Hopewell Valley impresses at Rowan track invitational

Spring track

By: Jim Green
   The Hopewell Valley Central High School girls spring track team certainly knows how to make an entrance.
   HoVal took part in the Ike Wills Open at Rowan University for the first time Friday and Saturday. And while it took the Lady Bulldogs 31 years to attend the event, their performances over the weekend seem to assure they will be returning in the near future.
   "It (the Ike Wills Open) is pretty historic," Hopewell Valley assistant coach Aaron Oldfield said. "It’s been around for a long time."
   Senior Kate Willever was the star of the show, setting a meet record in the steeplechase. For her performance, Willever was awarded $150 toward a college scholarship from the organizers of the event.
   Senior Jessie Pall placed third in the 800-meter run, sophomore Natalie Mapp took third in the 200, and senior Sarah Seiler finished fourth in the 3,200. Sophomore Annie Carney came in fifth in the 1,600 and the 3,200, and the Lady Bulldogs sprint medley relay team of Natalie Mapp, senior Kristen Mapp, Pall and Willever placed second.
   "Pretty much everyone did exactly what we were looking for," Oldfield said.
   The Lady Bulldogs then finished off the Colonial Valley Conference Valley Division race Monday. HoVal clinched the division title by moving to 6-0 with the sweep of a tri-meet against Ewing and Allentown at CHS. Hopewell defeated Ewing 88-34 and topped Allentown 66-56.
   Pall led the way, winning the 100 (12.5), the 200 (25.7), the 400 (57.93) and the 400 hurdles (1:06.80). Willever took the 800 (2:24.16) and the 1,600 (5:18.73). Junior Carly Schlamowitz placed first in the 3,200 (12:02.35), and junior Lauren Manley won the shot put (33-5 ½) and the discus (110-2).
   The Lawrence boys team, meanwhile, split its meet, topping Allentown 76-47 and falling to Ewing 88-44. Junior Derek Jablonski won the 1,600 (4:41.5), while senior David Rout took the discus (136-0) and the javelin (173-1).
   Matt Griswold finished second in the 200 (23.7) and the 400 hurdles (1:00.32), and Kevin Osagi took second in the long jump (18-5 ½) and the high jump (5-10). Matt Templon took second in the shot put (40-8 ¾), and Andrew Bruccoleri finished second in the javelin (149-8).
   Rout also placed first in the javelin at the Bernards Invitational at Bernards High School on Saturday. His distance of 187-7 won the event by nearly eight feet.