Sports Shorts       Freehold's Pedro Espinosa turned the 43rd Asbury Park Polar Race into a 100-meter dash. Espinosa was dueling with Dickson Mercer of Fair Haven over the 5-mile race held on the Asbury Park Boardwalk, until the final 100 meters, when he unleashed a strong finishing sprint to win the race in 26:... More ... Defense - Red Bank style      SCOTT PILLING staff Above, Red Bank's Quanee Calhoun and Kelly Wolff converge onShore Regional's Julia Duff during a Bayshore Holiday Tournament consolation game in Holmdel Dec. 28. Below, Red Bank Regional goalie Albin Wicki makes a kick save in a recent game against Brick Twp. More ... Good starts in indoor track for Cox, Nembhard       The Seton Hall Games were the starting line for the 2006-07 indoor track and field season for two of the state's elite sprinters - Monmouth Regional's Chris Cox and Ocean Township's Georgina Nembhard. A the two-day meet, held in the Sheila and Richard Regan Field House on the campus of... More ... Rutgers' historic year puts program in spotlight Coach knows, with success comes heightened expectations BY MIKE McDONALD Staff Writer       When the Rutgers University football team (11-2) beat Kansas State (7-6) by the final score of 37-10 on Dec. 28 in the Texas Bowl, it marked the end to one of the most illustrious seasons in school history. The win was the school's first-ever bowl victory and validated the notion th... More ... Red Bank boys look to start trophy collection BY VIN RAPOLLA Staff Writer       Facing some high expectations coming into this season, the Red Bank Regional boys basketball team is certainly living up to the hype. The Bucs have raced out of the gates this winter, putting together a 6-0 start that includes the team's first Buc Holiday Classic tournament title sinc... More ... Trio of local girls teams capture tourney titles RBC, RFH prepare for showdown on Tuesday BY DOUG McKENZIE Staff Writer       It certainly was a festive holiday break for three of the area's top girls basketball teams. The Red Bank Catholic, Rumson-Fair Haven and Monmouth Regional girls all entered tournaments over the holiday break, with all three teams claiming team titles, More ...