By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Much like his 800 meters kick at the Group IV meet, AJ Chavez is looking for a spectacular finish to his scholastic career.
The West Windsor-Plainsboro South senior sat in third place for the first 550 meters before kicking past the competition to win the Group IV boys 800 in 1:50.59, an all-groups record by a half-second, Saturday. It’s the 11th best time in the country.
”That was my goal for the season,” said Chavez, who finished just over a second ahead of West Orange’s Jared Mason. “I was trying to get that time. I worked hard to get it. I’m not surprised. I’m just happy my hard work paid off.
”It means a lot. I won the indoor group title. I also wanted to win the outdoor group title. I was racing the same people as indoor — Jared Mason and Lance Weaver. I had to run the way I did before.”
Chavez will try to do the same one more time when he competes at the Meet of Champions on Thursday in Old Bridge. Chavez has the top time coming in, but doesn’t consider himself the favorite.
”Ben Malone is in this race, and he was in the indoor national champion,” Chavez said. “I think he should be favored. I think I’m the top seed for my time from groups. There’s always other people I’ve raced before, like Allen Eke. It’ll be a fast race. I feel confident that I’m going to run my fastest time.”
Chavez stayed back as the group race went out fast, then worked his way to the front in the final quarter of the race.
”Nothing really surprises us any more,” said WW-P South head coach Todd Smith. “The goal was by the Meet of Champions to break 1:50. We all know he’s a talented runner, and after 600 meters, it was quite apparent he had a shot to do it. He did a great job.
”I think it was a perfect race. I think he put himself in perfect position. I think the other kids went out a little too fast, which will happen in these races. He ran his race. His 400 split was perfect and he just started gobbling up those two kids which definitely pushed him to run a 1:50.”
Chavez leads a strong contingent from the Packet area into the MOC. The top six boys in their events at groups, plus wild card entries for boys who were in the next six best out of all groups will compete at Old Bridge. Chavez was the lone area boy to win an event.
”I’m excited about this race,” Chavez said. “I would say my season has been fine. I want to finish it on a good note. I already got the school record. I broke the record with my indoor time. Then I just ran 1:50 outdoors.
”A state championship would be nice,” he added. “I’d like a really fast time. I’m trying to go sub-1:50, and if I can get sub-1:50 and still get second or whatever, I’d still be happy with that.”
Chavez will have a teammate in the 800 event, though Eddison Gulama had to come out of the slower heat to qualify. The junior won the slower heat in 1:54.49 to earn fifth overall and advance to his first MOC, where he is seeded 17th.
The Pirates also had three distance runners advance. Jake Riff was second in the 1,600 in 4:17.93. He is seeded 14th for the MOC. Dan Riff was fourth in the 3,200 meters in 9:18.65 and is seeded eighth for the MOC. Dan Sheldon, a senior, earned a wild card in the 3,200 meters after running 9:25.53. He is seeded 18th.
”After the first lap,” Smith said, “Jacob was in 10th, then the next lap he was second, then back in 10th and we were wondering, what are you doing? He got it done. That’s one of the highest finishes we’ve had. He has a chance to run the mile. Both have a chance to redeem their performances from last year. Their experiences will help them.
”Dan was in a talented race. He was part of that sectional mile. He was much more determined in the two-mile. He secured his spot and ran a great race.”
The Pirates also have a pair of relays running Thursday. The boys 4×800 meters is seeded third. Their 4×400 of Tunde Pade, DJ Morris, Gulama and Chavez was sixth at the Group IV meet in 3:21.86. They are seeded 11th.
”It was a little close,” Chavez said. “We didn’t run our best for the 4×4, but it was a packed race. There was a lot of pushing in the 4×4 at the line.
”We’re trying to get the 4×4 record. We’re very close to it. It’s 3:20-somethiing. We were very close to breaking it. If we can get our act together, we’ll definitely knock it off.”
The Pirates had a problem with one of their exchanges at the Group IV, and they’re confident if they clean that up, they can go after a school record and potential medal.
”I think we can go faster,” Smith said. “I think we can break 3:20 if they all run what they’re capable of.”
The Montgomery High program advanced five boys out of the Group IV meet. Joe Messick will continue his standout senior year after placing sixth in the 400 hurdles in 55.45 seconds. He is seeded 13th for the MOC.
