The Penn Relays can bring out the best in track and field athletes, and that was the case for the area’s scholastic stars.
Rumson-Fair Haven’s girl’s 4×400 relay team turned its best time of the year and nudged closer to a sub-4:00 clocking with their 4:02.10. The quartet of Gabriel Kelly, Jaime Carrol, Sara Robinson and Melissa Bellin finished sixth in their heat of the 4×400.
Shore Regional’s quartet of Jamie Pointer, Glenda Pietri, Cameo Kirk and Alicia Balde clocked 4:13.22 and were fourth in their heat.
Red Bank Catholic’s team of Adrianna Tacapino, Christina Stern, Courtney Gannon and Megan Goldstein were 11th in their 4×400 heat (4:21.77).
The Caseys’ Erin Lunny was 24th in the girl’s 3,000-meter run (11:00.84). The race was one by Shore Conference star Ashley Higginson of Colts Neck, who defended her 2006 title with a 9:37.91.
Monmouth Regional’s boys indoor state championship 4×400 team of Kelly Fisher, Rashon Verrett, Chris Cox and Charles Cox finished third in their heat, running 3:18.19. They were just .12 from qualifying for the final.
Christian Brothers Academy’s team of Charles Rooney, Mike Slater, Bill Sharpe and Justin Cornell posted a 3:31.49 in finishing eighth in their heat.
Shore Regional got a 3:31.97 from Mike Hendricks, Demitiri Alicakos, Trevor Hewitt and Derek Schultz in placing fourth in their 4×400 heat.
Ocean Township’s girls were second in their heat of the 4×100 taking the stick around the track in 50.56. The Spartans were Kayriyyah Parham, Naeemah Johnson, Kendra Scott and Georgina Nembhard.
RBC’s 4×800 team of Janine Louie, Katie Andree, Katie Rochford and Michelle Savarese ran a 9:44.94 in finishing 14th in their Large School race.
CBA’s foursome of Mike Slater, Charlie Rooney, Christian Yuskevich and Brendon Pierson were sixth in the boy’s Large School 4×800 posting an 8:02.90 in their heat.
Ocean Township’s Dan Hitman was eighth in the boys javelin with a 180-0 effort.
The relay season is now behind the track and field athletes and it’s on to the championship season, which begins next week with the Monmouth County Championships at Neptune High School. The meet will be held over two days, starting Thursday.
– Tim Morris