumpers, sprinters and distance runners come back for the spring campaign.
"We get a week off before we crank it up again. I am looking forward to it," said Gartner.