Leake breaks school record
By:Sean Moylan
With a leap of 5 feet 2 inches, Tasha Leake broke the Northern Burlington County Regional High School indoor track and field school record for the high jump at last Friday’s large schools meet at Haverford.
"She (Leake) just floats. She doesn’t get overly excited. She stays even keel." said NBC Coach Steve Alustiza.
The school’s previous record of 5 feet 1 inch had been held by Leake’s friend and teammate Ashley Platz. Leake placed second overall in the competition with the jump to medal. She also came in sixth place in the long jump.
NBC’s 4 X 800 relay team of Nikki Salentri, Carley Pogorzelski, Sarah Grossman and Suzy Wichtel took fourth place at the competition.
"They’re capable of doing it (getting a medal in every meet). They are just starting to get re-acclimated to indoor track," said Coach Alustiza.
"I felt good they placed. If you look at the times from last year to this year, they’re a step ahead."
Sophomore Ben Traino earned a fourth-place medal in the 3200 meter race with a splendid 10:12 time.
Traino also did well in Sunday’s Freshman-Sophomore at Haverford, placing ninth in the mile with a 5:07 time. NBC Sophomore Troy Norton placed fourth in the 55-meter high hurdles and ninth in the 400 at the same event.
This Friday NBC is scheduled to compete again at Haverford. Meanwhile, its pole vaulting team has been attending clinics at the Cherry-Hill Armory.
BRHS
Going into Saturday’s meet at Haverford, Nickos Angelopoulos offered to buy teammate Rob Novak dinner if he broke the five-minute mark in the 1600.
Novak must have been pretty hungry because he ran a 4:53 time to place seventh out of 31 competitors.
However, Charlie Miller, the head coach of the Bordentown Regional High School boys’ varsity winter track and field team felt his standout miler could have finished even higher had he ran in the faster heat. As it was, he was never pushed. Novak had similar success in the 800 where he posted a 2:14 time to place ninth.
"He (Novak) ran in the second heat (of the 800) and he lapped almost everyone. He’s ready to break records," said an excited Coach Miller.
Angelopoulos, himself, won the slow heat in the 1600 to place 13th in the competition.
Nickos (Angelopoulos) is happy with his time (5:05)," Coach Miller added.
Mike Gibson had a good day with a 7.4 second time in the 55-meter race and 1:16 time (21st) in the 400. Matt Cook ran a 2:32 time in the 800to come in 26th place. And Bordentown’s Greg Shaw ( a 13:10 time in the 3200) and Bill Kafer (a 14 minute time in the 3200) also posted solid marks.
On the girls’ side, superstar Courtney Clemens ran a 10.29 time in the 55-meter high hurdles to capture 12th place out of a field of 33. However, that’s just a small sample of what she is capable of doing.
"She’s (Clemens) just been running and lifting," said Coach Miller, who won’t push Clemens until the spring approaches.
Freshman Marie Minch impressed Coach Miller with her 76 -second, 30th-place time in the 400.
"It was a good first race," remarked Coach Miller of Minch’s performance. As always the Scotties are just using the winter season to stay in shape for the spring. However, Novak and Clemens certainly did add a little extra appeal to the winter program.
The Scotties are scheduled to pole vault at Mount Laurel on Thursday. Then, on Saturday, they are scheduled to be back at Haverford for the small schools meet.

