ROBBINSVILLE: Jancewicz captures Group II high jump, 400 meters

Ravens’ Hunter wins pole vault

By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
   The group level is supposed to be tougher than the sectional level, but it all looked the same to Noel Jancewicz.
   The Robbinsville High School senior won the same events at the Group II girls track and field meet Saturday that she had individually at the Central Jersey Group II meet last week.
   ”I’d like to think it’s just that she’s that talented that she rises to the occasion,” said Robbinsville girls coach Mike Walker. “It’s all the hard work that she puts into the season and the training that shows up at this time of the year.”
   Jancewicz jumped 5-feet-4 to win the high jump, then ran a school-record 58.11 seconds to win the 400 meters. She also combined with Kelly Koss, Paris Hughes and Kaitlyn Koss to take second in the 4×400 relay in a school-record 4:05.55.
   ”It was really similar to the sectionals meet,” Jancewicz said. “Coming into the season, I didn’t expect to be the 400-meter group champion. Things went my way. I didn’t expect to hit 58 seconds. I know the 400 is a good event to train for for the heptathlon. It mixes speed and endurance.
   ”Our relay, we were hoping for first, but we missed it by a half-second. It was still a school record, so it was good.”
   It wasn’t as easy as it looked for Jancewicz, who did pull out of the 55-meter dash to conserve some energy for her other events and was feeling her busy day by the time she led off the 4×4.
   ”The competition was definitely harder,” Jancewicz said. “The high jump for sectionals, I actually stopped jumping at 5-2. At states, I had to jump at least 5-4. The other girl jumping with me left the competition. She’ll definitely be a competitor for Meet of Champs.
   ”For sectionals, I was running the slow heat for the 400. This time, I had people on my back pushing me so it made a difference.”
   Jancewicz expects to focus on the high jump at this Saturday’s Meet of Champions. She is hoping to push toward her own school record 5-8. If her high jump is wrapped up, she will also compete with the 4×400 relay.
   ”High jump has always been my best event,” Jancewicz said. “I did clear 5-6 this season. I’m hoping for 5-8. I tried 5-8 at groups, and I was close with my attempts. I still think I can do it, I just need to get my rhythm down.”
   Jancewicz and the relay will be the lone representatives from the RHS girls team. Craig Hunter is the lone boys competitor to advance for the Ravens. The senior cleared 15-feet-6 to win the pole vault by six inches. He will try to repeat as MOC winner Saturday, and believes it may take his personal-record 16-feet to do it.
   ”I think he’s going to be one of the top guys,” said Robbinsville boys coach Jon Hutchinson. “I always treat the pole vault like the high jump. The only thing consistent about them is how inconsistent those events are. Craig has been pretty consistent.
   ”Somebody can have that dream day and vault great. I’m not a big person about favorites. If you look at results this past weekend, there are four or five guys that have a chance of winning it. It’s something he’s been looking forward to. Because he’s being consistent at that 15-6, that makes him a little better than before.”
   Jancewicz isn’t exactly taking it easy as she prepares for the MOC. On Tuesday, she was scheduled to compete as a special guest athlete at the Bergen County meet. There, she was hoping to go after the 1985 Mercer County record in the pentathlon set by Notre Dame’s Charisse West. Next year, Jancewicz will be a multi-event athlete at the University of Pennsylvania.
   ”I know I missed it by only 100 points last year,” Jancewicz said of the record. “That’d be one height in high jump. I’m hoping I can do it.”
   Walker is happy that she has the opportunity. The Robbinsville senior trip will cost her the chance to compete later in the year, but Bergen officials have opened their meet to her.
   ”That’s what I like about this sport,” Walker said. “There are people like that — it’s all about the kids getting out there and getting the chance to compete.”
   A couple days later, Jancewicz will be competing in the MOC, though she won’t be as busy as she’s been at sectionals and groups.
   ”I ran the 4 first, then went to high jump and had 10 minutes and had to jump,” Jancewicz said. “I felt a little tired. I was supposed to run the 55 too. He decided to take me out. I kind of wanted to run it. I think I was seeded sixth.”
   Walker was impressed as usual with how Jancewicz handled herself through the stresses of the group meet. From her start in the 400 to finishing with the 4×400 relay, she was composed and it was contagious.
   ”You can tell she’s nervous and excited, but it’s all forgotten when she gets on the track,” Walker said. “You can’t tell. That’s what’s impressive about her, just how she goes about it. The other girls for the relay, I think they weren’t as nervous. They feed off her.”
   On Saturday, they helped to pick up the pace for Jancewicz, who went out a little too fast, but gave her team the lead after the first leg.
   ”She went out so hard, you could tell she was running out of gas the last couple meters,” Walker said. “Because of that, the other girls ran better. The other girls ran faster than (previous meets) by a couple seconds. It was good to see the other girls step up to help her out. They had a great race.”
   Beyond the MOC comes the Eastern States Invitational on Tuesday, and then nationals are on the horizon. It’s a lot to compete in, but that’s just fine with Jancewicz, who has shown over and over her ability to do well in multiple events.
   ”We knew it was going to be one of those things where she had a busy month,” Walker said. “That’s why we didn’t have her doing a lot during the beginning of the season. We had her throw shot put at counties. Even at states the other day, I didn’t want her to really go in the 55. We didn’t want her to do too much. That’s the most stressful part of my job — making sure we don’t overdo it with her.”
   Jancewicz’s high jump has suffered a bit as she focuses on developing in other areas. Her work has paid off as any of her competitors at the sectionals and groups can attest.
   ”My other events are improving,” Jancewicz said. “I’m happy with how the season’s been going.