South sends nine to MOC

By: Sean Richards
   Led by the winning performance of shot putter John Viotto, the South Brunswick High School winter track team worked its usual magic over the weekend at the NJSIAA Group IV State Championships in Toms River.
   By the time it was over, South Brunswick had advanced a whopping nine athletes to the Meet of Champions, which will be held this weekend in Toms River.
   Viotto’s effort (see related story) enabled the Vikings finish eighth overall in the team standings.
   While Viotto’s state title was the highlight of the day, South Brunswick had some other strong showings at well.
   Also earning a medal and a berth in the Meet of Champions was Billy Ricketts, who leaped 6-4 in the high jump to take a fifth. It wasn’t the highest Ricketts has gone, but the No. 1 mission of advancing was accomplished.
   The last Meet of Champions qualifier for the boys was Steve Sample, who ran a new indoor school record of 9:43.55 in the 3,200 to finish eighth. Sample also raised it up a notch by equaling his best outdoor time in this event and smashing the school’s indoor record by a staggering 16 seconds.
   Other noteworthy performances came when Max Checo ran 8.14 in the 55 hurdles to place 12th and Matt Kirbos took a 15th in the same event with a time of 8.18.
   Six South Brunswick girls qualified for the Meet of Champions, starting with another record-breaking showing by freshman standout Sophia Ginez. Finishing eighth in a strong field, Ginez ran a 5:11.71 in the 1,600 to shatter the school’s old record of 5:14.3 that was set 24 years ago by SBHS Hall of Famer Sheila O’Brien in an outdoor race. The tremendous showing by Ginez also lowered her own personal best by a mind-boggling 16 seconds.
   "It’s pretty amazing when you consider she’s only been training about a month," said Moorhead. "And to finish eighth in Group IV as a freshman is remarkable.
   "Sophia has been a very pleasant surprise. We knew she had some talent, but she has worked very hard."
   Also taking an eighth and earning a wildcard spot to the Meet of Champions was Indira Morton, who had a time of 8.81 in the 55 hurdles.
   The final wildcard bid went to the South Brunswick girls’ excellent 4x400team after it also finished eighth with a season-best time of 4:06.64.Competing in that event were, in order, Stephanie McIntyre (60.8), Stephanie Rodriguez (61.3), Jamie Thompson (62.4) and Rebecca Russo (61.9).
   "And all four set new season bests," said Moorhead. "That’s pretty amazing when you think about it."
   Also doing well were Falen Watson (63.35 in the 400), Jennie Smilgis (5:31.38in the 1,600) and Krista Belick (4-10 in the high jump). All three of those efforts were also personal bests.
   The girls will compete in the Meet of Champions Saturday, while the boys will compete on Sunday.