Patriots capture CJ IV indoor track crown

The Freehold Township High School boys track team added the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV track championship to its impressive list of achievements this winter.

CHRIS KELLY staff Colts Neck High School's Tracey Vill competes in the pole vault competition at the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV Indoor Track and Field Championships held at the John Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex in Toms River on Feb. 8. Vill finished third in the event. The Patriots have also nailed down the Shore Conference A North Division, Monmouth County and Shore Conference titles this winter.

The Patriots scored 66 points on Sunday to top Old Bridge (45). Colts Neck (30) tied for fourth place and Manalapan (15) tied for eighth. The sectional meet was held in the John Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex in Toms River.

Ryan Spadola, who won the 400 meters and anchored the 4x400 relay team to a meet record, said the Patriots fulfilled a season long goal by winning the program's first state sectional championship.

"This (Central Jersey title) is the goal we had and to finally accomplish it feels great," he said.

Spadola remained undefeated in the 400 (50.61) by racing in his newly adopted style of running with the leaders for the first half of the race and then out-kicking them at the finish. His teammate Bobby Searby finished third in 52.11.

Freehold Township's undefeated 4x400 relay team, however, cut it close. When Coach Todd Briggs put the team together he wanted Searby to run the third leg and Spadola to finish it off.

Searby runs better when he has someone to catch and Spadola is the closer who will not surrender a lead. Briggs' strategy was put to its toughest test on Sunday as the Patriots went up against the likes Trenton Central and Old Bridge.

After the first two legs were run by Abe Hamami and Matt Intile, the Patriots were trailing Trenton Central and Old Bridge by 15 meters and Searby had a lot of ground to make up.

"I like chasing, it gives you a target to shoot for," said Searby. "It gives you an extra boost when you catch them."

When he took the baton from Intile, Searby knew he had a daunting task in front of him. He was up to the challenge, however.

Searby handed the baton to Spadola with a slim lead and that was all Spadola would need.

"Winning the 400 is a big advantage, it gives you a lot of encouragement," noted Spadola. "I took it out in the first 100 to get a little bit of a lead. In the last 200 I kicked it out."

With Spadola running a low 49 split (Searby was also under 49), the Patriots remained undefeated in the 4x400 with their time of 3:28.04. The mark was not only a new meet record, but, a Freehold Regional High School District indoor mark as well (eclipsing Howell's 3:28.3).

"It was a real nail-biter," said Spadola. He called Searby's effort "awesome."

Trenton Central (3:29.44) and Old Bridge (3:30.23) were second and third.

Searby said the success of the relay team is the result of the four runners being friends on and off the track and their combined determination. When the weather was at its worst this winter, they were on the track working out.

Spadola's big day also included a fourthplace finish in the 55-meter dash (6.75).

Hamami was third in the 800 (2:01.03) and his teammate Gregg Tilley was fifth (2:01.33).

Also collecting Central Jersey gold was high jumper Sean Walsh. He was the only jumper over the bar at 6-0, winning at 6-2. Freehold Township's Kwame Manful was in a group of jumpers who cleared 5-10 and finished second on fewer misses.

Walsh placed fourth in the 55 hurdles (8.16).

Points did not stop on the track on in the jumps, Gerard Castranova was third in the shot put (46-5) for Freehold Township.

The top six finishers in each event qualified for the NJSIAA state group championships to be held this weekend in Toms River (Group IV on Sunday).

Less than 48 hours removed from his national indoor 1,000-meter record, Manalapan High School's Robby Andrews won the 1,600-mter run at the Central Jersey Group IV meet and he did it in a new style for him, from the front.

"You control the pace, if someone wants to take the lead, they have to go by you," he said.

Andrews' time of 4:26.81 bested his rival, Mark Leininger of Colts Neck (4:27.34).

Kingsley Prophet was fourth in the 800 for the Braves (2:01.33) and ran on the 4x400 relay team that was sixth (3:36.90).

Colts Neck received a one-two finish in the 3,200 led by Leininger. He was first in 9:49.38 followed by his teammate Mike O'Dowd (9:55.98).

Colts Neck's Rafael Campos placed fourth in the high jump.

Marlboro girls second

Although Marlboro did not win the girls Central Jersey Group IV sectional title, they were a surprise No. 2 behind South Brunswick High School.

"We upset some teams," Coach Ray Sypniewski said.

The Mustangs scored 48 points to trail only South Brunswick High School (59 points). The Mustangs outpaced Jackson Memorial (34) and Colts Neck (27).

Ada Unachukwu led the Mustangs' effort by winning the Central Jersey Group IV 400-meter title. She ran a season's best 58.51 in topping the field and breaking her own meet record from last year (58.55). She was second in the 55-meter dash (7.26), again running her best time of the year.

Unachukwu anchored Marlboro's 4x400 relay team to a second-place finish (4:05.03) in what was the best time of the season for the team of Lauren Pietrosh, Brittany Pietrosh, Elaina Mezzasalma and Unachukwu.

The Pietrosh twins played a big role for Marlboro as Lauren broke her own school record in the 1,600 (5:12.54) and ran third in the 800 (2:21.71). Brittany was second in the 800 (2:20.55).

Colts Neck's Karissa Herrick struck gold by winning the 55-meter hurdles (8.84) over Freehold Township's Desiree Reese (8.88). Brianna Jackucewicz (11;03.00) and Rachel Morris (11:32.21) were third and fifth, respectively, in the 3,200.

Tracey Vill was third in the pole vault (8-0) for Colts Neck with Agalaba Kelichi and Lindsey Rappleyea placing fifth and sixth, respectively, in the high jump with both athletes clearing 5-0.

The Cougars were fifth in the standings with 27 points.

Freehold Township was seventh (18). In addition to Reese's second-place finish in the hurdles, Rhianna Zalewski was fourth in the 400 (1:00.88). Bridget Joyce was sixth in the 800 (2:26.01) and Collette Johnson was sixth in the 55 dash.

The team of Rhianna Zalewski, Emily Pereira, Kelly Pereira and Amy Buckiewicz placed fourth in the 4x400 (4:09.47).

Howell's Kellie Bresz was second in the pole vault (9-0) and teammate Brianna Pfaff tied for fourth (8-0). Their 9.40 points got the Rebels 10th place.

The Central Jersey Group III championships were held Saturday at the Bennett Complex and Freehold High School had three athletes advance to the state Group III meet, all in the 800 meters.

Cody O'Flaherty was third (2:00.58) in his best time of the indoor season.

Tina Furlong (2:22.25) and Laura Coyne (2:25.97) were third and sixth in the girls race.

The NJSIAA state Group III meet will be held Saturday.