Q ualifying for the Penn Relays is always something special for high school track and field athletes.
It has become almost a yearly tradition
for Red Bank Catholic High School. However, there is a difference between qualifying and being a player, as Casey head coach Rob DeFilippis pointed out.
Unlike previous Penn Relays, the Caseys are real players in two relays this year, the boys 4×800 and the girls Championship of America distance medley relay.
“Going to Penn is a big deal,” said DeFilippis. “The big deal to me is, now we’re in the race.”
The 4×800 and DMR team both qualified for Penn via their outstanding indoor results.
The girls DMR team of Liana Marzano, Sophie Fil-Saime, Lindsey Bellaran and Molly McNamara recorded a 12:01.28 in finishing second at the Eastern States Championships in New York City at the New Balance Center. Their mark was the fifth fastest run in the country undercover in 2010, which makes them a Penn Championship of America contender.
The girls DMR will be run on April 22.
The boys 4×800 team of Rob Napolitano, Mike Quinn, Kyle Clonan and Kevin Byrne turned in a 7:59.35 at the Yale Classic, which got the quartet into the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden.
The boys 4×800 will run its heats on April 23, with the eight fastest times returning for the April 24 final.
Also headed to Penn is Christian Brothers Academy’s DMR team. The Colts also qualified for the Penn carnival via their indoor season as well. With Mike Mazzaccaro back from injury, the Colts are a contender. The team of Dan Mykitsyshyn, John Mc Laughlin, Rich Bohny and Mazzaccaro earned All-American honors at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships in New York City when they finished fourth in 10:18.66.
The boys DMR is April 23.
Monmouth Regional High School’s Stephanie Skove, who was one of the best pole-vaulters in the state this winter, has qualified individually for Penn. The girls pole vault is April 22.
RBC warmed up for Penn at the Colts Neck Relays on Saturday, with the girls winning the 4×400 and 4×800.
McNamara, Bellaran and Marzano got some speed work in running the 4×400 teaming up with Fil-Saime. The quartet turned in a 4:06.11, an impressive time considering the strong head wind the runners were facing.
It was Bellaran, Mary Kate Byrne, McNamara and Marzano winning the 4×800 in 9:47.7