Bears expect more of
the same in the future
BY RICHARD JEROME
Staff Writer
JEFF GRANIT staff East Brunswick’s Greg Bull tries to hold off Old Bridge’s Pat Bennett during the 4×800 relay at the GMC Relays at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
A fine second-place showing in last week’s Greater Middlesex Conference Relays has East Brunswick High School boys winter track coach Kevin McEvoy pleased.
And a 2-0 dual meet record doesn’t hurt, either.
"It’s a very good team, with fine performances across the board," said McEvoy, whose Bears bested South Brunswick on Tuesday.
EBHS, which scored 42 points in the GMCs to winner Old Bridge’s 50, captured the 4×800, the distance medley and the shot-put relay. In the latter event, senior James Correa threw 50-8, the only competitor to break 50 feet in the tourney, and paired with 40-foot tosser Sal Giorgio, a senior who is also a top sprinter.
In the distance events, returnee Ryan Williams runs the 3,200 and the mile, clocking 4:32 in the latter, a figure McEvoy would like to see him shave by a few seconds.
Junior Greg Bull is just a couple of steps behind Williams, while senior half-milers Nick Rowan and Logan Yu helped out big-time in the GMC distance medley.
Joining Giorgio (who runs 6.8 in the 60 and 55 seconds in the quarter-mile) in the shorter distances is senior Greg Schwalje, a quarter- and half-miler.
As for the hurdles, senior Duane Schultz competes along with Quentin Washington. Both also high-jump in the 5-6 to 5-8 range.
"We’ve set the standard of 6-0 as a goal," said McEvoy, who is assisted by Don Mandy.
Rounding out the club, sophomore Shaun Black teams up with Correa and Giorgio in the shot put. And the coach is very high on two sophomore sprinters, Nick Dzelak and Vinnie Qualgieri.
"They’re our future," he said.
As for the more immediate future, the Bears are looking toward the state Group IV meet in Princeton.
"We’re trying to get our best times, then come back for the county championships at Fairleigh Dickinson," said McEvoy. "As long as we stay healthy, we’ll be all right."
East Brunswick girls
off to fast start as well
Thus far the East Brunswick High School girls winter track team has a 1-1 dual meet record and a third-place finish in the county relays.
And Coach Brian Merrigan is happy with his club’s performance.
"We have a very good hurdle relay team in senior Sarah L’Heureux, seniors Dana Liteplo and Kathy Cammidge (both 5-foot high-jumpers) and freshman Kathy Toto," said Merrigan. "And we’re strong in the sprints."
Sprinter Brittany Hohn is the defending outdoor champ in the 100, and runs a 7.3 in the 55 as well as a 61 in the 400. She’s joined by seniors Brooke Kahn and Jen Greenbaum.
EBHS also has top-flight talent in the distances. Junior Megan Donovan is running her first winter campaign after establishing herself as one of the top cross-country runners in the county. Donovan clocks 12:30 in the 3,200 and 5:37 in the 1,600 so far.
"It’s still early, and I expect her numbers to get better," said Merrigan, who is assisted by Ray Parker.
Other long-distance stalwarts include junior Michelle Turek and senior Chrissy Solticito.