Red Bank Catholic High School’s Molly McNamara heads to the finish line of the 800-meter run at the NJSIAA Track and Field Outdoor Meet of Champions held June 9 at Lombardi Field in Old Bridge. McNamara finished second (2:11.66). Long Branch High School’s Miles Shuler-Foster competes in the 100-meter dash at the NJSIAA Track and Field Outdoor Meet of Champions. Shuler-Foster finished in 10.55. Past Meet of Champion winners Molly McNamara and Miles Shuler-Foster didn’t get what they came for at this year’s NJSIAA Track and Field Outdoor Championships. However, neither walked away with regrets. They left it all on the track.
Red Bank Catholic High School’s Mc- Namara, the indoor MOC winner at 1,600 meters this winter, ran the 800 at the June 9 outdoor championships held at Lombardi Field in Old Bridge. She was out-kicked in the final 150 meters by Sparta’s Erika Veidis (2:09.86-2:11.66).
“I did the best I could do,” said McNamara. “I ran my hardest. Looking back, I wouldn’t do anything differently.”
At the group championships, McNamara picked up a pair of gold medals, winning the 1,600 in a sizzling 4:44.90 and the 800 in 2:09.21, both meet records.
That 4:44.90 guaranteed McNamara entrance to the Adidas High School Dream Mile (held Saturday at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island, New York City, where she finished 10th running a personal best 4:50.09 for the full mile) and that tipped the scales as to which race she would run at the MOC.
“Once I made the Dream Mile, I made the decision to run the 800 at the Meet of Champions.
The 800 was run in the sweltering heat, which had an impact on the pace. The first 400 was run in 65 seconds, slower than Mc- Namara would have like, but still fast enough to make it a race between her and Veidis. With 150 meters to go, McNamara pulled up alongside Veidis and appeared poised to out-sprint the Sparta runner to the finish line.
Ocean Township High School’s Mike Andre sprints towards the finish line of the 100-meter dash during the Meet of Champions. Andre finished third in the race (21.55). PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff But it was Veidis who had the strongest kick, and she held on for the victory.
“I just didn’t have it today,” said McNamara. “I didn’t feel good warming up. I’m not taking anything away from her [Veidis]; she beat me fair and square.”
Finishing behind McNamara in third place was her teammate Lindsey Bellaran, whose confidence received an added boost by medaling in the MOC. She approached her personal best despite the heat, running 2:12.82.
The junior heads into next year with great results under her belt.
Shuler-Foster, the defending 100-meter champion, was looking to win his fourth MOC crown (two indoor 55-meter dash victories and the 2010 100), but came up short in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes.
“I tried my hardest,” said Shuler-Foster. “Things didn’t turn out the way I wanted. As long as I competed my hardest and was competitive, I can’t complain.”
In the century, Shuler-Foster was playing catch-up from the start against Damiere Byrd from Timber Creek (Camden),
Byrd’s 10.41 bested Shuler-Foster’s 10.55.
Ocean Township junior Mike Andre was fourth (10.70). In the 200, it was Snyder’s Zamir Thomas who got the better of the Green Wave sprinter, with a speedy 21.03. Shuler- Foster turned in his fastest halflap race of the spring, 21.31, in second place.
Andre was third in this race clocking 21.55.
Shuler-Foster now moves on to Rutgers University and the college football career that awaits him. Looking back at his scholastic high school track and field career, he said, “It was a good high school career.”
Most would say it was a great high school career. He leaves behind a sprint career that is as good as anyone the Shore has seen.
RBC’s girls made their presence felt at the MOC in more than the 800. Meghan Mc- Mullin won her heat of the 400 intermediate hurdles in a time fast enough for third place (1:02.60). Liana Marzano was fifth in the 1,600 (5:02.35).
Hannah Eckstein didn’t get to run her 3,200 on June 9. The meet was postponed until Monday (June 13) after lightning and a thunderstorm during the running of the boys 3,200.
The Caseys’ Kevin Byrne was fifth in the boys 800 (1:53.37). Byrne hopped on a plane Friday morning after his MOC 800 for Illinois, where he ran the one mile at the Midwest Distance Gala in Lisle, Ill. He finished ninth (4:15.83).