Joins Cutler at State Group 1 meet
By: Rudy Brandl
HILLSBOROUGH Chris Greene did it again.
The Manville High senior track and field athlete never ceases to amaze. After making headlines in the high jump during the dual meet season and dominating the shot put during a series of bigger meets, Greene found another event to rule at last weekend’s Central Jersey Group 1 Championships.
Greene overcame miserable conditions to win the sectional javelin crown with a personal-best throw of 155 feet, 8 inches. He surpassed his prior best effort by nearly eight feet despite slippery, soggy conditions at Hillsborough High. Greene just edged Bill Branin of Shore Regional, whose 155-4 effort finished second in a thrilling event.
"Everyone else had their spikes on and I just have sneakers," Greene said in his typical unassuming, matter-of-fact manner. "It was pretty slippery. I just managed to hold on."
Greene won the event with his first throw of the flight round. Branin followed with his best effort, which Greene thought might have beaten his first heave.
"I heard the 155 but I didn’t hear the inches," Greene said, "I had to check to make sure I was in first place."
Neither Greene nor Branin could improve on their first effort. Greene felt somewhat fortunate to start so well. He fell on his second attempt of the finals as footing became more challenging on the soggy grass.
"I had a good throw in the beginning and that’s all I needed," Greene said. "I just had to go as fast as I could, throw as far as I could and try not to fall down."
Greene had never broken the 150-foot mark prior to last Saturday. He rose to the occasion against his biggest competition of the year.
"I told him there’s no reason a javelin thrower can’t improve by 10 feet," MHS head coach Tony Treonze said. "The approach was good, the release was good and it carried out in the throw."
Greene wasn’t nearly as happy with his shot put and discus throws, but both were far enough to carry him into the scoring mix. Greene finished third in Friday’s shot put (45-0¼) and fifth in Saturday’s discus (115-6) to account for all 18 Manville points in the meet.
"I expected him to do better in the discus," Treonze said. "I guess he threw his arm out in the javelin."
Greene will travel to Egg Harbor for the State Group 1 Championships for the second time in his career. He competed there as a sophomore, but only in the shot put. He’ll be busy throwing in all three weight events this weekend.
"I feel good about the javelin because I got first place, but I have to wonder about what everybody else did," Greene said. "I could be first here but 18th there (Egg Harbor). I just have to do my best."
Junior Amy Cutler will join Greene at the State Group 1 meet. Cutler finished second in the long jump (16-7½) and sixth in the 100 (13.4) for nine team points.
Cutler was one of only two girls to surpass 16 feet in the section. Metuchen’s Kristen Edmonds (17-0½) equaled the personal-best Cutler hit in winning the Mountain Valley Conference title. Cutler has remained in the high 16-foot range in the last few meets, a figure that should be enough to advance to the Meet of Champions.
The MHS junior will make her third consecutive trip to Egg Harbor. Cutler hasn’t fared well in her previous two appearances but has the experience to perform under pressure. She has a chance to become the school’s first female Meet of Champions representative since 1994 when Kathy Brodka competed in the 400 hurdles.
Greene and Cutler hope to accomplish what Franklin Andreyko did last year. Andreyko, who transferred to Hillsborough, won the State Group 1 long jump title before placing sixth at the Meet of Champions in his signature event.
While Cutler will focus on the long jump, Greene expects to give his three events equal time in this week’s practice sessions. He could have an off-day in one event but hit a big throw in another.
"I have to make the two-hour drive, get down there and do my best," Greene said. "I don’t expect it (Meet of Champions) but I’ll be really happy if I could make it."

