By: Carolyn M. Hartko
Running in a very fast heat, Monroe High School senior Ashley Theinert clocked a 1:00.8 in the open 400 meter race at this year’s Eastern Regional Meet held at the 168th Street Armory in New York City on Tuesday evening. Her time was just one tenth of a second off the school record she set at this year’s Greater Middlesex Conference Championships.
Theinert was the only Falcon who qualified for Easterns this winter.
"It was a good performance for her," Lady Falcon head coach Lew Stonaker said. "We were hoping to get her under 60 you’re always looking for more. But she competed hard. She was in the fifth of eight heats, and they go slowest to fastest, so she was in some pretty fast company."
The multi-team outdoor meet that had been rescheduled for last Saturday was cancelled by the would-be host school, Perth Amboy. It was a big disappointment for both squads, and boys’ coach Frank Bonich, as this means the season is over, except for Tim Payne’s trip to the NJSIAA Meet of Champions.
"It was frustrating, especially for the kids," Bonich said. "We really only had the one tri-meet with Perth Amboy and Carteret. So, for the underclassmen, that was really the only meet they got to compete in."
The one Falcon still working out this week is Payne. The senior is practicing hard for his appearance in the shot put in the MOC this Sunday at Princeton’s Jadwin Gym. Bonich expects him to be seeded somewhere in the mid-20’s out of a field of 36. Payne hit his personal best distance of 46-9 two weeks ago at the NJSIAA Group III meet. Both coach and athlete would like to see at least that distance on Sunday.
"We’re looking for him to continually improve," Bonich said. "So, anything over 46-9 would be great. Now that he’s up to where he’s at, 50 feet in the spring is a realistic goal."
