Sample finishes 40th at Meet of Champions

By: Redd E. Patrick
   South Brunswick High School senior Steve Sample finished in 40th place out of a field of 188 at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions, held Saturday at Holmdel Park.
   Sample ran a time of 16:48, which was four seconds off tying the school record for Holmdel Park, set by Matt Randal in 2001. Sample, who barely missed qualifying for the championship meet as a sophomore and who was injured for most of last season, was competing in his first M of C.
   Sample’s goal was to set the school record since he had run 16:44 twice at Holmdel.
   "He didn’t get the record, but Steve really ran a great race," South Brunswick coach Wilfredo Rivera said. "The best runners in the state were here, the fastest runner ever was in this race and I thought Steve more than held his own. To finish 40th against the best of the best is something to be proud of."
   Craig Forys of Colts Neck won the race with the fastest time ever run at Holmdel — 15:16.
   Redd E. Patrick