Sayreville War Memorial With a slew of talent on his roster, Sayreville War Memorial High School winter track coach Gerry Carney has high expectations for his team this season.
The Bomber girls will be particularly strong in the sprint and middle distance events. Top runners include seniors Janice Frontera, Jackie Cena and Katie Mosser and juniors Rachel Castellito, Kelly Fitzgibbons and Deirdre Vira. They can compete in sprints, middle distance and 1,600 meters. Frontera and Castellito will also run the 3,200-meter race.
“All six of them can break 5:30 in the mile, and I think they can get to 2:20 in the half, which may be tough but it’s reachable for them,” Carney said. “We have a very versatile group, and they’re going to be competitive at the GMC [Greater Middlesex Conference] Relays on Friday (at the Bennett Indoor Sports Complex in Toms River) and the states.”
As TV pitchmen say, “Wait, there’s more.” Amari Hartsfield finished second in the state at 55 meters a year ago. Hartsfield is recovering from a minor injury and is expected to return soon. Kristen Fitzsimmons moves from middle distance events — she won the mile at the Colts Neck & Friends Invitational a year ago — to the 200 and 400. Simone Herbert and sophomore StephanieAsabere are also strong sprinters. Three other sophs, Francisca Hartman, Melanie Lopez and Kymari Phillips, give the Bombers plenty of depth in the sprint events. Junior Brandy Tartza is the team’s top hurdler. She also leads the hurdle relay contingent, which also includes Paula Marques, Herbert and junior Brianna Vick, which Carney expects to make its mark at the GMC Relays.
The coach also noted that hard-working Ariana Kirchner bolsters the distance contingent, while several freshmen have been impressive thus far. They include sprinters Danajah Fleming and Julie Rodgers, hurdler Rhiannon Smith and shot-putter Johanne Pierre.
Carney’s boys are especially strong in the sprint events. Zaquis Wright, Emeka Eze, Dan Saxon and Teju Ishola give the Bombers a potentially dominant relay team. Wright won the 55-meter hurdles at the recent Winter Opener in Toms River, while Eze, who is just rounding into form after recovering from a broken foot, won the 55-meter sprint at Colts Neck last winter.
Wright, Eze, Saxon, junior
Darnell Ragland and freshmen
Shaun Abubaker and Colin Winslow are the hurdlers. All are also expected to compete in the high jump. Jonathan Marvine has already hit 6-0 in the high jump, which was good for second place at the Winter Opener. In the triple jump it will be Eze, who took second in the Eastern Regionals last winter, and Saxon, who placed at the same event.
Ishola, Winslow, junior Casey Virgillo and sophomores Brandon Earls, Ryan Moran and Danny Torres compete in the middle distance events. Josh Goldstein and Tom Bastawrous are the two-milers. Freshman Christopher Nunes has shown promise, Carney said. Sophomores Christopher Pinho and Matt Martine are the shot-putters.