RBR, RBC, Shore, RFH win track titles
BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer
Area teams made the most of the first indoor track and field Shore Conference Divisional championships.

CHRIS KELLY staff Rumson-Fair Haven's Melissa Bellin runs in the 400-meter dash during the Shore Conference Divisional Championships at the Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex in Toms River on Jan. 4.

Red Bank Catholic's and Shore Regional's girls claimed championships last weekend at the Bennett Indoor Complex in Toms River, while Red Bank Regional and Rumson-Fair Haven were the winners on the boys' side.

The long overdue divisional meet was well received by coaches and athletes alike as it provided an early barometer for the season.

RBC rode its powerful cross country runners to a 116-78 36-point win over runner up Holmdel in A Central. The Caseys not only won every event from 400 meters up, but had multiple scorers in each event. They dominated the 3,200 with a one-twothree finish there as Michelle Capozzi (12:08.87) led the sweep. Emily Rooney (12:14.87) and Becca Laskowski (12:32.34) were second and third.

Molly McNamara won the 1,600 (5:29.12) and Janine Louie took the 800 (2:24.25).

Adrianna Tacopina started it all off for RBC, winning the 400 (1:04.90). Tacopina also won the high jump (4-4).

Besides stacking up in the distance events, the deep Casey squad scored points in every event.

Red Bank Regional's boys were even more dominant in A Central, rolling up 123 points, more than doubling up secondplace Raritan's 55.

Like the Caseys, the Bucs scored in every event. On the track, Mike Kolodziej won the 3,200 (10:06.21) and Nick Gorry took the 55 hurdles (8.58).

Gorry led the Bucs to a pair of one-twothree sweeps.

In the hurdles, Nigel Gilchrist (9.04) and Dominick LoBraico (9.06) were the place and show finishers behind their teammate. Gorry negotiated 11-1 in the pole vault to take first, with Josh Mieloch (10-6) and Joe Miller (10-6) tying for second.

RBC distance runners claimed a pair of titles, with Jon Cusik taking the 800 0(2:05.66) and Kevin Byrne winning the 1,600 (4:45.28).

The Caseys finished fourth with 44 points.

B Central was a dual meet between Shore and Rumson. The Blue Devils won the girls' title 132-106 over the Bulldogs, while it was RFH nipping Shore in the boys' competition, 92-85.

Between them, the Blue Devil and Bulldog girls won every event.

Jaime Pointer was the meet's only double winner, taking the hurdles (9.40) and high jump (4-6). She was second in the 55- meter dash (7.96).

Pointer picked up a third win in the 4x400. Kaylee Mikolon, Allie Grandinetti and Cameo Kirk teamed with Pointer to hold off RFH, 4:23.12-4:23.19.

Also finishing first for Shore were Kirk, in the 200 (28.01); BriannaAmoroso, the 3,2000 (13:03.71) and Christe Wisnieski, in the shot put (29-10 ¾). Rumson's winners were Leigh Anne Torcivia, 55-meter dash (7.88); Melissa Bellin, 400 (1:00.26); Jaime Carroll, 800 (2:28.86), and Samantha O'Brien, 1,600 (5:50.03).

Rumson's boys had just two individual winners, but collected a number of seconds, thirds and fourths that all added up to the close win.

Murphy O'Donnell (2:07.58) and Alex Smith (6-2) collected the Bulldog victories in the 800 and high jump, respectively.

The Bulldogs scored 20 points in the 800, with Pat Hill (2:13.46) and Eric Lewin (2:17.72) finishing third and fourth behind O'Donnell.

Although he didn't have a first place, Max Sparshatt gained valuable points with two second-place finishes. He was runner-up in the 1,600 (4:54.74) and 3,200 (10:29,07) to Shore's Zach Collier.

A second in the 4x400 (3:44.08) and from Zack Spakowski in the shot put (38- 11 ¼) helped the Rumson cause.

Shore Regional was led by Collier's distance double. He won the 1,600 (4:48.16) and 3,200 (10:23.55).

Matt Bersterman, 55 dash (7.06), and Sean Kelly, pole vault (12-0), were the other winners for the Blue Devils.

In B North, Ocean Township's Hannah Boyce (5-0) and Suhail LaVecchia (38-3) won the high jump and shot put. Monmouth Regional'sMichelle Skove was tops in the pole vault (7-6).

For the boys, Alleyne Edrick had the best shot put of the divisional championships, getting off a 54-8. Ocean won the 4x400 (3:40.88).

The divisional championships were held over three days in Toms River. On Wednesday, Class A Central and B South divisions were in action. On Friday it was ANorth and B Central, and on Saturday it was A South and B North.

Meet Director Bill Bruno said the idea for the divisional championships first surfaced in the mid-'90s when Ocean County schools used to hold a Polar Bear Run, an outdoor dual meet in the winter. From those meets, coaches put their heads together and threw around the idea of holding divisional titles in indoor track.

When the Bennett Complex opened last year, the championships finally had a venue, and the Shore coaches voted to start the championships in '08.

Bruno explained that the divisional meets are for the athletes. The indoor season has so few opportunities for athletes to compete with their teams. These meets give athletes who may not be able to score points at the county or conference meets the chance to score points or get wins for their team. The inaugural meet was well received by all.

"The kids really enjoyed themselves across the board," said Bruno.

Next up are the NJSIAA State Relays at the Jersey City Armory. Tonight, the Parochial A and B teams will be in action. Tomorrow, it will be Groups I and IV, and on Sunday it will be Groups II and III.