Raider girls second at Skyland meet
By Justin Feil, Packet Media Group
In a span of a week, Kelsey Vieira picked up her first two outdoor Skyland Conference Championship gold medals as well as her third career gold medal in an outdoor Somerset County Championship.
The Hillsborough High School sophomore, however, would like to have had made some bigger jumps.
"I was hoping to be jumping better at the middle of the season," said Vieira, who won the long jump and was second in the triple jump at the county meet Tuesday. "I’m still happy with what I’m doing, but I was hoping to be doing better."
Vieira had swept the long jump and triple jump at the Skyland meet last Wednesday. She wanted to do the same at the county meet but was just four inches away from winning the long jump.
"I feel like now it’s based on technique and everything," Vieira said. "It’s really based on technique. I’m right there, but there’s something that I’m not quite grasping."
Vieira still scored significant points for the Raiders. She added a fourth-place finish in the 200 meters to her triple jump win and runner-up finish in the long jump to help Hillsborough place second overall behind Franklin, 118-107. Hillsborough was also second at the Skyland meet.
"I thought we had some good performances," said Raiders girls coach Rich Refi. "We were not at 100 percent."
A stomach bug knocked out some potential points for Hillsborough at the Somerset meet, but it is hoping to be at full strength when it hosts the Central Jersey Group IV state meet on May 23-24.
"It’s a very good section," Refi said. "I think we match up well. We’re just looking to make improvements."
At the county meet, Marlee Sabatino was the Hillsborough girls’ only other winner. She senior captured the pole vault at 11-feet-7, one inch better than she had jumped to win the Skyland meet the week before.
Amanda Castellano was second in the 400 hurdles and sixth in the 800, Casey Kelly was fourth in the 400 hurdles and sixth in the 100 hurdles, Kiana Wilson was fifth in the 100 meter dash, Stephanie Mauer took third in the 3200 and fifth in the 1600 meters, Paige Novak was third in the 800 and sixth in the 1600, Lauren Smith was fifth in the 200, Molly Doyle ran to fifth in the 3200, Daija King took third in the 400 meters, the girls 4×400 was second, Trey Murphy was third in the discus and fourth in the shot put, Priscilla Senoo was second in the shot put, fourth in the javelin and fifth in the discus, Emily Papciak was sixth in the high jump and Sarah Pallay was fifth in the pole vault.
"I think our team was kind of disappointed," Vieira said. "A lot of girls are hurt and a lot were sick this week. It was a struggle for us. We weren’t really happy how we did.
"By next week, we should be rested up and well. I think next week we’re going to be all right."
Refi was encouraged by what he saw out of his contingent considering the Raiders were missing some points winners. A good week of training should have them ready for sectionals.
"We didn’t have our complete team and we were second to Franklin," Refi said.
The Hillsborough boys placed fifth with 43 points. They had a number of runner-up finishers. Zachary Williams was second in the long jump and sixth in the 100 dash, Bryce Engelhardt was second in the 400 hurdles, Andre Dipaolo was second in the javelin, Nick McFarland, who had won the 1600 at the Skyland meet, was second in the 800, Matt Nunn was sixth in the 400, Matthew Doring was fifth in the discus and Matthew Nowaczek was fifth in the high jump. Their 4×400 team was third.
Vieira will be one of the top jumpers at the sectional. She is hoping that she can make her biggest improvements in the next month. She has personal bests of 17-9¼ from this year for long jump and she has yet to top last year’s best triple jump, 37-9¼.
"I think last year based on how I progressed so quickly, I took that into this year," Vieira said. "This year, I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying where I was. I think last year was special because I was a freshman and I got good so quickly. Now I’m staying where I am."
Vieira has seen progress overall, but would like it to show up on meet day to help the Raiders even more.
"I have gotten a lot better in my arms with jumping," she said. "In practice, I jump well. When it comes to the competition, it gets to me. But I have been progressing technique-wise."
Vieira remains a big contributor for the Raiders. She is one of their more versatile athletes, one who has competed in hurdles, sprints, the jumps and even some 400 meters.
"She’s a big scorer for us," Refi said. "I think she hasn’t even scratched her potential yet. She’s just a very good athlete. There are a lot of things she can do."
Vieira still prefers the jumps to other events, and she will be looking to move on to the Group IV state meet in both jumps. The top six finishers at sectionals advance, and it will take some of her best jumps to keep her season going.
"I have been thinking about it, the competition and everything," Vieira said. "The competition is tough at sectionals. I’m going to try my best and hope for the best."