By Wayne witkowski
Staff Writer
Marissa DeTata is back and bidding for a return to the NJSIAA Meet of Champions in the two-mile, but she is surrounded by a young lineup as the Brick Township girls’ team embarks on the outdoor track and field season.
It started yesterday with a dual meet at Toms River South and continues Saturday at the Rebel Relays at Howell.
"We’re young with just a couple of seniors so we’ll take our lumps in [Shore Conference] A South dual meets," said coach Bill Brunner. "We don’t have a lot but what we have are athletes and they work hard."
That includes DeTata, a South Jersey section champion whom Brunner says fans "won’t see too much in April but who will make some major moves in May."
The team has the most experience in distance events, including senior Sara Koste, junior Christine Mancino and sophomore Erin Redden along with the McCabe sisters, junior Kaity and sophomore Joanne. Joanne had a fine cross country season last fall.
Brunner, an expert in field events, says junior Jamie Lee Brantley "will be one of the better discus throwers in the county" after she reached the Group IV championships and finished fourth in the South Jersey section. "I’m hoping she goes 112-feet plus this year," said Brunner.
Nicole Quinn, a junior, is solid in the shot put and javelin and freshman Christine Centano can compete in the shot and discus. Sophomore Karen Grygiel, who bowled for the school’s state championship team, and Kofo Ademosu and freshman Amanda Johnson supply depth in the discus. Freshman Kendra Florzak is the high jumper.
The shorter distance events have young but good, raw talent led by sophomore Robin Daniels, who a year ago set the freshman record in the 400 and placed in the county and Shore Conference meets.
"She was one of the better ones in the Shore last year but she’ll move up to the 800. That’s where we believe her race is," said Brunner.
Sophomores Amy Marino and Ali Sweeney and freshmen Kelly Wargo, Shannon Dempsey and Sammie Koste are good sprinters. Wargo set the freshmen 55 indoors record in February. Koste also will run the high and intermediate hurdles events along with freshman Tia Testa.