By Rich Fisher, Sports Editor
South Brunswick High girls track and field coach Stefan Moorhead makes two good points when discussing his team’s first NJSIAA Group IV Indoor Championship.
First, he notes that it is only the second year they have had indoor groups, so not many SBHS teams of the past have had a shot at it.
He also points out that, while every future Viking team will have the chance to win it, only the 2009 squad can brag that it was the first.
”When you’re the first in something, it can never be taken away,” Moorhead said. “I told the girls beforehand, ‘You can be the first to ever do this. If you are, no one else can say that.’”
So the Vikings promptly went out and amassed 59 points at the Toms River Bennett Center to clinch the crown before the 4×400 relay was even run. Marlboro finished 11 points behind, as South Brunswick had 11 athletes score in seven of 10 events, while just missing medals in two others.
”After Sophia (Ginez) won the 3,200, we actually clinched it,” Moorhead said. “I didn’t tell the 4×400 team that, so they ran hard and we got a point.
”But it was clinched before the last event. I really thought it would go down to the wire. My staff and rival coaches were saying how close it would be.”
But this is shaping up as a potentially special year for SBHS, and the unexpected usually means good news for the Vikings.
Ginez was nothing short of outstanding (see related story), but she had plenty of help. Freshman Cayla Del Piano continues to prove she can run under pressure as she took fourth in both the 800 and 3,200.
”She’s a little overshadowed by Sophia right now, but she’s working on her own good things,” Moorhead said. “When she had 400 meters left in the two-mile, she just took off.”
The Vikings also had a big showing in the high jump, as Emily Skalko, Jen O’Laughlin and Brooke Sassman finished two through four.
”We expected maybe two in the top six, and we got three in the top four,” Moorhead said. “That was very big for us. That gave us 18 points, which was one of the differences in the meet.
Other medal winners were Lauryn Strebeck (55 hurdles), Ginelle Walker (shot) and the 4×400 relay team of Jamie Thompson, Janae Baker, Jamielyn Samper and Alicia Osley.
”Scoring in seven of 10 events was big,” Moorhead said. “It shows we are well rounded.”
The Vikings have now won the Greater Middlesex Conference Relays, GMC Championship and CJ IV. The latest title is starting a buzz in the school, as a Black & Gold Day is being planned this week in order to root the Vikes on in Sunday’s NJSIAA Group IV meet.
”We kind of reminded the girls about this meet periodically,” Moorhead said. “They recognized they were going up against some really good teams. And I think the school recognizes it’s a pretty important accomplishment.”
Moorhead isn’t making any brash predictions about winning states, saying that “Southern is a really strong team with national-caliber runners.”
But look for some good things to happen, nonetheless.
The Viking boys finished seventh with 21 points, as Dominick Padovano and Jordan Foreman finished 4-6 in the shot. Brian Oni (55), Derek Forthun (high jump) and Jon Bellizio (pole vault) also medaled.
”We’re definitely happy to have five boys qualify,” Moorhead said. “They definitely represented us well. For Dom (a sophomore) to qualify for the shot in an event dominated by juniors and seniors was nice to see.”
