New Egypt also has qualifiers
By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
The Robbinsville High School track and field teams will need a bus to get all program-record 16 of its qualifiers to today’s Meet of Champions in Old Bridge.
Only five years ago, they could have used a motorcycle to transport then-freshman Megan Flynn, who was their only qualifier in 2007.
”We’ve always joked around about that,” said Ravens girls coach Mike Walker. “We’d like to fill up the buses. Usually, it’s our rallying cry from sectionals to groups. This year, we’re fortunate to have a deep, talented team and have a big group for Meet of Champs. We’re moving up in the world.”
The top six finishers in each event from Group I, plus the next six best wild-card finishers from all groups, advance to the MOC.
”We sent 11 kids to groups and nine made it out to the Meet of Champions,” said Jon Hutchinson of his boys squad. “The fear going into groups is most of the team PR’d at sectionals and you don’t know what you’re getting into at groups. Most of the kids went in and had big PR’s.”
Robbinsville even advanced a pair of athletes who will be in medal contention today among the best competitors in the state, quite a feat for the Group I school. Noel Jancewicz and Craig Hunter hold the best chances for medals.
”Just by what they did indoor season, they medaled indoors, so I’m sure they’d like to go into the outdoor and do the same,” Walker said. “I don’t think the goal changes that much.”
On the girls side, Jancewicz finished second in the Group I girls long jump at 17-6¼ and was third in the high jump at 5-feet-2. The sophomore was 12th in the javelin. She will also run the anchor leg for the 4×400 team that includes Amanda Douglass, Tara Franzoni, and Courtney Stahlbrand, if she’s still not high jumping.
”Noel, I know she’s looking forward to jumping, especially after Friday,” Walker said. “She wants to go out there and show what she’s capable of doing. It’s only been a week since she jumped 5-8 at sectionals. Based on past performances, I think she should go out there and have a good meet.”
Craig Hunter was third in the Group I boys pole vault after clearing 14-feet. The sophomore was seventh in the triple jump at 43-feet-5, but he advanced as a wild card to the MOC. Hunter tied teammate John Michael Kuna for fourth in the high jump at 6-feet. Hunter was eighth in the long jump at 19-9, the only event in which he did not make it, but he will keep himself plenty busy like Jancewicz.
”It looks like he wants to do triple and pole vault,” Hutchinson said. “He actually PR’d each time in triple; every jump was better for him. He was inspired by the competition. I’m looking forward to seeing how he does.
”He got a personal best at 14-feet (in pole vault). And he just skimmed 14-6. I think he wants another shot at that 14-6.”
There is a whole contingent of Ravens athletes that has earned one last shot for this season. Myana Morris-Bullock placed third in the girls 100 meters in 12.91 seconds. She was ninth in the 200 meters and 20th in the shot put.
Lisa Leszcynski was fourth in the 1,600 meters in 5:19.69 and eighth in the 800 meters in 2:24.72. Meagan Lesniak came in fifth in the 3,200 meters in 11:36.23. Julian Swift was ninth and Hannah Binder was 10th. Paris Hughes was sixth in the 800 meters in 2:22.79.
Franzoni was 12th in the 400 meters. Erin Sutphin was 19th in the 400 hurdles. With 33 points, the Ravens were fifth in the Group I team standings.
”With most of the team, the goal is to go in there and get their best and enjoy their atmosphere or end the season on a high note,” Walker said. “Some of them, it’s their last hurrah for their career.”
Brian O’Toole took fifth in the boys 3,200 meters in 9:39.89, a 23-second improvement from his sectionals performance. The senior was also sixth in the 1,600 meters in 4:32.13. Roberto Guiducci took sixth in the 3,200 meters in 9:41.24, a 31-second improvement from the week before.
Julian Jiggetts placed sixth in the 400 in 50.73 and sixth in the 200 in 22.79. McLean Lipschutz continued his strong junior year by placing fifth in the javelin at 171-6.
The 4×400 relay of Matthew Schwartz, Matthew McMahon, Ryan Walter and Jiggetts ran to sixth in 3:28.85. Stefan Austin was 13th in the shot put. Robbinsville was ninth overall among Group I boys teams.
”Roberto Guiducci ran a 24-second personal best,” Hutchinson said. “Some kids really stepped up big. The 4×4 got the school record. They got it during the Mercer County championships. I challenged them to break 3:30. They went out there and all of them ran well, and Julian Jiggetts split a 48.9 on our watches.”
Also in Group I competition, New Egypt’s Jamel Smith was second in the boys triple jump. His 44-feet-4½ jump equaled that of winner Ameer Sorell, who was ruled the winner because he reached the distance first.
Tyleek Bailey was eighth in the 100 meters in 11.41 seconds and 11th in the 200 meters. Dalton Trembow was 12th in the discus.
On the girls side, the Warriors’ Paris Perez placed fourth in the shot put at 36-feet-8¼ to reach the MOC. She was 14th in the discus. Yazmin DeCamp was 22nd in the javelin. The athletes will be looking to exit on a high note.
”Based on the seeds, a couple of them are capable of making a good run of it, but the state is so deep,” Walker said. “Our distance runners, I’m hoping they PR. I don’t think we have anyone in the fast heats. To go out and do what we’re capable of doing and win your heat, that’s one way to approach it.”
Added Hutchinson: “I’ve been around the program for five years. To see some of these guys that came in as freshmen now be seniors, it’s been a lot of fun. They’re competing with the best in the state, and they deserve to be there. To have this many shows how much time and dedication they’ve put in. I’m really happy.”

