Adam Kuehl and Adam Sarafian, two of the most successful high school track and field athletes from the area, are continuing to star in college.
Kuehl, the state discus champion from Monmouth Regional, backed up his All-American performance for the University of Arizona at the NCAA Division I Championships by finishing fourth at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships held in Carson, Calif., last weekend. Kuehl got off his best throw of the season, 199-3, placing himself among the country’s very best throwers.
A sophomore at Arizona, Kuehl threw long and well all season. He was third at the Pac-10 Championships and fourth at the NCAAs leading up to the USA Track and Field Nationals.
At Monmouth, Kuehl set the still-standing Shore Conference discus record of 209-0. He won multiple State Group III championships, and in his senior year he won the Golden West Invitational and Penn Relays crowns in the discus.
He was red-shirted as a freshman at Arizona and competed unattached. He would win the Junior National title and go on to the Pan Am Junior Games in Bridgetown, Barbados, where he earned a silver medal.
Sarafian, the former Ocean Township star, is just beginning his career. He just completed his freshman season at the University of Georgia. Last weekend, the high-flying pole vaulter competed in the USA Outdoor Junior Track and Field Championships, finishing third at 16-4 3/4.
At Georgia this year, Sarafian had a season-best 16-7 1/4 at the NCAA Regional, where he tied for sixth.
Sarafian was the No. 1 high school pole vaulter in the country last year. He won the Golden West and Nike Outdoor National championships and dominated New Jersey pole vaulting by setting a number of state and Shore Conference records. He raised the state record to 17-4 1/2 and won the NJSIAA Meet of Champions.
— Tim Morris