Monroe girls look to develop

By: Redd E. Patrick
   The Monroe High School girls track and field team is coming off a 9-0 dual-meet campaign, the nucleus of that team is back, yet coach Jim Cox is cautiously optimistic about the 2006 season.
   "We have some talented kids who will lead us, but we have to be able to compete at a high level in every meet," said Cox. "We have a lot of kids in the program, but we have a lot of young kids who need time to develop. But we’re optimistic about the season."
   The Falcons began the dual-meet season with a 79-62 victory over South Plainfield on Tuesday. Sophomore Nicole Ragucci, who will lead the way this spring, won the 800 (2:37), the pole vault (9-0) and the long jump (15-8), while taking second in the 100 (12.0).
   Ragucci is coming off a stellar winter season in which she ran 57.86 in the 400 meters and cleared 9-0 in the pole vault. Both were the best marks in Middlesex County.
   "Nicole is developing into a special athlete," said Cox. "She sprints, jumps and pole vaults. She ran 56 (in the 4×400) in the relay on Saturday and cleared 9-0 in the pole vault."
   The Falcons will also be bolstered by the presence of the Segarra sisters, senior Elizabeth and sophomore Damaris. Elizabeth Segarra is a proven distance runner on the cross country/track circuit, while Damaris keeps improving on both stages.
   "Nicole and the Segarras are big strengths for us," said Cox. "Ely and Damaris are hard working kids who make us strong in the distance events."
   In the dual meet vs. South Plainfield, the Segarra sisters went up against Nicole Miglis of South Plainfield, the defending GMC champion in the 800 and 1600. Miglis won both events, but the Falcon girls were right there.
   Miglis won the 800 in 2:37, while Elizabeth was second in 2:40 and Damaris third in 2:44. Miglis won the 1600 in 5:42 with Elizabeth second at 5:44 and Damaris third in 5:54.
   In the hurdling events, senior Megan Allen and junior Sara Beth Moke will be scoring the points for Monroe. In the dual-meet victory, Allen won the 400-meter intermediate hurdles in 1:15, while Moke won the 100-meter high hurdles in 18.2.
   In the weight events, senior Christina Leili is the key for Monroe. Against South Plainfield, Monroe dominated in the field with Leili doing her part as a double winner. Leili won the shot at 31-1 and the discus with a mark of 94-4. Leilli will receive help from sophomore Jennifer Tsang, who won the javelin with a heave of 93-3. Tsang is a versatile competitor who also triple jumps.
   Allie Push, who won the 3200 in 13:44 in the dual, is another key person as she complements the Segarras in distance events.
   "We have a solid nucleus of kids who we feel confident in," said Cox. "We also have a good group of promising freshman who could help us. They are Danielle Rotundo in the sprints, jumps and pole vault, Caitlin Hoskins in the sprints and hurdles and Justina Kupczak in the hurdles and 3200. These are versatile kids who cover a lot of areas for us."
   REDD ENDS: On Saturday at the GMC Coaches Relay Invitational, Monroe finished second in the Division II pole vault as Ragucci (9-0) and Rotundo (6-0) combined to clear 15-0. Monmouth Regional won the event at 15-6. The 4×800 team of Elizabeth Segarra, Damaris Segarra, Allen and senior Stephanie Harris ran 10:38.4. West Windsor-Plainsboro South won the event with a time of 10:29.5. The Falcons will be competing at the Wrobo Relays on Saturday at Notre Dame High School in Trenton.