The Ada Unachukwu Express keeps motoring along. The Marlboro marvel won three titles at Saturday’s Shore Conference Track and Field Championships at Neptune High School, barely missing out on a fourth.
The multitalented sprinter/jumper matched her 100-meter 200-meter-dash wins at the Monmouth County Championships, running 12.52 for the century and 25.09 for the 200. Coach Ray Sypniewski called Unachukwu’s 200 “the best 200 I ever saw her run.”
Despite running into a head wind, Unachukwu turned in her season’s best time in what was her fourth event of the day.U
nachukwu had won the triple jump (37-4) in between qualifying for the 100- meter-dash final. She was so far in front (second place was 35-5 by Southern’s Jessica Carlson) that she didn’t need to contest the final.
The attempt to duplicate her four wins at the county meet was spoiled by Brick Township’s Ryisha Boyd, who caught Unachukwu in the final 10 meters to beat her in the 400 (56.88-56.90).
With Unachukwu scoring 38 points and 800-meter runner Lauren Pietrosh taking fifth (2:19.61), Marlboro finished fourth (40). The Mustangs were first among Monmouth County schools. Southern Regional won the SC title with 76 points.
Freehold Township’s Marcus Goode was a double winner on the boys side. The senior maintained his mastery of the long and triple jumps. He extended his school record in the long jump to 22-10½ and captured the triple jump with a 46- 0 effort.
It was a bittersweet day for Freehold Township, however, the Patriots came up one point short of Jackson Memorial, 59- 58, in the team chase.
The meet more than anything else tested the resolve of the Pats. Dan Mularz, the Monmouth County champion and premeet favorite, false-started out of the 400-intermediate hurdles. Teammate Bobby Searby lost any chance to place when he hit the eighth hurdle in his heat while leading.
The Pats, who were counting on a win and points from Searby in the intermediates, came away with no points. However, as coach Brian Golub pointed out “we had some really positive surprises.”
Abe Hamami came up with an unexpected third place in the 800 turning in his personal best, 1:58.44. Thrower Max Lit came through with a surprise second place in the javelin (169-3).
Mularz rebounded from his setback in the 400 hurdles to take second in the 110 hurdles behind Toms River East’s Chris Rutherford (14.72-14.90).
Ryan Spadola cranked out a 49.72 and ran third in the 400 meters.
Spadola anchored the Pats’ 4×400- relay team to another impressive win (3:22.33). Like the win at the county meet, Spadola was under no pressure when he received the stick.
Ralph McFadden opened it up for the Pats followed by Searby and then Murlaz (who took the team from 10 meters down to a 15-meter lead).
Freehold Borough’s Scott Harman raised his personal best in the pole vault to 14-0. It matched the winning height of Toms River North’s Rick Villanova and Toms River East’s Chris Wyckoff. He took third on the tiebreaker few misses.
Howell’s Matt Borzomati (23.17) was fifth in the 200, while teammate Conrad Zwolinski was third in the 400 hurdles (55.82).
Manalapan’s George Catuogno was fourth in the javelin (165-9).
Back to the girls, Freehold Township’s Meghan Donovan matched her countywinning 5-foot-4-inch high jump and was second to Lacey’s Lauren Calorel (5 feet, 4 inches) on fewer misses. Howell’s Maggie Gilbertson cleared a personal best 5- foot-4-inch jump in taking third.
The Pats Janel Parker was third in the 800 (2:17.88) and teammate Desiree Reese took third in the long jump with 17 feet 6 inches and fifth in the triple jump (35-3½).
Freehold Borough’s Blair Hassell uncorked a 126-5 personal best in the javelin and finished second.
Manalapan’s Priscilla Acosta was second in the 100 hurdles (16.10).
Colts Neck’s Lindsey Rappleyea took third in the triple jump (35-5¼). Teammate Brittany Hinton was fourth in the 3,200 (11: 41.69). Raqual Ioia was sixth in the javelin (109-10).
The road to the Meet of Champions begins this weekend with the NJSIAA State Sectionals on Friday and Saturday. The Central Jersey Championships are at Hillsborough High School for Groups I and IV while Monmouth Regional is hosting Groups II and III.