Red Bank indoor track teams are loaded again
Indoor season begins with Merlin Invitational tomorrow
Tomorrow’s Merlin Invitational at Red Bank Regional High School signals the start of the indoor track and field season. And if form holds up, it should mean more championships for the host Buc teams.
Last year’s indoor season was remarkable with the boys capturing the Group II state championship, the Group II state relays title and the Shore Conference co-championship.
The girls were also busy, winning the Group II state relays and the Monmouth County Championship.
This winter, Corey Radcliffe’s girls are taking aim at four titles: the state relay, county, conference and Group III state championship. It is a lofty goal but within reach of the talent-rich Bucs.
"We’re pretty loaded," noted Radcliffe. "Right now our concern is keeping everyone healthy."
The Shore area is blessed with several of the best runners in the state, and most of them are in Little Silver. Led by the Trotters, senior Sarah and her twin sophomore sisters Amanda and Katy, Red Bank has a frightening array of distance standouts.
Amanda and Katy Trotter were the headline-makers last spring when they emerged as two of the best harriers in the state. Amanda Trotter was the Group III state champion in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. She ran a 5:03.47 in placing fourth at the Meet of Champions. Katy Trotter was 19th in that race (5:12.16).
Despite playing soccer this fall, Amanda showed up at Van Cortlandt Park in New York City last month for the Northeast Regional qualifier where she ran in the sophomore race, finishing second in 19:11.8. Katy was 19th after posting a 20:38.7. These times were run without any long-mileage base.
"They have unlimited potential," noted Radcliffe. "They are very focused and ready to run."
Older sister Sarah is better at the 3,200 and is one of the best in the conference.
As if the Trotters aren’t enough, Katie Kingsbery makes it a quartet of standouts. Kingsbery, a junior, is a transfer from Red Bank Catholic. In that outdoor MOC 1,600 final last spring, she was ninth (5:11.45). The Bucs will have three of the Top 10 milers from last year on the team.
"Katie is fitting in quite well, and she enjoys it here," Radcliffe remarked.
Kingsbery has great range, as she can run anywhere from 400 to 1,600 meters. Katy Trotter’s best distance could be the 800, and she certainly can run 1,600 well. Amanda can do the 800-1,600 too, and Sarah is best at the 1,600-3,200.
Any way you look at it, the Bucs have the distance events covered.
Red Bank’s prowess isn’t confined to its distance stable. The Bucs have some outstanding sprinters in the conference led by Liz Russell, one of the best 55-meter dash and 55-meter hurdles runners. The versatile Russell, a senior, is also a solid high jumper.
Melissa Taylor (55), Christine Hurley (400), Rosalie Bostic, Melissa Dooley (400) and Taylor Cocalis (400) give Red Bank plenty of depth in the sprints. Just as the Bucs can put together a challenging distance medley relay team, they will be equally tough in the 4×400.
Shot putter Rachel Johnson has the capability of giving the Bucs points in the field.
Although triple indoor Group II champion Walton Kingsbery has graduated, the Red Bank boys will remain championship contenders. Radcliffe has a number of veterans returning.
In the distances, the Bucs will be solid with Israel Rodriguez (the Central Jersey Group III state sectional champion in cross country this fall), Greg Langley and Jovannie Cortez. A newcomer raising a few eyebrows is Joey Kingsbery, brother of MOC 1,600 champion Walton Kingsbery. Joey Kingsbery is a freshman.
This foursome will be running the 1,600 and 3,200.
Jon Crook is the team’s 800 threat. He can also run the 1,600.
Jordan MacNeil, one of the Bucs’ indoor stars last year, runs the 400, the hurdles and the high jump. He is one of the best multi-event athletes in the Shore.
Topher Ruggiero also competes in the same three events.
Jamel Harris, a Group II state champion in the hurdles last winter, is back and running, which is good news for the Bucs. Harris tore up his knee at the conference championships last spring and is just now starting to run.
He has made great progress and is expected to help the Bucs out in the 55-meter dash. He won’t run the hurdles indoors, but his sprinting will add to an already deep stable of sprinters.
In the field, Will Gillickson and Sam Kiningham are potential point scorers in the shot put.
"We’re a pretty balanced team," noted Radcliffe. "We’re going to be a lot like last year when we had a lot of other guys who stepped up besides Walton. We need them to do the same thing this year."
The important dates on the indoor calendar includes the Monmouth County relays on Dec. 23, at Red Bank Regional.
The Monmouth County Champion-ships are early this year, Jan. 6 at RBR.
The State Group Relays are Jan. 14 (Groups IV & I) and 21 (Groups III & II) at Princeton University.
Princeton will host the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association Groups Championships on Jan. 27 (IV & I) and Jan. 28 (III & II). The Meet of Champions is Feb. 4 at Princeton.
The Shore Conference Championships aren’t until Feb. 9, at Red Bank.