The spring scholastic season is entering its final lap so it is only fitting that some local track and field stars shined with star performances this past weekend.
Ocean Township High School’s Eliot Gindi delivered a hat trick at the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group III Sectional Track and Field Championships that were run at Northern Burlington Township High School in Columbus.
The Spartan distance runner was a triple champion when he captured the 800-meter (1:57,72), 1,600-meter (4:20.90) and 3,200-meter (9:26,58) races.
His sparking effort led Ocean to the sectional team title.
At the Central Jersey, Group IV meet held at Hillsborough High School, Freehold Township High School’s Ciara Roche got the best of her rival Christina Rancan of West Windsor-Plainsboro South twice.
Rancan beat Roche for the indoor Meet of Champions 1,600-meter crown, but, at the state sectional meet this past weekend, the Patriot out-ran Rancan in both the 800- and 1,600-meter races en route to winning the sectional title in both events.
The Patriot star won the 800 in 2:12.34 to her rival’s 2:12.69 and won the 1,600 in 4:58.15 to Rancan’s 5:02.79.
North Brunswick’s Shelby Francis broke three records when she won the 400 hurdles at the Central Jersey, Group IV meet at Hillsborough. Her time of 1:00.87 broke the Middlesex County record that was established in 1997 by Bassey Adjah of Piscataway and it broke the school and meet records that were set by Laura Williams of North Brunswick in 2010.
Freehold Township’s Stephen Staklinski had the best boys’ high jump in the Shore this year by clearing 6-8 ¼ on his way to the sectional championship. The jump was also a school record.
In Central Jersey, Group I, also at Hillsborough, New Egypt High School’s Natalie Suess was a triple winner in the field. The senior won the high jump (5-2), long jump (16-8) and triple jump (37-7 3.4).
Tyler Burnham used his arm and bat to lead East Brunswick High School to a 1-0 victory over J.P. Stevens in the Greater Middlesex Conference Baseball Tournament final play at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater.
Burnham pitched a complete-game two-hitter, striking out seven while not issuing a walk. He ended the game with his bat when he produced an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh, a hit that scored the pinch runner, David Paribello, with the game’s only run.
Edison High School’s Kyle Telesnick had four RBI, coming through with a pair two-RBI singles as sixth-seeded Edison upset the No. 3 seed, Monroe, in the quarterfinals of the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group IV baseball playoffs.
Brian Kochenash singled home the game-winning run for the Ocean Township High School baseball team in its 5-4 victory over Allentown in the quarterfinals of the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group III playoffs. Kochenash was 2-3 in the game, when he set a school record for hits in a season with 49.
New Egypt High School’s Tim Morera went 2-4 with two RBI and two runs scored as the ninth-seeded Warriors moved into the NJIAA Central Jersey, Group I baseball semifinals with an 11-6 victory over Gloucester in the quarterfinals.
South Brunswick High School’s Jaime Klemas went 3-4 with two RBI and a run scored and Haley Grossi was 2-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored as the sixth-seeded Vikings upset second-seeded Monroe, 9-2, in the Greater Middlesex Conference Softball Tournament semifinals at Middlesex County College in Edison.
The triumph avenged a state sectional loss by the Vikings to the Falcons and sent South Brunswick to the GMCT finial for the first time in school history, The Vikings were scheduled to play the No. 1 seed, South Plainfield, in the championship game on May 31 at Middlesex County College.
Faith Weber made one run standup as the New Egypt High School softball team eked out a 1-0 victory over Keansburg in the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group I playoff semifinal.
Weber struck out 13 and allowed just one hit in the victory. Sam Goetz’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth delivered the game’s only run.
Brittany Bruno scored five goals and Elizabeth Scarrone collected four goals and four assists as the top-seeded Rumson-Fair Haven High School’s girls’ lacrosse team defeated Haddonfield, 19-3, in the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group II semifinals. It was the 23rd consecutive victory for the 23-1 Bulldogs.
Rumson-Fair Haven is schedule to play No. 2 Manasquan in the sectional final on May 31 in Rumson. The Bulldogs have defeated Manasquan three teams this year.