By Jeff Appelblatt
Every year, Woodbridge High School’s track and field squad sees some of its most talented girls move on to college, and yet, the team finds itself highly competitive each year anyway.
“We have a balanced team,” head coach Jesse Angatia said. “I’m very impressed [with] what we have done.”
So far, the spring highlights have included Comfort Akinbo winning the 400-meter hurdles race at the Husky Relays in Matawan April 9. The team also finished first that day in the 4×100-meter relay.
“Comfort Akinbo is one of the most experienced [athletes] we have,” Woodbridge’s coach said.
The idea of senior leadership has been a common theme over the years in Woodbridge. This year is no different. Makisha Dorval is the other senior leader for the Barrons.
“Akinbo and Makisha Dorval are two seniors we’re expecting a lot from,” Angatia said.
But the Barrons’ coach knows success depends much more on the balance of his lineup than on a few girls.
The rest of the team was tested in its most recent meet April 16 at the East Brunswick Invitational. Akinbo and Dorval were part of the group relays, helping Woodbridge finish second in the 800 sprint medley, second in the 4×100-meter relay and third in the 4×400-meter relay. But the duo had a day off from their regular individual races.
However, even without them running as much as they’re used to, Woodbridge had plenty to boast about at East Brunswick High School. Ashley DeLeon-Vacca placed third in the 800-meter run; the 4×100-meter shuttle hurdle group finished fourth, and the 1,600 sprint medley racers came in fifth. Agyeiwaa Boateng, Melanie Cordova, Esther Daramola, Anu Odukale and Sachi Rajadnya are runners on Woodbridge’s 4×100-meter shuttle hurdles team, while Najiyah Adams, Nyah Anderson, Daramola, Samantha Hanley and Gabriella Montalban are members of the 1,600 spring medley relay group.
“I was very impressed by what we did without some of our best out there,” Angatia said after the meet, where the Barrons placed fifth in the standings out of the 17 schools in East Brunswick.
At Matawan Regional High School’s Husky Relays, Akinbo placed first in the 400-meter hurdles. In addition, Kaylah Davis and Ya’ Mirah Bennett-Bernabela finished fourth and fifth in the same race, while Adams placed 10th in the long jump and Rebecca Olowookere was ninth in the triple jump.
As a result, the Barrons finished in fourth place out of the 16 schools competing, behind Howell High School, Monroe Township High School and Toms River High School East.
As for the season as a whole, Woodbridge’s coach is optimistic.
Meanwhile, year after year, the boys team at Woodbridge has had trouble reaching the competitive level the girls have. Instead, while Woodbridge has shown off the best female runners in town, the local rival from John F. Kennedy Memorial High School has displayed the best boys.
“Over the past three years, they’ve been, hands down, not only one of the best teams in the division, but one of the best teams in the state,” Angatia said.
But he isn’t so bothered that the rival just a few miles away has gotten what seems to be all the best boys on the course.
“I know most of those kids,” Woodbridge’s coach said about the Mustangs’ runners. “I’m always out there encouraging them, cheering for them.”
And one thing Angatia has realized over the last few years — something he’s happy the Barrons are starting to do — is get the football players to participate in track and field
“We now have some of the football guys. Tracy Fudge, [Woodbridge’s varsity quarterback in 2014 and 2015], stepped in as a great leader,” Angatia said. “Austin Taylor, David McDevitt — as always, I’m excited.”
Looking ahead on the schedule, the Penn Relays are April 28-30 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. There’s no word yet on how many athletes will represent Woodbridge at the annual event.
