Rhoden, Cox, Smith win Shore track titles
Monmouth boys finish first
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

Red Bank's Kerone Rhoden won the battle and Monmouth Regional's Charles Cox, the war.

Rhoden defeated Cox in the highly anticipated 200-meter dash at Saturday's Shore Conference Track and Field Championships at Neptune High School. However, it was Cox who had the final word as he led the Golden Falcons to the Shore title with 74 points.

Rhoden and Cox hooked up in two outstanding races at the Monmouth County meet last week. Rhoden got the better of Cox in the 100 and Cox returned the favor in the 200.

With Rhoden only running the 200 at the SC, that would be their only meeting. Rhoden managed to catch the Cox before the tape in this 200 hook-up, winning in 22.30 to 22.41.

With the conference meet held in just one day, Cox was very busy. He finished third in the 100-meter final (11.20) and second in the 200. In between he romped in his specialty, the 400 meters.

The state champion remained undefeated this season, winning in 48.12 with twin brother Chris Cox second (48.76).

The Cox brothers teamed up with Kelly Fisher and Rashon Verrett to close the meet with a victory in the 4x400 (3:21.81).

Chris Cox finished second in the 400 hurdles (54.50) behind the meet record 52.31 from Lakewood's Emanuel Mayers. Verrett was fourth in the 400 (50.0) as the Falcons piled up the points in the sprints.

But as Monmouth Regional demonstrated in winning the Monmouth County title, there's more to the team than its sprinters.

Edrick Alleyene was second in the shot put (53-2) and teammate Brandon Catley, fourth (52-9 1/2). Long jumper Fisher took second in the long jump (21-10 1/2).

Rumson-Fair Haven's Alex Smith didn't need a jump-off to win the conference title. He was the only jumper over the bar at 6-2 and 6-4, as he added the SC gold to his county championship.

Derek Schultz had a hand in all seven points scored by Shore Regional. He was fifth in the 400 (50.07) and long jump (20-10) and teamed with Demitri Alicakos, Michael Hendricks and Trevor Hewitt, to take sixth in the 4x400 (3:31.95).

Ocean Township's Dan Hitman topped his winning throw at the county championships with a 184-1, but was second this time to the 193-0 of Colts Neck's Kevin Kelly. Kelly had finished second to Hitman at the county meet.

Also scoring for the Spartans was Nick Moyle. He was third in the 110 hurdles (15.12) and sixth in the triple jump (42-2 1/2). Red Bank Catholic's Sean Curry took fourth in the 400 hurdles (15.35) and fellow Casey J.T. Walsh, tied for second in the high jump (6-0).

Georgina Nembhard had a pair of second places for the Ocean Township girls. Nembhard, who sat out the county meet after tweaking her hamstring while long jumping, returned to duel with Lakewood's Shavon Greaves for the first time since the indoor season.

Greaves won both match-ups in Neptune, 12.12-12.37 in the century and 24.78-25.04 in the 200.

Hannah Boyce tied for second in the high jump for Ocean (5-2). Nicole Sica placed fourth in the triple jump (34-1 1/2) and Suhail La Vecchia, was sixth in the discus throw (107-9) as Ocean tied for sixth place (28).

Rumson's sprinters continued to impress. Melissa Bellin (57.86) and Gabriella Kelly (58.45) were third and fourth in the 400 meters. Kelly was also fourth in the 100 (12.99). Jamie Carroll took fifth in the 400 hurdles (1:06.23).

For Monmouth's girls, Elena Faagi was fourth in the discus (124-7) and Farida Jawando, was sixth in the triple jump (33-7 1/2).

Action moves to the state level this weekend with the NJSIAA State Sectionals, the first step towards the MOC.

Central Jersey Groups I and IV will travel to Hillsborough High School today and tomorrow while Monmouth Regional is the site of the Central Jersey Group II and III competitions. The top six finishers in each event at the sectionals moves on to next weekend's State Groups Championships.