By: Sean Richards
After its initial opener was cancelled due to bad weather, the Monroe High School winter track team got its season off to a promising start Monday at the Spiked Shoe Holiday Festival. Competing at the 168th Street New York Armory in New York City, the team broke several school records despite the fact it used the meet more as a way to see how it stands for the upcoming season rather than necessarily sending out its strongest athletes in each event.
"We tried to get the newcomers in as many events as possible to get them experience," said girls coach Jim Cox. "We are going to need them to step up and be competitive on the varsity level for us to be successful. The girls did team very well."
Especially Nicole Ragucci, who got her season off to a dazzling start in three events. A talented sophomore, Ragucci set the school record in the long jump by leaping 15’6½." Ragucci didn’t stop there, however, as she also tied the record in the 55 meter dash in 7.2 and received a third place medal in the 200 meters with a time of 27.3. Ragucci contributed last season as a freshman and is picking right up from last year.
The girls also got some key contributions from freshmen, proving coach Cox right when he said the ninth grade class had some promising newcomers.
Placing in their first high school track meet were freshmen Justina Kupczak and Caitlin Hoskins, who ran the 55 dash in times of 10.8 and 11.0 to respectively finish first and second. Megan Allen, a returning senior, also came out strong by clearing 4-8 in the high jump for the first time in her career.
"Everyone ran well for a season opening meet," said Cox. "It was a good way to get it started."
On the boys front, a school record fell in the 55 meter dash when Billy Phillips blazed down the track in a time of 6.51. Phillips is a returning junior for a team that will be looking for some sprinters to step it up after losses from graduation.
The boys sprint medley team also looked impressive, finishing in fifth place. Running in that event Monday were Adam Modzelewski, Adam Farrah, Billy Phillips and Zack Theinert.
On a related note, Virginia Gonzalez was officially named the head coach of the boys’ winter track team at a school board meeting last week.
The team will be off over the holiday weekend and will return to action on Wednesday at the Jersey Shore Relays at the Atlantic Club in Manasquan. The Greater Middlesex Conference Relays will follow at the Jersey City Armory in early January as both the boys and girls gear up to defend their league titles.

