By: Carolyn M. Hartko
The timing of snowstorms last year provided a distinct disadvantage for the South Brunswick High School boys’ winter track team. The 2000-2001 squad finished up 1-4-1 in dual meets for their first season in the Greater Middlesex Conference’s Red Division, mostly due to the fact that several meets had to be combined because of bad weather.
"The record certainly wasn’t representative of what they were able to do," Viking head coach Brian Jost said. "It just worked out that we were missing people during the two dual meets that we had combined with three other schools at a time. When you’re missing one or two key people, you get wiped out by three teams."
A swing of just seven points would have changed the tie and two of South’s losses to wins. So everyone connected with the track program is keeping their fingers crossed for a continuation of the type of weather the area has seen this past month.
"The winter track philosophy sometimes is, get the kids ready for big meets and don’t risk an injury in snowy and icy conditions," Jost said. "Sometimes it works for you, and sometimes it works against you, but I think we can do better this year."
The Vikings are heading into the season with the largest roster they’ve had in several years. They only lost three seniors last June, and return the top people in each event. The 2001-2002 squad is top-heavy with experienced distance runners, most of them seniors. Leading the pack is middle-distance man Matt Randal, who will be looking to defend his GMC title in the 800. The other seniors on the distance squad are Dan Klag, Dan McDonald, Jared Milrad, Tom Poorton, and Scott Yeager. They’ll be joined by junior Ankush Patel, and sophomores Ryan O’Laughlin and Chris Krajewski.
Senior Steven Folkes will bring in points in the sprints and hurdles, and junior Angel Ayala is another strong sprinter. Jost is hoping some of the newcomers will be able to add some depth as the season goes on. They include juniors Dominic Guerriero, Ronald Long and Eric Synder. Guerriero and Snyder will also be working on the hurdles.
Senior Chris Shiraldi returns to the weight squad, along with juniors Samer Atallah, Miguel Benitez and Sean Carner. Sophomore Eddie Couperthwaite is another shot-putter to keep an eye on.
"There are a lot more kids out, but most of the sprinters and hurdlers are on the young side," Jost said. "Most of the distance kids are seniors, so they have to be replaced next year. The throwers still have another year, plus we have some decent sophomores and a freshman working out. They have to get bigger and stronger for them to be successful, but that’s just a maturation process. So, I think we’ll take our lumps in some events, but we’re building towards the future."
Jost is again expecting the competition in the Red Division to be tough, all the way down the line. But as long as his athletes show progress over the course of the season, and have fun doing it, the season will be a success for the Vikings.
The boys opened their season this past weekend at the 48th Annual Bishop Laughlin Games held at the 168th Street Armory in New York City. The two-day event is the largest indoor track meet in the country. This year, the Armory played host to 221 high schools from seven states. In varsity action, McDonald came in eighth in the 1000 meter run (2:37.45), and Randal was 13th in the same race (2:38.22). Folkes placed 17th in the 55 hurdles (8.52).
In the JV competition, held on Sunday, Ryan O’Laughlin took second in the 10th grade 1000 (2:29.2), and Couperthwaite was sixth in the 10th grade shot put with a toss of 36-3.
The Vikings will be back at the same venue on Dec. 27 for the Holiday Classic. A week later, the GMC Relays will be held. South Brunswick will host the high jump and shot put on Thursday, Jan. 3, at 6 p.m. The running events take place on Friday, Jan. 4, at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
