By: Sean Richards
It certainly didn’t take the South Brunswick High School winter track team very long to generate a lot of excitement this season.
Opening its campaign at the Bishop Loughlin games in New York City Saturday, the Vikings made a smashing debut in one of the most prestigious events of its kind in the tri-state area. And "smashing" is the operative word because that’s just what the Vikings did to some records as South Brunswick took home an impressive four medals at the oldest and largest indoor track meet in the nation.
At the top of the list was the performance turned in by senior co-captain Stephanie McIntyre, who finished second with a triple jump of 39-5. That jumped easily broke the Middlesex County record and was the third best in the history of New Jersey indoor track.
"That was amazing; it was the one that really stood out," said coach Stefan Moorhead. "I mean we’re talking bout a jump that was of a national-level performance. And it came with the season just getting started."
McIntyre wasn’t the only Viking making noise at the 168th Street Armory. Senior Bill Ricketts finished fourth in the high jump as he tied a personal record with a 6-4. Senior John Viotto also took a fourth after a throw of 51-7.5 in the shot put that tied his personal record.
Junior Khalid Weston wasted no time as well showing why Moorhead described him as one of the "top newcomers" to the team. All Weston did was finish fifth in the high jump with a leap of 21-5¼ and set a school record in the process.
"We really did have a great start," said Moorhead. "To get four medals is one of the best showings we’ve had in a long, long time. There’s just so much competition there with like 5,000 people."
South Brunswick’s strong performances weren’t just limited to the medal winners. Making a great debut were a pair of freshmen in Melissa Dardani and Jenny Smilgis. Dardani ran the 300 in 45.9 while Smilgis ran the 1,000 in 3.22.
"They both did very well," said Moorhead. "Considering it was their first varsity meet with all the nerves and everything, those really were good times." Other girls who came up big were Indira Morton in the 55 hurdles in a time of 9.26 and Krista Belick, who turned in a 8-0 in the pole vault
Making the girls showing even more encouraging was the fact they accomplished all of this without the services of Yesenia Boynton. A standout senior sprinter who has received a track scholarship to the University of Delaware, Boynton probably will be out until mid-January with a foot injury.
Junior sprinter Kris Raghaven showed he’s ready to go as well. Raghavan ran a 37.74 in the 300 and was part of the 4×200 relay team that turned in a 1:37.56. Also competing in that event were Matt Kirbos, Zach Ryan and Weston.
South Brunswick was to have competed Wednesday against East Brunswick in sort of a glorified scrimmage in which scores were not kept. It’s next big event will come Wednesday when it returns to the New York City Armory to complete in the Holiday Classic Relays.

