By: Redd E. Patrick
The South Brunswick High School girls spring track and field program has been recognized as one of the upper-echelon programs in Middlesex County and in Central Jersey over the years under the leadership of veteran coach Brian Jost.
So don’t expect much to change in 2006.
The Vikings have several key athletes returning from last year’s successful team, mixed in with some up-and-coming talent, which has Jost feeling optimistic.
A year ago, South Brunswick finished 5-2 in dual meets, losing to Greater Middlesex Conference and state perennials Piscataway and Old Bridge. The Vikings finished third behind those two at the GMC Relays and sixth in the GMC Individuals, just two points away from fourth.
"We feel we’re better than a year ago," said Jost, entering his final year at the helm. "But the GMC is always so tough. Piscataway and Old Bridge will be strong once again and there are so many other talented teams. We think we should have our share of success."
South Brunswick will be led by junior sprinters Stephanie McIntyre and Yesenia Boynton, who are coming off impressive winter seasons. McIntyre ran a 26.4 in the 200, while Boynton had a personal best of 58.1 in the 400. Junior Indira Morton, the reigning GMC javelin champ, is so valuable because she also a capable scorer in the sprints, jumps and hurdles. Sophomore Falen Watson should help out in the hurdles.
South Brunswick also returns experience in the distance events, led by sophomores Megan Behrend and Jessica Engel as well as senior Tanya Gidej. Sophomores Stephanie Rodriguez and Rebecca Russo are coming off successful freshman seasons in the sprints, jumps and hurdles, while senior Eve Mizerak is an experienced sprinter.
"We’re relatively young," said Jost. "But we have a good mixture of returning athletes in all of the events."
Stephanie Negrotti, a senior sprinter/thrower, is a top newcomer, while Jost feels as though freshmen Ashley Edwards (distance) and Sharon Liu (sprints/hurdles/jumps) will be able to contribute.
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At the GMC Coaches Relay Invitational on Saturday, the Vikings performed admirably in two of the running events they entered. In fact, the team of Mizerak, Simone Hill, Russo and McIntyre won the sprint medley in a time of 4:25.6. Mizerak led off with a 400-meter time of 1:00.2, Hill ran a 200-meter leg of 27.7 and Russo 27.8, while McIntyre closed the deal with a 2:29 anchor in the 800.
The Vikings took second in the distance medley (13:29) behind an all-sophomore team of Engel, Russo, Sara MacMurray and Behrend.
South Brunswick opened the dual-meet season on Tuesday with a 113-26 win over Edison. McIntyre led the assault by winning four events: the 100 in 12.8, the 400 in 1:00.7, the long jump at 16-11 and the triple jump at 33-7¼. As for versatility, Morton showed hers by winning the 200 (27.0) and the javelin (112-11), while Krista Belick won the high jump (4-10) and pole vault (7-6).
Jazmen Burnett was a double winner for the Vikes, taking the shot (31-5) and discus (89-3). Boynton won the 800 (2:41.8), Engel captured the 1600 (5;45) and Behrend the 3200 (12:43), while the team of Hill, MacMurray, Belick and Russo won 4×400 relay (4:36.9).

