Long Branch’s Morrison leads area winners at county indoor track meet

 Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s Alec Burke competes in the high jump at the Monmouth County Indoor Track and Field Championships held at the John Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex in Toms River on Jan. 19. Burke finished in a seventh-place tie.  ERIC SUCAR staff Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s Alec Burke competes in the high jump at the Monmouth County Indoor Track and Field Championships held at the John Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex in Toms River on Jan. 19. Burke finished in a seventh-place tie. ERIC SUCAR staff Long Branch High School’s Cleopatra Morrison made her claim as the county’s fastest girl. The Green Wave out-sprinted everyone to win the 55-meter dash at the Jan. 18 Monmouth County Indoor Track and Field Championships, which were held at the John Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex in Toms River.

Morrison’s 7.37 was .07 clear of Colts Neck High School’s Jackie Wold in the final. Morrison was the top seed after winning her qualifying heat in 7.40. Her 7.37 was a new personal best for the junior.

Also coming away with gold was Monmouth Regional High School’s Chloe Yelle in the shot put. It was a very close competition with Yelle (34-8 1/4) edging Ocean Township High School’s Michelle Mazza (34-3 1/4) for first place. On the boys’ side, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s Jason Bryan was golden in the shot put with his 52-9. Christian Brothers Academy’s Alex Berger was the only other thrower over 50 feet (50-10 3/4).

Picking up medals at the county meet for the girls were Jocelyn Anderson (Monmouth Regional), fifth in the 55 dash (7.64); Raquel Henderson (Ocean Township), third in the 400 (1:00.58); Brenna Clark (Ocean Township), sixth in the 800 (2:22.37); Jackie Gottuso (11:27.64) and Isabella Maita (11:43.14) of Rumson-Fair Haven, third and fourth in the 3,200; Nora Ryan (Rumson-Fair Haven), sixth in the high jump (4-10); Cara Wiebalk (Monmouth Regional), third in the pole vault (8-0); and Long Branch’s 4×400 relay team, which was sixth (4:21.33).

Medaling for the boys were Xavier Chestnut (Red Bank Regional), fourth in the 55 dash (6.83); Robert Mendez (Long Branch), sixth in the 800 (2:04.63); Trey Smith (Long Branch), sixth in the 55 hurdles (8.24); Andrew Mahon (Shore Regional), third in the high jump (5-10); and Long Branch (3:36.64), Red Bank Regional (3:40.71) and Ocean Township (3:42.48) 4×400 relays teams that were third, fifth and sixth, respectively.

Next up are the Shore Conference Championships back at the Bennett Complex on Jan. 25.

RBC at Yale

Up at the Yale Track Classic in Haven, Conn., on Jan. 18-19, Red Bank Catholic (RBC) High School’s Rob Napolitano had a memorable weekend.

The senior won the 3,000-meter run in a school record 8:37.96 and then ran the anchor 1,600 meters on the Caseys’ distance medley relay team that won in a quick 10:22.05. Kyle Bogert (1,200), Tommy Spernal (400) and Connor McNamara (800) ran the opening three legs for the Caseys.

With that time, the RBC boys achieved their goal of qualifying for the Penn Relays in April and established a new school record.