Falcons, Cox brothers have golden day at MOC
Charles wins 400; Monmouth boys break 4x400 record
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

CHRIS KELLY staff Monmouth Regional's Charles (r) and Chris Cox race to first- and second-place finishes respectively in the 400-meter event at Sunday's Meet of Champions in Toms River.

Monmouth Regional opponents learned the hard way that no lead is safe in the 4x400 relay.

When Chris Cox was handed the baton for the third leg of the NJSIAA Indoor Meet of Champions 4x400 Sunday, the Golden Falcons were back in fifth place and some 20 meters behind Trenton Central, the State Group IV champions. Cox had a lot of real estate to make up and a lot of team to pass before the Falcons, winners of the Group II state title, could challenge the Tornadoes.

But the tornado on the track was Cox, who put his head down and circled the 200-meter track at the Bennett Indoor Sports Complex in Toms River with a fervor, throwing everything he could into his 400-meter leg. By the time he handed the baton off to his brother Charles Cox, he had the Falcons in second place and had cut the deficit in half.

"I had to get as close as I could for Charles," he said. "I knew I was the strongest in the race and did what I had to do."

Once Charles Cox had gathered the baton in, and went off after Trenton Central anchor Tykeen Fulton, Cox was certain of the outcome.

"Charles has that mind-set that he can't get beat," said Chris.

Sure enough, Charles would not be denied. The deficit was still around five meters as Fulton and Cox hit the backstretch. As they rounded the final turn, Cox was flying. He carried that momentum down the straight-away, catching and passing Fulton. When he cross the finish line, he stopped the timer at 3:22.42, a new meet record by .02. Camden and Old Bridge had shared the mark at 3:22.44.

"It's great," Charles said after the race. "All of us have worked hard together. It feels great."

Kelly Fisher and Joe Ortiz ran the opening two legs for the Falcons and did their jobs well.

Most relay teams down by 20 meters halfway through would be out of it. But earlier in the meet, the Falcons showed why they aren't like most relay teams.

In the 400-meter final, Charles (48.92) and Chris (49.15) went one-two. No other team in the state can boast such a closing tandem, the two best in the state.

Charles' goal all year was to add the indoor 400 MOC crown to the one he won outdoors. It was also for him and his brother to go one-two, which they did.

"I ran under 49 and I'm happy about that," said Charles.

Monmouth thrower Brandon Catley was 12th in the shot put (52-0 1/2).

Ocean Township's Georgina Nembhard was not quite as fortunate in her quest to win an MOC title. She ran straight into freshman standout English Gardner in the 55-meter dash final. Nembhard produced her fastest 55 of the season, 7.09, but was just .01 short of Gardner at the line.

Still, it's been a good indoor campaign for Nembhard, who can now look ahead to the outdoor season, where her best events, the 100 and 200 meters, are contested. She goes into the spring season knowing she is faster than she's ever been before.

The MOC was held over two days this year in Toms River, with the girls competing on Saturday and the boys on Sunday.

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