BY DOUG McKENZIE
Staff Writer
Both the Old Bridge boys and girls track and field teams entered this weekend’s Greater Middlesex Conference Track and Field Championships as the favorites.
That’s nothing new, as the Knights teams have consistently thrived in that role over the past several years.
This year, however, the South Brunswick girls team felt it had a legitimate shot at knocking off the top-ranked Lady Knights, and went out and did just that at South Plainfield High School on Saturday.
With Yesena Boynton setting the tone with her surprising win in the 400 meters, the Vikings topped the Knights by a mere five points – 74-69. Boynton picked a perfect time to run a personal best 55.94 (a pb by over two seconds), as she beat the heavily favored Asia Washington of Piscataway.
Boynton added a second place in the 800 (2:23.83).
Stephanie McIntyre also took advantage of the GMC Championship stage, jumping 39-7 to win the triple jump, which was a new meet record, while taking second in the long jump (17-3), with teammate Indira Morton in third (17-2).
PHOTOS BY MIGUEL JUAREZ staff At left, East Brunswick’s Erin Comerford is all smiles as she crosses the finish line first in the 3,200-meter race at Saturday’s GMCCHampionships at South Plainfield High School. Above, Old Bridge’s Kira Forbes cruises to a win in her 400-meter heat race. Morton won the girls javelin with a throw of 130-2, beating Spotswood’s Danyelle Dell’Olio (119-03).
Old Bridge got a win from Cristine Marquez in the 800 (2:21.81), while teammate Stephanie Paturzo took third (2:24.23).
The Lady Knights also got points from Ashley Gonzalez (second in the 200, 25.90, and 100, 12.39), Brittany Gibbs (second in the triple jump, 37-7, and fourth in the long jump, 16-10), Sarah Root (sixth in the 3,200, 12:19.45); Jazmine Glover (second in the 400 hurdles, 1:07.18), Kira Forbes (fifth in the 400 hurdles, 1:07.99), Nneka Pile (fifth in the shot put, 35-1), Allyson Cardullo (fourth in the javelin, 111-10) and the 4×400 relay team, which took second behind Piscataway in 3:57.94.
Spotswood’s Valerie Bonczek won the 1,600 in 5:25.82, nearly two seconds ahead of Sayreville’s Heather Miara (5:27.51), while East Brunswick’s Erin Comerford won the girls 3,200 (12:01.66), with teammate Sara Smith in third (12:10.61).
Monroe’s Nicole Ragucci won the pole vault, clearing 9-6.
Also scoring points for their teams on Saturday were Sayreville’s Lynn Mayer (second in the high jump, 5-2), Priscilla Senyah (third in the 100 hurdles, 15.57, and the 100, 12.43), Suannette Rios (sixth in the javelin, 108-2), Holly Miara (sixth in the pole vault, 7-6) and Meghan Miller (sixth in the 400 hurdles, 1:087.79); North Brunswick’s Danae Wise (second in the 100 hurdles, 15.40, and third in the 400 hurdles, 1:07.43); East Brunswick’s Naomi Stahl (sixth in the 400, 59.14), Meghan Herbst (fifth in the discus, 102-6), Marissa Nadeau (third in the high jump, 5-2), Evelyn Sha (fifth in the high jump, 5-0) and Brittni Rodriguez (fourth in the 100, 12.45); Monroe’s Ragucci (fourth in the 400, 57.42, and fifth in the long jump, 16-6) and Elizabeth Segarra (fourth in the 1,600, 5:31.35); and Sayreville’s 4×400 relay team (sixth, 4:20.81).
Old Bridge was the boys champion (134 and 1/2 points), followed by South Brunswick (55), East Brunswick (38), St. Joseph (36 and 1/4) and Metuchen (35).
The four-time defending champion Knights were as dominant as ever, winning five events, taking second in two others and placing in 14 of 16 events.
As expected, Bryant McCombs led the way, winning both the 200 (21.74) and 400 (47.96). But what wasn’t expected was the challenge he got from his best friend and teammate, Allan Lunkenheimer, who took second in both events. While Lunkenheimer used a late kick to get close to McCombs in the 200, where he crossed the line in 21.90, he really pushed the brilliant McCombs in the 400.
With McCombs seemingly in control on the final turn, Lunkenheimer turned it on, catching the defending MOC champ, with McCombs only beating him with a lean at the line – 47.96-47.98.
With the state meets still to come, don’t expect Lunkenheimer to take McCombs by surprise anymore.
Old Bridge also got wins from Jamaar Figueroa in the discus, who won the event with a mark of 170-0, Matt Ciambriello in the 1,600 (4:23.96), and Ken Cardullo in the javelin (182-8), who just beat teammate Brian Florek (179-5).
Figueroa also took second in the shot put (51-8), while teammate David Ibrahim was fifth (47-1).
The other Knight athletes to score points on Saturday were James Hauser
(fourth in the 800, 2:00.06), Nick Carbone (fifth in the 800, 2:00.86), Pat Lyman (sixth in the 800 (2:01.30), Hirsha Venkataraman (sixth in the 3,200, 10:0387), Jeff St. Florant (third in the 110 hurdles, 15.12, second in the long jump, 21-5, and fourth in the triple jump, 42-6, and fourth in the high jump, 6-0), Paul Racioppi (fifth in the 400 hurdles, 57.33), John Miller (third in the discus, 143-3), Phil Payne (sixth in the javelin, 156-7), Cardullo (third in the triple jump, 42-8, and fifth in the high jump, 6-0) and the 4×400 relay team, which took fourth in 3:28.22.
South Brunswick was led by William Ricketts win in the high jump, were he cleared the bar at 6-2, and Justin Delpiano’s win on the pole vault (14-0). Teammate Kyle Wadiak took third in the pole vault (11-6).
East Brunswick’s third-place team effort was led by Jeremiah Lachaud’s win in the 100 meters (11.25), and Justin Granit’s second-place in the 1,600 (4:24.51).
Spotswood’s Brad Schepise won the 3,200 in 9:46.62, just ahead of East Brunswick’s Eric Sorkin (9:46.74). Monroe’s Scott Roman was third in 9:48.08.
Among the other local athletes to score points on Saturday were Monroe’s Zach Theinert (second in the 800, 1:58.38); Spotswood’s Kyle Price (third in the 1,600, 4:25.33); Sayreville’s Aaron Ampabeng (fifth in the 1,600, 4:31.79) and Shaune Thomas (sixth in the long jump, 20-6); and East Brunswick’s Dan Gilbert (sixth in the 1,600, 4:31.95), Szymon Bykowski (second in the pole vault, 11-6) and Daniel O’Sullivan (fourth in the pole vault, 11-0).