BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
Craig Forys led the assault by area track and field athletes on the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV meet record book last weekend.
The incomparable Colts Neck runner broke the section meet records for the 1,600 (4:15.41) and the 3,200 (9:24.36).
The equally impressive Ashley Higginson got in on the record action, with the Cougar taking down the girl’s 1,600 record (4:50.14), and Marlboro’s Kristen Batts continued her record-breaking spring taking the girl’s discus record out to 147-8.
The trio captured five of the seven state sectional crowns won by Freehold Regional District athletes at the two-day meet held at Hillsborough High School.
Forys set his first record on Friday in the 1,600, where he followed a modest pace for first 800 meters (2:15.1) and then just took off with 700 to go.
“There really wasn’t any plan,” said the state and national champion. “Coach [Jim Schlentz] told me to just figure it out. I can’t wait anymore. I kind of just went.”
A 60.5 third lap separated Forys from the pack and a 59.8 closer ensured the win and, a new meet record, breaking the old mark of 4:19.3 by Ian Waterhouse of Rancocas Valley in 2004.
After the race, Forys was happy for the runner-up, Robby Andrews of Manalapan.
“Rob ran an awesome race,” he said.
Andrews closed with 2:01 800 and enjoyed his breakthrough race at that distance, a 4:17.94. It was the first time under 4:20 for the promising sophomore.
“I stayed with the lead pack,” noted Andrews. “I was looking to race and not just kick at the finish.”
His sub-60 final lap brought him from sixth to second.
Saturday, Forys snatched the 3,200 record, 9:24.8 set by Marlboro’s Nick Pellegrino in 2000, without really trying. After five laps in the 70-plus second lap range, the Cougar threw down the gauntlet, increasing his speed to 66.3, 65.2 and 65.1 for his final three laps, leaving everyone to race for second. His 9:24.36 at the line gave him his second meet record.
Andrews’ breakout 1,600 paid dividends Saturday when he won his first NJSIAA title in the 800. He would count on kick this time to win a photo from Jackson’s Monroe Kearns. Andrews was time in 1:56.66 and Kearns, 1:56.67. A narrow, but important win for the Brave.
In that race, Freehold Township’s Ryan Spadola was fourth (1:58.40).
Higginson took down the meet record of her rival Amanda Marino of Jackson in the 1,600. Marino was in the race but never a factor as Higginson ran a strong, steady pace throughout. Her 4:50.14 was four seconds up on Marino’s 4:54.2 from last year.
“I wanted to see what kind of kick I had,” said the state and national champion.
Higginson was back on Saturday to complete her double, taking the 3,200 in, for her, a leisurely 11:01.95. Howell’s Lindsey Lambert was sixth (11:28.13).
Those who finished in the top six last weekend punched their tickets to the NJSIAA State Group Championships which, for Group IV, will be at Egg Harbor Township High School on Friday and Saturday.
Freehold Township’s Janel Parker ran second to Higginson in the 1,600 (5:02.75). She didn’t reach her goal of getting under 5:00, but she had that zip back in her finishing kick, leaving the pack behind. The junior used that zip the next day when she won her second straight CJ IV 800 title. She turned in her best time of the year, 2:15.39, in capturing the gold.
Marlboro’s twin sisters, Brittany (2:17.28) and Lauren Pietrosh (2:18.14), were fifth and sixth.
Out in the field, Batts was inking her name in yet another record book. She had two throws of 147-08 as she topped the old mark of 141-3 by Trenton’s Tara Holowell back in 1995.
“I didn’t aim for it,” said Batts, who won her first state sectional title, of her record. “It just happened. It wasn’t that good of a day. My technique was better but my footwork wasn’t good.”
Everyone else in the field would have enjoyed not having that good of a day.
In the shot put, Batts settled for fifth place (38-8 1/2).
In addition to the champions, the District will be sending a large number of athletes to Egg Harbor as the District made its presence felt.
Starting with the boys, which had third place Colts Neck (64) and Manalapan and Freehold Township, which tied for fifth (50), the contingent includes a number of sprinter/hurdlers.
Freehold Township’s Dan Mularz and Colts Neck’s Matt Sullivan qualified in both hurdle events. Mularz ran a personal best 55.17 in taking second in the 400 intermediate hurdles with Sullivan, fourth (55.42). In the 110 hurdles, Sullivan was third (14.66) and Mularz, fifth (14.92).
Both will also be going a members of their respective 4×400 relay teams.
Mularz and teammates Spadola, O’Shane Rennie and Robert Searby were third (3:23.78). Colts Neck was fifth (3:25.58) with the team of Andrew Sobieski, Evan Stivala, Brenden Krewer and Sullivan.
Sobieski, tied for fifth place in the 400 (50.0) with Manalapan’s Derek Sammack (50.0) and Spadola (50.0).
Howell’s David Hayes was fourth in the 400 (49.70) and anchored the Rebel 4×400 team that was fourth (3:25.25). Matt Borzomati, Conrad Zwolinski and Dave Verez were the other members of the team.
Borzomati has been the sprint find of the spring. The sophomore first arrived at the Freehold District Championships, sweeping the 100 and 200 meters.
“I didn’t expect to do this well,” he said. “I was surprised by how well I did at the Districts. I started to think I could do something special. It made me work harder in practice.”
He was fourth in the 100-meter dash (11.41).
In the field, John Krewer helped the Cougars take third by finishing second in both the shot put (49-11 1/4) and the discus (143-6). Teammate Kevin Kelly was second in the javelin (178-11) and Stivala, was third in the long jump (21-4). Devin Moore was sixth in the pole vault for the Cougars (12-6).
Manalapan’s Jack Gilburn qualified in two events. He was third in the javelin (177-5) and fifth in the triple jump (42-5). State indoor pole vault champion Mike Goldwasser is moving on after finishing in a fourth place tie (13-0).
Freehold Township’s Marcus Goode was second in the triple jump (44-10) and teammate Corey Csakai took fifth in the long jump (20-7 1/2).
Colts Neck’s girls were fourth (43.25) with Marlboro, ninth (33).
Meryl Wimberly turned in her best 400 of the spring (57.57) in taking third place. She anchored the Cougars’ 4×400 team to its best in ’07, 4:01.16. Kathlyn Herrick, Samantha Santos and Julia Tomaro, ran the first three legs.
Jessica Pagliano was second in the javelin (122-10) and fifth in the triple jump (34-3).
Lindsey Rappleyea tied for third in the high jump (5-2).
Ada Unachukwu was as busy as anyone in Hillsborough as the Marlboro sophomore placed in three events. She was second in the 100 (12.44), third in the 200 (25.58) and fourth in the 400 (57.61).
Also advancing for Howell were Jamie Leacock, fourth in the 400 hurdles (1:04.46) and Brittany Napoli, fourth in the javelin (121-5).
Freehold Township’s Tanika Peart was fifth in the 100 (12.60). Her teammates Megan Donovan, tied for third in the high jump (5-2) and Desiree Reese, sixth in the triple jump (33-11) are also headed for Egg Harbor.
Monmouth Regional was the site for the CJ Group III Championships, where two girls from Freehold Borough advanced to this weekend’s action. Megan Patterson was fourth in the 800 (2:19.74) while teammate Blair Hassell was second in the javelin (120-5).
The State Group III Championships will be at South Plainfield High School, which, will be hosting the All-Groups Championships on June 6.