Girls finish ninth in sectionals
by Rudy Brandl, Sports Editor
Jason Walton and the Hillsborough High pole vaulters enjoyed a big day at Sunday’s Central Jersey Group 4 Championships in Toms River, but it wasn’t enough to propel the Raiders to the team championship.
If the pole vaulters have another productive day in their next trip to Toms River for this Saturday’s State Group 4 Championships, the HHS boys will win a title for sure.
Last month’s State Group 4 Relay Championships were suspended during the pole vault competition with Hillsborough trailing Trenton Central by eight points. The HHS tandem of Mark Ksiezopolski and Mike Lunemann, who went 1-2 in Sunday’s sectional meet, can clinch sole possession of the Group 4 relay title with a first place when action continues Saturday in Toms River. If the Raider duo finishes second, the team will share the title with Trenton Central.
The pole vault competition will count double, with scoring used for the scheduled State Group 4 Championships and suspended Group 4 Relays. Ksiezopolski, who matched his career best with a winning vault of 14 feet in last Saturday’s CJ 4 event, doesn’t like the ruling but is prepared to lead his team to a title.
”I think two days in a row would be better,” he said. “But we’re really confident in placing at least second. We know we can beat Hunterdon Central. The only thing that stands in our way is Toms River North. They’re going to be hard to beat.”
Ksiezopolski and Lunemann must be at their best to beat TRN, which went 1-2 with a combined mark of 27-6 in the South Jersey Group 4 sectional. Ksiezopolski has cleared 14-0 twice this year and Lunemann consistently goes over 12-6.
”That’s the best he’s ever done, but it’s not the best he can do,” Ksiezopolski said. “He’s got a lot more in him.”
Hillsborough’s pole vaulters had a solid day in Toms River and will be comfortable returning there for Saturday’s Group 4 meet. Ksiezopolski converted at 12-6, 13-0, 13-6 and 14-0 before just missing three tries at 14-2. He clinched first place early after nobody else cleared 13 feet.
”I was just having fun out there,” said Ksiezopolski, who also placed sixth in the 55 hurdles in a time of 8.36 seconds. “I didn’t want to stress myself out. I felt so good. I thought I was really on today.”
Walton is healthy and feeling good, which isn’t great news for his competition. The HHS junior tore up the track for an impressive distance double, winning his first sectional title in the 1,600 with a personal-record time of 4:24.62 and returning 90 minutes later to finish second in the 800 (1:57.58).
”I’m pretty excited,” Walton said. “The mile was more like a fun event for me. I’m going to talk to my coaches about it during the week, but I’m not sure if I’ll run it (in the Group 4 meet). We were trying to use the mile as a point-scorer because we thought we had a chance as a team.”
Walton had figured he’d go for a bronze with standouts Robbie Andrews and Andrew Brodeur in the mix, but both stars elected to focus on the 3,200 meters. That left the door open for Walton and he kicked it in, literally in the final 400 meters, to capture the title with his fastest time. Walton outdueled Jackson’s Austin Santillo and won the race by just over three seconds.
”I put in my kick and I knew that was it,” Walton said. “He’s a really good cross country runner, so I knew I couldn’t beat him strength-wise. I had to beat him with speed.”
Walton locked horns with Jackson’s Monroe Kearns in an exciting 800 but didn’t have enough left in his legs to win another gold. Walton tried the element of surprise with an early kick but couldn’t hold off Kearns down the stretch.
”My legs were a little heavy, so all I really wanted to do was a good time,” Walton said. “I just had to make sure I made the first (seeded) heat for next week. He just got me at the end because I had nothing left.”
Walton also was looking to exorcise some personal demons from a disqualification that cost him the 800-meter title and a 1:57 time at the Skyland Conference Championships the previous week. He more than made up for it with a monster performance in CJ 4.
”I felt like if I could do that again, it would give me some notoriety in the state,” Walton said. “I ran 1:57 and it kind of bothered me that nobody heard about it.”
The Hillsborough boys finished fourth in the team standings with 41 points, behind Jackson (56), Old Bridge (45) and Trenton (44). Jackson also captured the girls’ title with 51 points, followed by Colts Neck (37) and Freehold (36), while Hillsborough finished ninth with 21 points.
Other HHS athletes who placed in the top six and qualified for Saturday’s Group 4 Championships included Erica Reiss in the 55 hurdles (3rd, 9.00), Melissa Huereca in the pole vault (tie for 3rd, 8-0), Angela Davia in the shot put (4th, 34-8¼), the team of Kelly Bloom (64.9 split), Carlin Dunne (62.3), Anna Spaniol (62.9) and Ebony Young (60.0) in the 4×400 relay (4:10.31), Alex Szela in the 400 (6th, 52.43) and shot putters Rocco Mazzagatti (5th, 47-2) and Matt Carnes (6th, 46-6).