Track team just about a year old
By John Tredrea, Special Writer
WEST AMWELL — It was only last year that South Hunterdon Regional High School started a boys and girls track team.
”We started with a team of 12 boys and girls last year,” said Coach Scott Ward.
”We got a bigger turnout this year — 12 girls and seven boys — and hope to have a bigger team still next year. This year, we competed only in conference meets, and only in the running events.
” Next year, we’ll have a weekly schedule of dual meets in addition to competing in the larger, conference meets. We also hope to add some field events next year,” the coach said.
In a dual meet, one school’s track and field team competes against another. Conference meets include teams from every school in that conference.
Among the field events that could be added next year are the high jump and long jump.
The South Hunterdon team finished eighth overall in the Central Jersey Group I championships on May 24 and 25.
The following weekend, members of the team went to the Group I state championship meet at Egg Harbor High School.
Going to that meet was the team’s 400-meter relay team of Rachel Schondel, Julianne Riggs, Lian Grow and Lauren Wendeborn.
Also going to the big meet for South Hunterdon was Kelly Shaffer, who had a great day, finishing first in the 1,600- meter run with a time of 5:14.25, thus becoming the school’s first Group I state champion in track.
Kelly also finished fourth in the 800-meter run. “It was a great accomplishment for Kelly that day,” Mr. Ward said. “To be a state champion is a big deal for sure.”
Kelly then advanced to the Meet of Champions, in which runners from all groups compete, and finished the 1,600 in 5:08.01.
That meet was held at South Plainfield High School this year. “That was Kelly’s best time in the 1,600 meters this season, good for 21st place overall in the Meet of Champions,” Mr. Ward said.