Ragucci learns lessons and earns gold

By: Redd E. Patrick
   Nicole Ragucci learned a valuable lesson at the GMC Track & Field Championships on Saturday.
   She realized if you want to be like the best, you have to think like the best.
   Lining up in the 400-meter dash against the likes of state-caliber athletes Asia Washington and Michelle Losey of Piscataway and Yesenia Boynton of South Brunswick, the Monroe High School sophomore was star-struck.
   "You read about them all the time and now here you are up against them," said Ragucci. "The race is about to start and all of a sudden it’s on your mark, set, go. And when the race starts it’s like ‘wow, they are fast.’ So I was pretty intimidated. And when I found myself behind them, realizing I couldn’t catch them, I was very frustrated."
   For the record, Boynton won in upset fashion, 55.94, while Washington ran 55.95 and Losey in 56.43. All three of those seniors, who are all scholarship performers, are expected to place at this year’s Meet of Champions. Ragucci, who has a personal best of 56.5, was fourth in 57.42.
   "I want to be in their class someday," said Ragucci. "And I think I’m pretty close. Even though I was upset, I’m hoping to use this as a learning experience, so the next time I’m in a race with that kind of competition, I will be more confident."
   Ragucci did not let her fourth-place performance get to her head because she went out later and won the pole vault competition, leaping 9-6 to win handily. Ragucci tied a personal best.
   "I had three attempts at 10 feet and I came the closest ever to going over," said Ragucci. "I was talking to a pole vaulter at the meet and he said 10 feet is like a speed bump. It takes a while to get over that mark. I was a little frustrated, but my mom videotaped it and said I had good form. I went over 10 feet for the first time ever in practice the other day. So we still have big meets coming up to make it official and I think it’s possible."
   Ragucci completed her day by placing fifth in the long jump with a personal best 16-6 1/2.
   "Overall I was a little frustrated," said Ragucci. "But looking back, it was a pretty good day. It’s something I can build on."
   Monroe scored 20 points as a team with the other points coming from Ely Segarra, who placed fourth in the 1600 in 5:31.35.
   The Falcons raised their record to 7-1 with a lopsided dual-meet victory over Colonia on Tuesday. Ragucci won four events, the 100 (12.2), 200 (26.0), 400 (59.0) and long jump (15-0).
   In the boys GMC meet, one of the big surprises of the day was the second-place finish of Monroe’s Zach Theinert in the 800 meters. Terell Cheatham of John F. Kennedy made a late kick to win the event in 1:57.50 and Theinert, a junior, took second in 1:58.38.
   Theinert, who set a new school record this season in the 800, lowered that mark by breaking the magical 2:00 barrier for the first time.
   "He’s a beast," said head coach Frank Bonich. "He keeps getting better so now we’re hopeful for the sectionals."
   The Falcons finished with 14 points as Scott Roman took third in the 1600 in a time of 9:48.08.
   The boys team improved to 5-1 in duals with a 97-36 triumph over Colonia on Tuesday. Mike Barszcz was a double-winner, taking the 110 hurdles in 15.7 and the intermediates in 59.3. Monroe swept the weights as Ed Niedzielski won the shot (42-1), Austin Tsang won the discus (120-10) and Matt Sussman captured the javelin (126-5).
   The Monroe boys and girls will close the dual-meet season on Tuesday with North Brunswick. Then it’s on to the Central Jersey Sectionals a week from Saturday at Monmouth Regional High School.