Lawrence outdoor track
By: Jim Green
It had gotten to the point where Janelle Fuller wasn’t sure she even wanted to throw the discus anymore.
The Lawrence High School junior, preferring to focus on the shot put where she is among the best in the state had only been competing in the discus to help her team in an area of need. With the discus no longer a weakness for the Cardinals this season, Lawrence coach Dave O’Neal held her out of the event during his team’s season-opening dual meet April 6.
But Fuller’s drive to compete that has made her one of the best shot putters in New Jersey would not allow her to simply drop an event. So she had O’Neal reinsert her into the discus for Saturday’s Wrobo Invitational at Notre Dame, and she assured herself of never being taken out again, throwing a career best 99-1 to win the event.
"She was questioning herself going into it," O’Neal said. "She was like, ‘Wow, the competition is a lot better than I thought.’ Then she just dialed it up. She came up huge. Her PR (personal record) last year was in the low 80s. There was no indication that (99-1) was coming. She just had a big day, which was great."
Fuller also won her specialty, the shot put, with a throw of 36-7 ¾, breaking Lawrence class of 2004 graduate Devin Picott’s meet record. Another outstanding effort was put forth by junior Nicole McMullen, who won the long jump at 15-8 ½ and placed fourth in the 100 (12.6) and third in the triple jump (30-6 ½).
"Nicole McMullen had a solid day," O’Neal said. "That was good."
Senior Paige Sims was fifth in the 100 (12.8), while junior Elise Perkins backed up Fuller with a strong second-place throw of 33-10 in the shot put.
On the boys side, fine performances came, as usual, from the Cardinals’ deep stable of shot putters, as well as LipingChao who placed fifth in the javelin at 150-1 and senior Brian Scott in the 110 hurdles. Scott finished with a time of 15.6 in the 110 hurdles, continuing his vast improvement from last year.
"On the guys side, the biggest performance was Brian Scott in the 110 hurdles," O’Neal said. "He’s dropped a second and a half off his best performance from last season. He’s having a monster season we didn’t expect. It’s been pleasant to watch. He’s a four-year varsity senior who got this way with hard work."
The Cardinals also had some fine showings in the freshman/sophomore meet, with Danai Lendor and Kelly Watson teaming to win the 2×400 hurdles (2:24.4) for the girls team. Those two then were joined by Andy Sandoval for a victory in the 3×100 hurdles (55.2). Vanessa Kong and Tara Gillins performed well in the long jump.
"We’ve been pleased," O’Neal said. "Tara’s had some very good performances. She’s definitely going to add to our team. Everything from (100) to 400 meters, she’s been running very well."
On the boys side, the long-jumping pairs of sophomores Justin Fine and Peter Musial and freshmen Ernie Carnivale and Travis McAchen impressed, and the relay team of Chandell Fuqua, Domque Douglas, McAchen and Carnivale finished in 50.5 in the 4×100 and 1:48.0 in the 4×200.
"Our freshmen boys looked very strong," O’Neal said. "They were definitely some of the fastest athletes on the track. That’s a very good sign. I’m very pleased with everything."
The Cardinals were coming off a fine opening dual meet April 6 at Nottingham, where the girls topped the Northstars 112 ½-27 ½, and the boys pulled out a 68-68 tie.
For the girls, McMullen won the 200, the 400 and the long jump, and Lendor captured the 100 hurdles and 400 hurdles, as the Cardinals won 13 of 15 events. The boys got wins from Brian Scott in the 110 and 400 hurdles, Danilo Giaquinto in the 400, Dave Azer in the 1,600, Brendan O’Brien in the 3,200, Mike Spanicietti in the pole vault, Emanuele Lalota in the shot put and Bill Wolverton in the discus.
Lawrence will look to keep its positive momentum going at the Mercer County Relays, which begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Steinert.
"We’re looking to do very well," O’Neal said. "On the guys side, we should do better at the relays than the individuals. Our depth should help us. On the girls side, just about every relay we put on the track will have a chance to place, and Janelle and Elise could do very well as a team."

