by Rudy Brandl, The Packet Group
This year’s Lawrence High boys track and field team may lack the star power and big-time scoring ability of the graduated Chandell Fuqua, but head coach Jonathan Chichilitti expects a much deeper, more balanced attack.
Fuqua, who scored all 22 of his team’s points to single-handedly defeat nine teams at last year’s Central Jersey Group 3 Championships, will certainly be missed. However, there are several solid athletes returning who should make an impact for the Cardinals in 2009.
”This team is a better team,” said Chichilitti, in his second year as head coach and sixth season with the program. “We’ll have more people scoring. We’re definitely more well-rounded.”
Sophomore Tommy O’Rourke, who set the LHS freshman record in the mile (4:39.8) is poised for a big spring. O’Rourke certainly didn’t suffer a sophomore jinx on the wrestling mat this past winter and appears ready to take the next step on his way around the oval.
”He’s a great kid,” Chichilitti said. “He’s definitely going to be a big-time contributor for us. He ran a 56.6 split on the 4×4 at the Penn Relays for us last year as a freshman. He’s a high-character kid.”
The Cardinals should also expect big things from senior Marcin Truszkowski, who excels in the 1,600 meters and javelin. Truszkowski ran indoor track for the first time this winter and has already gone faster than last year’s outdoor campaign to qualify for the Group 2 State Championships.
Junior captain T.J. Kelly posted a sizzling 51.7 time in the 400 indoors, which has earned him the right to run the leadoff or anchor leg on what should be a very good 4×400 relay team. Seniors Dion Roth and EJ Watson and junior Keith Sherman will be the other speedsters on this relay, which Chichilitti hopes can qualify for the NJSIAA Meet of Champions.
Roth was the school’s fastest 55-meter sprinter indoors and he’ll also contribute in the 100, 200 and high jump. Sherman switched to track from baseball and will make a major impact in the sprints and high jump. Watson, who had a very nice junior year, will also sprint and run the 400 hurdles in his senior campaign.
Other LHS boys to watch include junior Ethan Posey (discus, shot put), junior Azzdean Coleman (javelin), senior Tom Kmiec (shot put), senior Dean Massaro (shot put, discus), senior Scott Figatner (3,200), sophomore Elliot Nagele (hurdles), senior pole vaulters Pat Thiel and Sean Pearson, junior pole vaulter Chris Horner and freshmen Dan Robinson (400 hurdles, 400) and Tim Kelly (400 hurdles, 400, 800).
The Cards posted a 4-5-1 record last spring and didn’t do well at the Mercer County Championships. They’re determined to improve on both counts this spring.
”I’m looking for at least six wins this year,” Chichilitti said. “I’d also like to place in the top half of the Mercer County meet.”
The LHS girls may not be aiming as high but they’ll definitely be improved over last year’s winless spring. Third-year head coach Tim Collins, a former coach at The College of New Jersey, has started building up the numbers in the girls’ program in both cross country and track.
Last fall, eight girls ran cross country for Collins and the team won four meets. Those numbers were way up from the 0-3 range in runners when Collins started coaching at the school. He’s hoping the same growth in numbers translates into more successful times on the outdoor track and field circuit.
”I think we’re turning the corner,” Collins said. “We’re starting to get more people out. We have 35 girls out this year and that’s 8-10 more than we’ve had. There’s no shortage of talent here. We just have to get kids out.”
Three of the four members on last year’s 4×400 team that ran in the state meet are back this spring – senior Justine Kelley, junior Adriana Gabriel and sophomore Stacy Adamcik. Kelly and Gabriel will also run the short sprints, while Adamcik will contribute in the 400 hurdles.
Junior Allison Brobst, who qualified for the states as a freshman, is primed for a comeback year in the throws. Collins is also hoping for big things from senior pole vaulter Orla O’Sullivan-Roche, senior triple jumper Jen Korngut and senior middle distance runner Liz Darbee, who clocked 2:29 in the 800 last spring.
The LHS girls figure to be strong in sprints and jumps and somewhat thin in the distance and hurdling events, but time will tell. They have numbers and potential in the weights but most of those athletes are young and inexperienced.
”We’ve got a lot of new throwers out and they’re all underclassmen, so we’re going to get that rolling,” Collins said. “We’ve got some people who are new to the team, so we’re still doing a lot of teaching and finding out who has ability.”
Lawrence was scheduled to open the season Wednesday in a tri-meet with West Windsor Plainsboro North at Allentown and compete in the Wrobo Invitational at Notre Dame Saturday.

