By Jeff Appelblatt
The Shore Conference A North Division track and field meet was dominated by Colts Neck High School and Neptune High School.
From Colts Neck, it was the usual suspects that took over the 3,200-meter run. Jordan Brannan won, while Anthony Russo, Matthew Schaefer and Kevin Berry rounded out the top four runners to finish the race at Manalapan High School. Brannan also won the 800, while Liam Hoagland and Gavin McDonnell finished No. 4 and 5 and Brad D’Antuono was seventh.
It was Russo’s turn to win during the 1,600. He was followed across the finish line by Schaefer. Berry dropped to No. 4 when Nicholas Ackerman from Freehold Township High School got in front of him.
The Cougars also saw Rob Schandall and Alexander Austin finish second and fourth in the 400. Austin also landed No. 3 in the 110 hurdles.
Neptune owned the top three spots in the 100, but Colts Neck’s Justin Dibsie took home fourth place.
It’s often all about the group relays for Marlboro High School, but that day in Manalapan, numerous Mustangs stood out. Charles Maree won the 400 and came in second in the 800. Edward McBurnie won the 400 hurdles and placed fifth in the 200. Kwaku Amponsah won the 110 hurdles, and Marlboro won the 4×400 relay.
Marlboro’s girls’ team — Alexa Friedman, Briana Mullan, Anna Paziewska and Danielle Spano — also won its 4×400 relay race.
A number of individual racers stood out for the girls, too. Many were from the relay squad. Spano won the 100 and the 200 and placed fourth in the long jump, while Mullan won the 400 dash and 400 hurdles.
“Mullan won the 400, 400 hurdles and anchored our 4×400,” Marlboro coach Raymond Sypniewski said. “[She] was second when she got the baton and brought us back for the win.”
Gianna Gomez also secured her usual spot as first in the triple jump, third in the long jump and fifth in the 100 hurdles. Antoinette Gyles, meanwhile, finished second in the shot put, while Hannah Brown finished fourth and fifth in the 3,200 and 1,600, respectively. Brianna Diaz was fourth in the discus throw.
At the Penn Relays April 27, Marlboro’s 4×400 girls’ team finished second of the 16 teams competing in the finals. Marlboro’s boys finished sixth in the tournament’s finals.
Russo from Colts Neck finished 13th in the 3,000-meter run.