By: Carolyn M. Hartko
With the grueling winter season behind them, the Monroe Township High School Lady Falcon track and field athletes are looking forward to a spectacular spring. The 2004 squad went 8-0, ending up as the undefeated White Division Champions. Ordinarily, that would be a daunting reputation to live up to, but the Falcons only lost four seniors from that outstanding group in June. So, this year’s goals are every bit as lofty as the girls have come to expect.
"Basically, we want each kid to go out and do her best, and improve," first year head coach Jim Cox said. "We want to win the White Division, and move up in the standings in the (Greater Middlesex Conference) itself. And to qualify as many people as we can, not only for the Group III meet, but possibly for the Meet of Champions as well."
There are usually two or three teams in the White Division that give Monroe a scare during the dual meet season. But this year it is a newcomer that has Cox worried. New Brunswick has a thrower (Tiona Long) who won the shot put at the GMC indoor championships this winter, then went on to place second in Group II and eighth overall at the winter M.O.C.
"They have a very good shot putter," Cox said. "They’ve got some good sprinters and high jumpers this year. And they have a long distance runner who’s pretty good."
Although the Lady Zebras will test the Falcons, Monroe’s depth should give them the advantage. Senior Alison Baumlin and juniors Christina Leili and Megan Boyce will make Long work for points in the throwing events.
Senior Debbie Stelmaszczyk heads up a talented sprint squad that includes junior Sasha Potter, sophomore Katie Mazzio and freshman Nicole Ragucci. Stelmaszczyk can also run the 800, and other middle distance people are juniors Megan Allen, Ali Push and Stephanie Harris.
The longer distances should be solid thanks to sisters Eli and Demaris Segarra, junior Jenna Hetzell and sophomore Kellie Grinzo.
The hurdle squad is mostly sophomores this spring, but Sara Beth Moke, Marie Nemeth, Kelly Campbell and Grinzo all lettered last year. Senior Natasha Bennet and Boyce provide leadership in that event. Bennet and Allen are also high jumpers.
"I think our strength is going to be in the flexibility of our kids," Cox said. "We don’t have kids that are going to be pigeon-holed in one event. We’re going to be able to move them around, have them do different events. This team is a very athletic team and that’s what is going to be our biggest strength."
There was some concern that the numbers are a little down on the girl’s roster this year.
"We have 41 kids on the team," Cox said. "It’s not the greatest turnout, but the kids we do have are the ones that we need out in order to be competitive."
The majority of the GMC teams will open the season at the GMC Coaches Association Relays at South Plainfield this coming weekend, but the Falcons have decided to try something different. Instead, both Monroe squads will be at the Rebel Relays in Howell.
"We’re going to be running against (GMC teams) so often that we decided to try a different direction," Cox said. "We wanted to get our kids against different competition. Plus, they give us an opportunity to run freshmen on Friday night."
The dual meets begin next Tuesday when the Lady Falcons host the Lady Tigers of South Plainfield. Dual meets start at 3:45 P.M.

