By: Neil Hay
The 2005-06 indoor track season culminated for the Peddie School Saturday with the Mid-Atlantic Prep League championships at Lawrenceville Prep.
The Falcon girls recorded three first places as they finished in second place to defending champion Lawrenceville. Rachel Provost was a double winner, taking the 1600 (5:20.6) and 3200 (11:36.0). Sarah Wehrhan added another first place for the locals when she threw the shot 35-7, a mark five inches off the 1986 school record set by Anne Krumrine.
Others placing in their respective events were the 4X400 relay team of Shelley Pearson, Janine Solujich, Tina Soweh and Jaclyn Evans (second, 4:42), Jamie Boccanfuso in the shot (second, 29 4-1/2), Pearson in the high jump (third, 4-3), and Melissa Provost, who was third in the 3200.
Additionally, many of the Falcons saved their best performances of the season for the final meet of the season.
"There were personal bests all over the place," said Coach Mark Gartner.
Rudy Clausen and Paul Burd went one-two for Peddie in the high jump, with both achieving a personal best. Clausen’s winning jump of 5-10 exceeded his previous top leap of 5-8, while Burd cleared 5-6, some four inches better than his best effort.
With the track events finished, most of the competitors at the field house stood around and watched the completion of the high jump. All eyes were focused on the jumpers, and Clausen and Burd soaked in the excitement and atmosphere of the moment, and converted it to the energy needed to fuel their best-ever attempts at the bar.
"The kids were excited. They understood that, although track is a bunch of individual events, it is a team sport and you need an experience like that to drive the point home," said Gartner.
The boys had to settle for fourth, with the Big Red completing the boys and girls sweep. Still, Gartner had no complaints at all.
"(The meet) was about a fantastic group of boys and girls and a great season. It was a joy to go to practice every day."
