Peddie’s Provost scores wins in pair of Prep meets

By: Neil Hay
   The winter track season is quickly drawing to a close, with both the Mid-Atlantic Prep League and state prep championships already in the books. The Peddie boys and girls teams have just one dual meet remaining, tomorrow, against visiting Hill.
   In Saturday’s Mid-Atlantic Prep League championships at Lawrenceville, the boys and girls teams combined for 19 (out of a possible 45) personal bests. Said Coach Mark Gartner, "We had a really good day. I was very pleased with the personal bests. They came at the right time."
   Six boys teams were scheduled to compete, but for some unknown reason Blair was a no-show. Peddie finished third, with Lawrenceville placing first by a comfortable margin.
   Among the highlights for the boys were third-place finishes by Kellen Allen (8.7 in the 55 high hurdles), Ronnie Tang (a 23.8 personal best in the 200), and Robert Warfield (11:29.6 3200). The 4X400 relay of Alex Amodol, Cal Furbert, Evan Himchak and Tang placed second in 3:50.
   Rachel Provost turned in two firsts and a second to help lead the Peddie girls to a second-place team finish, behind the Big Red.
   "That’s about as well as I had hoped," said Gartner of the girls team showing.
   Provost won the 1600 (5:29.8) and 3200 (12:08.8) and added a second in the 800 (2:26.1). In the 400 Kate Mauelli was third (67.7) and Sarah Guilbert fourth, with a personal best 2:30.5. Also taking third in their respective event were high-jumper Janine Solujich (4-10, tying her personal best), Courtney McCarthy (28.1 200, a personal best), and Natalie Evans (13:29.8 3200, a personal best by about 23 seconds). Evans also had a personal best (by about eight seconds) of 5:56.7 in the 1600.
   In the shot Barbarajean Grundlock was second (32-10, a personal best by 8½ inches) and Emilie Joseph fourth (31-8 ½). Freshman Jamie Boccanfuso also had a personal best (28 2-1/4) as she finished fifth.
   In the 4X400 McCarthy, Solujich, Guilbert and Manuelli ran 4:30.1, a season best by eight seconds and good for third place.
   On Wednesday at Lawrenceville Peddie was one of 10 boys and girls teams competing in the state prep championships. While the boys were unable to have any athlete qualify for finals in any event, there were a number of personal bests. Team wise, however, the Falcons finished well off the pace and toward the bottom of the standings. Lawrenceville and Seton Hall were the top two teams overall.
   The picture was much brighter on the girls’ side as Peddie took second place behind the Big Red. Provost was a double winner, capturing the 1600 (5:20.8, a personal best) and 3200 (11:55.5). In the 4X400 relay Manuelli, Jaclyn Evans, Tina Sowah and Solujich were second in 4:32. Joseph’s 34-foot distance was second in the shot. Solujich (4-10 high jump) and McCarthy (7.4 in the 55) scored third-place points. Overall, the girls posted greatly improved times compared to the MAPL meet just a few days earlier.