By Wayne Witkowski
Boys outdoor track and field teams only need two outstanding athletes like Matawan Regional High School’s Tom Kalieta in the short distance events and David Alston in the jumps to place high in the team standings for the big meets like the Shore Conference Championships May 21 at Central Regional High School and the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group III championships at Northern Burlington Regional High School the following weekend.
But a few points from other contributors could make the difference in finishing at the top.
At the Monmouth County Championships May 11 and 13, Kalieta again was in top form in the 400 meters, where he ran a personal best 48.41 for second place, and won the 200 in 21.93. He also ran on the winning 4×400 relay with Brye Lyew, Thomas Williams and Charlie Serrano that was timed in 3:22.83.
Alston won the high jump (6-6) and placed second in the long jump (21-10½). He also was third in the 110 hurdles in 15.04. Aliem Shaw finished right behind Alston in the long jump for third place, as Matawan was securely in second place with 63 points behind Christian Brothers Academy (83 points).
Matawan brings a 75-dual meet win streak over 11 unbeaten seasons and 11 straight Shore Conference division championships into the Shore Conference meet May 21 and the state meets, where it is going for a fourth straight section title. The Huskies won three straight section title indoors.
Matawan closed out its sweep of dual meets by beating Red Bank Regional High School, 101-39, May 16, as Joe Buekers won the javelin with his best throw of the season at 148-10 and Mike Pepe had his farthest throw of the discus this spring at 139-11. Coach Sam Turner said he also was encouraged seeing Shaw run a fast leg in the 4×400 relay, giving the Huskies depth in that event.
Matawan will need another big effort in the state sectionals from Kalieta and Alston, who may scale back a bit in the Shore Conference meet while favoring a back injury that could see him skip the long jump.
“I think our major goal is the state sectionals and in the sectionals, we have to turn it up a notch,” said Turner, who was honored by the New Jersey Coaches Association last month as the indoor girls track and field Coach of the Year. “We want to do well in [the] Shore Conference, but our focus is on the sectional meet.”
A lot of teams, including Christian Brothers Academy, can come away with the Shore Conference title with just a few outstanding competitors and a strong supporting cast because of the large number of teams entered. But in the state section meet, Turner is wary of Holmdel High School.
“They’re more rounded than we are,” Turner said. “There are a lot of points out there we have to get, and it’s not easy. Holmdel’s hurdlers are strong. A lot of things have to go our way and guys like Brye Lyew and Aliem Shaw have to step up.”
A lot of supporting runners showed they can in the Monmouth County Championships with personal bests, but they have to be even better in the weeks ahead. That means Lyew has to come through in the 400 like he did at the county meet with a fourth-place finish (49.66) behind Kalieta, and Mike Pepe has to step up in the discus, where he finished sixth in the county meet at 137-7. Pepe’s efforts ease the absence of Donald Smalls, who missed this season in the shot put while recovering from knee surgery.
“That’s really hurt the team in a lot of respects,” Turner said of Smalls’ absence. “You have to overcome injuries — no excuses. But with so many young guys, the future looks good for Matawan.”
Matawan’s girls also have been hampered by a key injury that has slowed star sprinter Samantha Anderson.
“She’s working her way back, but we don’t want her doing too much too soon,” assistant coach Dorothy Bagley said.
Anderson finished sixth in the 200 in 26.55 and seventh in the 100 in 12.86, which was just .03 shy of medaling. She was also eighth in the 400 (59.74).
Bagley and head coach Suzanne Mergner feel Anderson will continue to lower her times and move up in places in the weeks ahead.
“Everything is coming together,” Bagley said of the entire team.
Matawan freshman Angelica Armstrong was fourth in the 100 meters in 12:73 at the county meet.
Leading the way for Matawan at the county meet was Danielle Cross, who won the 110 hurdles in 15.21, which was just .02 faster than Middletown High School North’s Jenna Reid. Cross also debuted in the 400 hurdles, finishing eighth in 1:09.46.
Isabella Viggiano tied the best height in the pole vault at 10-0 but was second based on misses. Rachel Kenny was third in the 800 in 2:15.88.
Matawan was tied with Holmdel for seventh place in the team standings with 29 points.