”I’m hoping Joe Messick can at least break our school record,” said MHS boys coach Zoran Milich. “It’s not only our school record, but the county record. If he runs under 53.73, he should place in the top six. I’d like to see him medal.”
Nicholas Hespe was sixth in the pole vault with a best of 13-feet-6. The junior is in a tie for the ninth seed. Ross Baginsky was sixth in the javelin. The junior threw 165-10, which gives him the No. 29 seed for the MOC.
”Baginsky PR’d twice,” Milich said. “He’s had a PR the last two meets. He’s peaking at the right time. I’d like to see him pop one out to 170.”
Cougar wild card entries were seniors Rob Heebner and Nick Tinsley. Heebner earned a berth in the pole vault with a personal-record 13-6. He is tied for Hespe for the ninth seed for MOC. Tinsley high jumped 6-feet-2, and will be seeded 16th Thursday, but Milich believes he has 6-foot-6 potential and a chance to medal. With a large group going, the Cougars have a better chance than some years.
”It’s a ton of guys,” Milich said. “It’s probably the most we’ve ever brought, but I can’t say for sure.
”I was really happy with the way our guys competed. All five guys that went, all five moved on. Five-for-five, you can’t beat that.”
WW-P North had one medalist automatically advance, plus three wild cards out of the Group IV meet. Tyrone Parker was fourth in the 100 meters. The junior ran 10.91 seconds, a time that has him seeded sixth for the MOC.
”I think he has a very good chance to show up in the finals as long as he does what he’s been doing,” said WW-P North boys coach Brian Gould. “He had a great season indoors and out. He made a great choice to add the indoor season. Outdoor goes so fast, and the indoor season pays off down the road. He’s seeing it pay off. He’s very confident and I’m excited to see him do it.”
Another junior, Antony Zeng, earned a wild card for the boys shot put after placing seventh with a throw of 53-feet. He is seeded 17th. Senior Sachin Natarajan ran 1:54.78 and advanced as a wild card in the 800 meters, where he is seeded 23rd. Fellow senior Chris Banks ran 49.77 in the 400 meters to earn a wild card. He is seeded 19th.
”Antony is the very top wild card guy,” Gould said. “Seventh in Group IV is almost as good at medaling as far as moving along. Chris was a little tougher. Sarchin, him running 1:54 and coming in eighth, that shows how strong that group is. Most of the wild cards come from that group.”
The Knights will also run a 4×800 relay Thursday. They are seeded seventh.
”They have a qualifier from the Mercer Twilight,” Gould said. “This is something all those guys have been looking forward to the whole season.”
Princeton High advanced Tim Brennan. The junior’s fine season will continue at the MOC after finishing fifth in the Group III boys discus with a 151-10 throw. He is seeded 16th for the MOC.
The Meet of Champions qualifiers will be looking for their bests in the final scholastic meet of the spring in New Jersey. For Chavez, it’s one more chance before he runs next year at University of Connecticut. Breaking his group record won’t be easy.
”Maybe I can,” Chavez said. “Maybe if I kick a little bit earlier. I’m not sure. I’ll go with what I can. I can’t tell anything at this point. I felt pretty tired at the end of that race.”
Chavez has already enjoyed quite a senior year. He’s taken a step forward from last year, and he’s happy with his progress.
”I started doing cross country last year, my junior year,” he said. “At that point, I was a sprinter. Coach (Kurt) Wayton saw I had potential for the 800. I ended up running the 800. This year, after cross country, I wanted to focus on the 800. I haven’t run the open 400 in a long time. I’m more focused on the 800. My runs have been consistently longer and my workouts are more like a distance runner workout.
”It’s much different than last year. I need the speed, but I also need the endurance. I’ve been doing a little of both, sprinter and distance workouts. At some point, I thought of running the mile, but it never happened. That’s one of my regrets.”
Chavez has more than made up for missing out on the mile by taking aim at the top half-miler spot in New Jersey. His group record and win is an encouraging sign as he heads into the MOC.
”I think it’s the total commitment,” Smith said. “He’s been injury free. Last year, he banged up his foot a bit. He had a stress reaction. The overall year has helped. We’ve had a whole year of running without him being injured at all. Each season builds off the last. The culmination is Thursday.
”At this point, everything is gravy. AJ is such a competitor. He’s going to go out and compete and run his best. I think the time will take care of itself. I’m looking forward to watching the race.”
