When push came to shove, the Christian Brothers Academy track team turned to members of its nationally ranked cross country team to help deliver a Monmouth County championship, and they did.
Left: Holmdel High School’s Michael Hoffman puts everything into his longjump attempt during the Monmouth Country Track and Field Championships on May 5 at Neptune High School. Above: Mater Dei High School’s Brianna Crosby approaches the finish line of her 400-meter intermediate hurdles race. Below: Christian Brothers Academy’s Bryan Morris competes in the pole vault. CBA would go on to win the county championship. Throughout the two-day Monmouth County Track and Field Championships held May 5 and 8 at Neptune High School, the Colts and the Matawan Regional High School Huskies were locked in an exciting duel for the top spot.
Matawan took the lead on the first day thanks to wins in the 400 meters from Brian Ramcheran (49.12) and in the field from shot-putter Andre Hodge, who edged CBA’s premeet favorite, Andrew Rohan, 51-¾ to 50-9½ in a bit of an upset, and pole-vaulter Dylan Spadaccini (13-0).
PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff Wind was a big factor in the 400, and it prompted Ramcheran to take the lead a little earlier than he likes to.
I looked at the flag and saw the wind on the backstretch and I knew I had to be in the lead,” he said.
The wind made the taxing 400 meters even more exhausting, but it was all worth it at the finish line.
“I’ve been working hard for it [county championship],” he said. “I’m proud of myself.”
CBA’s lone win the first day came form javelin thrower Jimmy Tully, who threw the spear 193-4 to win by 15 feet.
On Saturday, Hodge added the discus crown to his shot put title, again edging Rohan, 157-7 to 153-4.
The Colts had stayed close via Rohan and Tully in the field and 15 points they collected in the 1,600 meters, where Mike Mazzaccaro finished second to Red Bank Catholic’s Kevin Byrne, 4:17.99-4:18.01, on May 5.
George Kelly (4:23.40), Dan Mykityshyn (4:23.42) and Dan Bailey (4:27.36), finished fourth, fifth and sixth.
The same quartet stepped on the track Saturday and gave the Colts the points they needed to pull away from the Huskies. Mazzaccaro led a one-two-three-four sweep and the 28 big points that went with it.
Mazzaccaro led the parade, stopping the clock at 9:36.62, followed closely by Mykityshyn (9:36.88), Kelly (9:37.50) and Bailey (9:43.89).
Those points made the difference as CBA topped Matawan, 87-74, for the championship, its first since 2005.
Raritan High School’s Bennett Jackson was one of the individual standouts at the meet. On May 5 he lost his anticipated 100-meter showdown with Long Branch High School’s Miles Shuler, 10.89-10.98. However, you might say he lost the battle but won the war. He came back on Saturday to beat Shuler-Foster over 200 meters (22.51-22.69) and destroyed the field in the 110 hurdles. His 14.09 was more than a full second ahead of the runner-up, light years in a fast event such as this.
St. John Vianney High School had a pair of champions. On the girls’ side, Chelsea Delaney won the 3,200 meters (11:34.09). That will go alongside the Shore Conference indoor title she captured during the indoor season.
For the Lancer boys, the 4×400 relay team bested a loaded field in 3:23.48. The quartet consisted of Anthony Corona, Chris Randise, Brian O’Connor and Kyle Tuohy. They beat Monmouth County Relays champion Freehold Township by just .07.
It’s back to Neptune this weekend for the Shore Conference Championships, which are Friday and Saturday. This will be the final tune-up before the NJSIAA state sectionals that start May 21-22.