By: Sean Richards
It only figures arguably the greatest season in the history of South Brunswick High School winter track would end with yet another outstanding performance.
Competing at Nationals in both Maryland and New York over the weekend, the Vikings came up with a whole host of tremendous showings against the very best in the entire country.
Leading the way was Stephanie McIntyre, who solidified her standing as one the top jumpers in the nation with a fourth-place leap of 39-2½ in the triple jump in Maryland on Saturday.
Back in action in New York on Sunday, McIntyre was again in great form as she took another fourth with a triple jump of 39-7¾. It was the fifth time she jumped over 39-feet this year and tied the second-best showing of her career.
"And the timing of it was amazing," said coach Stefan Moorhead. "The meet in Maryland Saturday didn’t get over until 8 o’clock. Stephanie didn’t get home until 2 a.m. and with the time change and everything, she only got four hours of sleep before heading to New York.
"She was a little disappointed she didn’t jump 40 feet, but you have to remember the triple jump is not an easy event. To be able to place fourth at both meets in that amount of time was really impressive."
McIntyre wasn’t the only one making history as the Vikings got off to a great start in the first day of the Nationals in New York on Friday. At that meet, the girls shuttle hurdle team of Indira Morton (8.7), Danielle Hudak (9.1), Stephanie Rodriguez (9.0) and Falen Watson (9.0) ran a strong time of 36.01 to finish ninth in an ultra-competitive 20-team field. The race was also run over five hurdles as opposed to the normal four shuttle races.
Morton made her mark in the long jump that day as well with a leap of 16-3, which left her just short of placing in the top six.
Also at the Nike Nationals in Maryland on Saturday, Sophia Ginez earned All-America status by finishing sixth in the freshman mile in a time of5:12.67. It was the fourth time this year she bettered her own school record.
"It really showed where Sophia is," said Moorhead.
Four other athletes earned All-American status in Maryland by finishing in the top six when the boys shuttle hurdle team of Max Checo (7.8), Josh Checo (7.9), T.J. Taikina (8.2), and Matt Kirbos (7.5) ran 31.65 to take a third. The time broke the school record set by the same group earlier this year, and was also run over five hurdles instead of the usual four.
"The boys really came together in that race," said Moorhead. "To run a race like that at Nationals made it even more special. Kirbos ran a great anchor because 7.5 is a really fast time."
Just missing All-American honors in Maryland was Morton, who finished seventh in the pentathlon with 2,851 points. That left her just 15 points shy of sixth, which is a very small margin, indeed, when you consider all the points awarded in that event.

