Manalapan’s Robby Andrews kept running excellence alive in the Freehold Regional District.
Running indoor track for the very first time, Andrews packed a career full of highlights into one season, led by his first NJSIAA Meet of Champions title.
Along the way, Andrews displayed his versatility with impressive performances in every race from400meters up to the 3,200.
His state-leading 1:54.85 800 at the MOC was the biggest win of his career, but his finest hour may have been the high school mile at the Millrose Games. Andrews handled the high-banked Madison Square Garden track like a pro, finishing second.
The Shore Conference held division championships for the first time this winter, and Manalapan won the public school A North crown.
Andrews, as would be expected, heads the 2008 All-Freehold Regional District Boys Indoor Track and Field Team. He has the 800 and 1,600 spots on the team.
Joining him are Howell’s David Hayes (400), Freehold Township’s Dan Mularz (55 hurdles), Howell’s 4×400 relay team, and Colts Neck’s Mark Leininger (3,200), Brandon Cabral (pole vault), Chris Jackson (55 dash) and Frank Snead (shot put).
Andrews often employed a lethal finishing kick over the last lap that made his competitors look pedestrian. His season began with a smashing performance at the Armory in New York City, where his meet record 2:30.52 for 1,000 meters earned him Most Outstanding Track Performer recognition. He then ran a 4:12.48 in winning the Millrose Qualifier at the New York Armory. He was second at Millrose in 4:14.60.
Turning his attention to the New Jersey race, he won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 at the newANorth Division Championships.
At the Monmouth County Championships, he worked on his speed and won the 400 (50.89) and 800 double. In Central Jersey Group IV, he won the 3,200 and was fourth in the 800. He concentrated on the 800 for the big state meets, winning the Group IV title in 1:55.01.At theMOC, Andrews ran a perfect race, attacking at the start of the last lap and swiftly leaving everyone else behind, and posting the fastest time of the year and eighth fastest in the country.
Andrews has everyone looking forward to what he can do outdoors.
Leininger, who emerged at the end of the cross country season as one of the best distance runners in the state, was just that indoors in the 3,200. The junior enjoyed a season with steady results that took himall the way to the MOC. He was first at the county championships, fourth in Central Jersey, and third in State Group IV (9:32.83) and at the MOC. He ran the fastest 3,200 in the District under-cover.
Leininger’s 4:25.6 anchor mile led the Cougar 4×1-mile relay team to All-American honors at the NSIC with a sixth place. Mike O’Dowd, Kevin O’Dowd and Jason Weiner ran the opening three legs on their way to AA certificates.
The sprints were very competitive this year. In the 400, Hayes made his case with consistency. He won theANorth title, was third in the county, fifth in the conference, second in Central Jersey and fifth in State Group IV (50.88).
Hayes anchored the 4×400 team that made its push in the state meets. Chris Sullivano, Dan Scherbinski, Conrad Zwolinski and Hayes were fourth in Central Jersey, one place ahead of Freehold Township and eighth in the Group IV state championships (3:31.20), again just ahead of the Pats.
The 55-meter dash was not like the 400, where Hayes came to the fore. The dash had a different person shine each week. Jackson, a senior, had the best series of marks and won the A North title and took fourth in Central Jersey
There was never a doubt about the top hurdler, since it was Mularz all along. He had an outstanding season, winning theA North and Shore Conference (7.60) championships. He was second in the county, Central Jersey and in Group IV. He also anchored the 4×400 relay team that qualified for the Group championships.
Colts Neck’s Brandon Cabral, injured late in the season, had the early results in the pole vault that stood up. He was first inANorth and sixth in the county. His 12- 0 clearance was the best of the season.
Snead started the season off with a second at the A North meet. He threw 43 feet or better a half-dozen times, and his 45- 5 ½ was the best throw of the season.
The high jump was anyone’s to take, and Zwolinski, one of the indoor season’s best all-around athletes, gets the spot with his A North win and 6-0 high jump. Besides jumping and running on the Howell relay team, he was the second-best hurdler in the area behind Mularz. He was third in Central Jersey in hurdles.
Special mention goes to two athletes in two events that were not contested at the state meets: Manalapan’s Derek Sammak won the 200-meter dash at the A North Division Championships, and Freehold Township’s Marcus Goode set a new District record in the triple jump, 45-11, at the Eastern States Championships, where he was 10th. Those earning HonorableMention are: Kevin O’Dowd, Mike O’Dowd, Jason Weiner,Ashton Gooding,Alton Havey and Vytoutas Ulke, Colts Neck; Cody O’Flaherty, Freehold Borough; Ryan Spadola, Abe Hamani, Robert Searby, Sean Walsh and Gregg Tilley, Freehold Township; Matt Borzomati, Howell; and Chris Pellicano and George Catuogno, Manalapan.