South squads are both third at GMC meet

By: Carolyn M. Hartko
   This winter’s Greater Middlesex Conference Individual Track Championships proved to be a showcase for Red Division teams. In the girls’ team competition, big schools finished in the top five slots, and South Brunswick (46 points) was right there at number three, which makes them third in the overall conference, as well as in the Red. Piscataway won the team title with 92 points, and Old Bridge was second with 55.
   The Viking boys earned 46 points as well, which put them third in the conference, behind Old Bridge (69) and Sayreville (53). However, since Sayreville is a White Division team, the boys ended up second in the Red Division.
   The Lady Vikings had a big night on the track at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Senior distance runner Amy Rhein got edged out at the finish line of the 3200 meter race by Stephanie LaFergola of Old Bridge. The winning time was 11:55.08, and Rhein crossed in 11:56.24. However, Rhein bounced back from that disappointment to win the 1600 in 5:32.78, and teammate Jess Engel came in fourth at 5:41.10.
   "Jess ran a heck of a race and so did Amy," Viking head coach Brian Jost said. "Amy came off the 3200 where she lost. That was the one race we thought that she was the favorite in. But she wasn’t feeling well, and the girl from Old Bridge just had a real good kick, and just passed her on the final straight-away. Sometimes, that can mentally get you down, but Amy was real aggressive and tough, and she ran a good race in the 1600, and pulled Jess Engel to a 4-5 second personal best in that race."
   In spite of getting knocked down at the chaotic start of the 800, Stephanie Rodriguez came away with a silver medal with a time of 2:29.46. First place went to East Brunswick’s Vicky Krupnick (2:29.03).
   "Stephanie had a tough race," Jost said. "The first time the gun went off, she got knocked down. But they recalled the race. Sometimes that can rattle you a little, but I think that was okay for her. And then she got a good start in the restart. She got boxed in a little, but coming off the last turn, she had a nice kick and went from third to second, and just missed getting first place. It was a real close finish."
   Other track team points came from a fourth in the open 400 (Jessie Boynton, 1:01.45), and a second in the 4×400 (Weddy Worjroh, Eve Mizerak, Boynton and Rodriguez). The Piscataway girls set a new meet record in that event with a time of 4:10.8, and the Vikings finished in 4:17.17.
   The girls also picked up points in the field events at Old Bridge High School the previous night. Krista Belick cleared 4-6 for fifth place in the high jump.
   For the SBHS boys’ team, the field events were the big story. On his final throw of the night, senior Viking Yemi Ayeni, already ahead of the field, hit a personal best 56-10½ to run away with the shot put title. Teammate Prescott Hill was a little short of his personal best, but the 50-10 he marked was still good enough for second place. The next in line was Michael Scheller of St. Joseph’s who threw 48 flat for third.
   Axel Persaud took third in the boys’ high jump with a leap of 5-10. The Viking sprinters did well at FDU. Sophomore Charles Willis was fifth in the 55 dash (6.64 seconds), and junior Jeremy Guzman was right behind in fifth (6.72). The boys went on to take third in the 4×400 with a time of 3:36.8 (Guzman, Willis, Emery Greenfield and Teddy Polk).
   "And then there were a few kids that were just out of sixth place," Jost said. "Anthony Vaverka was seventh in the 1600. Steve Sample was seventh in the 3200, and Teddy and Emery were eight and ninth in the 800. So, they were close. Anything could have happened. They could have gotten a couple of places and that might have changed the scoring just a little."
   FOOTPRINTS: This weekend, the Vikings will be traveling west to an invitational at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. It’s partly to help the varsity track and field athletes keep their edge while waiting for the NJSIAA Group IV Championship on Feb. 19. The Vikings are entered in individual events, as well as the 4×400 and 4×800 relays. Jost was looking forward to trying a new venue and having the opportunity to see his squads in action against some different schools.