MHS youth impresses

By: Redd E. Patrick
   Monroe High School girls track coach Jim Cox is looking to build his program with youth.
   On Tuesday, in a tri-meet rout over Carteret (126-14) and Mother Seton (108.5-31.5), youth was served. And Thursday at the Penn Relays, that youth likely grew up in a hurry.
   In the dual-meet triumphs, which raised the Falcons record to 5-1, freshmen Megan Olexson and Danielle Rotundo each cleared 6-6 to finish 1-2 in the pole vault.
   "We have five kids who can clear 6-6 and they’re all freshmen or sophomores," said Cox, who has close to 30 freshmen and sophomores combined. "The dual meet was a good day for us because we were able to get a good workout and it gave the younger kids an opportunity to compete.
   Plus, it gave a chance for Ely Segarra, our top distance runners, a chance to the run the 100 and 200 and she was second in the 200 (29.0). And Nicole Ragucci fooled around in the 800 and ran 2:32."
   Ragucci, just a sophomore, is an emerging standout in the GMC. She has personal bests of 9-6 in the pole vault, 16-7 in the long jump. 12.0 in the 100, 25.9 in the 200 and 56.8 in the 400.
   ""Nicole has an incredible amount of potential," said Cox. ""And she has a good work ethic to go with it."
   Ragucci hoped to lead the Falcons to a strong effort at Thursday’s Penn Relays where over 600 schools from around the country and beyond competed before thousands of fans in the 4×100 and 4×400.
   In the 4×100, Rotundo, Caitlin Hoskins, Katie Lepri and Ragucci lined up on Franklin Field’s famed oval.
   "We’re looking for the kids to get a great experience because it’s two freshmen and two sophomores," said Cox prior to the meet. ""And a time under 52 seconds would be nice too."
   In the 400, Ragucci, Ely Segarra and Damaris Segarra joined another freshman, Margaret Nawracaj.
   "Even though we have two distance runners on the 4×400 team (the Segarras), we’re hoping to run 4:11, 4:10," said Cox. "And if things work out, maybe we could shoot for the school record of 4:06."
   Monroe is looking to be a factor at the GMC Relays, which will be contested on Tuesday and Wednesday at 4 p.m. at South Brunswick High School.
   The Falcons aren’t expected to win the team title, but there are selected events Cox feels his team can win.
   In the 4×1600, Monroe will give it a shot with the Segarras, Allie Push and Stephanie Harris. In the distance medley, the Falcons won the GMC Relays indoor title, so Damaris Segarra, Ragucci, Megan Allen and Ely Segarra will look to make it a sweep. Led by Ragucci, who will be looking to clear 10 feet in the pole vault, the Falcons will look to win that event as well.
   The Monroe boys, expected to battle John F. Kennedy for the White Division title in two weeks, improved to 4-0 with a 128-3 romp over Carteret on Tuesday.
   Monroe turned in a team effort as 12 different athletes won an event, including Billy Phillips, who won the 100 (11.2) and 200 (23.0) and Joe Ferro, who won the 110 hurdles (17.2) and 400 intermediate hurdles (1:03.8).