BY MIKE WHITE
Staff Writer
RED BANK — The Jackson High School girls indoor track team placed athletes in all eight events last Sunday en route to winning the Shore Conference (SC) championship at Red Bank Regional High School.
The Lady Jaguars compiled a total of 59 points to easily outdistance runner-up Neptune, which had 28. Lakewood finished sixth with 18 points.
“All year, our depth has been the factor that has really put us over the top,” Jackson coach Alton Johnson said. “It is a nice feeling to know that you have that many talented athletes. They have worked hard all season. Our main focus is remaining healthy and performing well at the bigger meets at the end of the season.”
PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Above, Jackson’s Kelly Fortune competes in the high jump competition during the Shore Conference Championships on Sunday in Red Bank. At right, Lakewood’s Shavon Greaves takes the early lead en route to her win in the 55-meter dash, while at left, her teammate, Jan-Noi Jackson competes in the 55-meter hurdles. The Lady Jaguars had just one winner. Jackson’s 4×400 relay team of Jordan Bunch, Nicole Castronouva, Ashley Mlotkiewicz and Lauren Blake captured first place with a time of 4:13.01.
Jackson had little trouble beating second-place Ocean, which finished almost five seconds behind.
“We ran well,” Johnson said. “The race was never in danger. I still think this bunch can shave even more time off that. We’ll keep working to improve.”
Jackson scored additional points by going 2-3 in the 400 meters. Blake finished in second place with a time of 59.01, while Castronouva wasn’t far behind in third (59.60).
“Whenever you can get more than one runner to place in an event, you’re going to pick up valuable points,” Johnson said. “We’re extremely fortunate to be in that position.”
Jenn Clausen battled Monsignor Donovan’s Leah Brogan for the 3,200-meter title.
Brogan outlasted Clausen and won the race in a time of 10:59.25. Clausen posted a time of 11:07.14.
Bryanna Johnson was second in the 55-meter hurdles (8.26) and fifth in the 55-meter dash (7.55). Lakewood’s Shavon Greaves won the 55 dash in a time of 7.36.
Jessica Fortune was second in the high jump with a leap of 5-2. Amanda Marino placed third in the 1,600 meters (5:22.36) and sixth in the 800 (2:26.14).
LHS boys place third
For the boys, Lakewood was third with a total of 23 points. Jackson finished 19th.
Lakewood placed three runners in the 400 meters.
Ruppert Gill was second in a time of 52.08. Teammate Trevor Brown was fifth (52.63) and Cameron Craig was sixth (52.83).
Craig returned and finished third in the 55 dash with a time of 6.69 and Steve Chennels was sixth in the 1,600 (4:39.86).
Emmanuel Mayers was sixth in the 800 (2:06.90).