Todorovic, Brozyna lead way
By: Rudy Brandl
Two athletes who weren’t part of the team last year made mighty contributions to lead Manville High to its first victory of the 2006 track and field season.
Senior sprinter Rafal Brozyna and sophomore distance runner Sasa Todorovic combined for six first places to power the Mustangs to an 84-48 triumph at Roselle Park. Brozyna, a standout soccer player who is competing in track for the first time, won the 200 (25.3) and 400 (55.0) and ran the anchor leg on the 4×400 relay (4:03). Todorovic, the emerging cross country star, posted a distance triple with victories in the 800 (2:19), 1,600 (4:58) and 3,200 (11:47).
"I’m a little upset that Rafal didn’t come out a few more years," junior teammate Mike Knitowski said. "He’s really good."
Knitowski continued his solid spring campaign by winning an individual gold in the long jump (18-8) and running the third leg on the winning relay. He also finished second in the triple jump (37-6½) at Roselle Park.
Chris Kocur doubled in the hurdling events and prevailed in the 110 highs (20.1) and 400 intermediates (1:05). Other MHS winners were Leo Rodriguez in the 100 (12.7) and Dan Pierrot in the high jump (5-0). Kocur and Luke Bogdanowicz ran the first two legs on the relay.
After starting the season with tough losses to Bound Brook and North Plainfield, the Mustangs reached the win column at Roselle Park. It’s likely they would have swept the scheduled tri-meet but Technology got mixed up and traveled to the wrong site.
"They’re all excited and their emotional sense was better after we won," MHS head coach Michelle Mongillo said. "They’re a little more confident now."
The Mustangs won every event on the track but Roselle Park dominated the weights. The Panthers enjoyed a 22-5 edge in points in the throws, but Manville had a 79-26 edge in the running, hurdling and jumping events.
Although MHS dominated the first places, the team added many points for second and third. Other point scorers for the Mustangs included Bogdanowicz in the 400 hurdles (2nd, 1:06.2) and 110 hurdles (3rd, 20.9), Jack Calvo in the 800 (2nd, 2:27) and 1,600 (2nd, 5:16), Rodriguez in the 200 (2nd, 25.9), long jump (3rd, 15-8) and triple jump (3rd, 33-5), Roland Yakobchuk in the 3,200 (3rd, 13:00), Kocur in the javelin (3rd, 104-3), Mark Manderski in the shot put (2nd, 34-1) and discus (3rd, 87-0), David Le in the high jump (2nd, 4-11) and Dawid Brozyna in the high jump (3rd, 4-10).
The Mustangs performed just as well, if not better, but it wasn’t enough in Thursday’s dual meet at Dunellen. The Destroyers, much like last year, had a little too much firepower and posted an 80-42 victory despite many personal-best performance from the Manville athletes.
Knitowski posted Manville’s only two first places of the meet, winning the long jump (19-1) and triple jump (37-1). Knitowski also took second in the 400 (58.5).
Four MHS athletes who placed notched personal-bests. Bogdanowicz was second in the 110 high hurdles in 20.1, Todorovic took third in the 800 in 2:18, Manderski hit 36-9¾ for second in the shot put and Kocur hurled the javelin 111-10 to take third.
"We had a lot of personal-bests but Dunellen just dominated," Mongillo said. "They have a lot of good runners. They beast us the same way as last year."
Mongillo was particularly impressed by the performance of Bogdanowicz, who took second in both hurdling events including the 400 intermediates (1:06.7) and ran a 58-second split to lead off the 4×400 relay. Todorovic also ran well but was outgunned by a pair of talented runners from Dunellen.
"Sasa’s been great," Mongillo said. "He just wants to run and that’s great. I’ll be using him in three events."
Todorovic also finished third in the 1,600 (5:01) and 3,200 (11:18). Other MHS athletes scoring points for third place were Rodriguez in the 100 (12.3), Jason Pfoutz in the 400 (62.0), Kocur in the 110 highs (20.2) and Matt Golen in the 200 (26.3).
The MHS girls have been performing well at recent meets. Thursday’s competition at Dunellen produced several personal-bests.
Marzena Brozyna hit personal records in the 1,600 (3rd, 6:23) and 100 hurdles (2nd, 19.8). Other Manville girls running or jumping their best Thursday included Ashley Shields in the triple jump (2nd, 27-6), Angelika Lazur in the 100 hurdles (3rd, 20.5), Gabby Firak in the 1,600 (2nd, 6:12), Evanna Tchir in the 400 (3rd, 1:22.0) and Casey Shields in the 800 (3rd, 3:00).
The Manville girls didn’t win any events at Dunellen but gained many second and third places. Ashley Shields finished second in the 100 and 200, Lazur was second in the 400 hurdles, third in the 200 and third in the high jump, Sylwia Kolodziej took third in the 100, Firak was second in the 3,200, Brozyna took second in the 800 and third in the long jump and Monika Ozieblo placed second in the 400.
Lazur led the way with two first places at Roselle Park, winning the high jump (3-10) and 400 hurdles (1:26). Ozieblo prevailed in the 800 (3:02), Lorena Rivera captured the javelin (54-5) and Lucy Yakobchuk took the long jump (13-11¼).
Other girls’ highlights from Roselle Park included Nikki Jerzewski finishing second in the 400 hurdles (1:29) and third in the 100 hurdles (22.3), Marzena Brozyna finishing second in the 1,600 (6:42) and 100 hurdles (21.5) and Kate Harodetsky taking third in the 1,600 (7:00).
Manville’s athletes were scheduled to host Dayton and Oratory in a tri-meet before going back on the road to take on Middlesex Friday.

