By Tim Morris
It was just a step toward the ultimate goal of winning at the NJSIAA Track and Field Meet of Champions (MOC) but for Freehold Township High School’s Ciara Roche, the Central Jersey, Group IV championships were a priority.
The sectional meet at Hillsborough High School May 27-28 was the first meeting between Roche and West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South’s Christine Rancan. They were the state’s premier milers during the indoor season, with Rancan narrowly defeating Roche for the indoor MOC 1,600-meter title to deprive the Patriots’ standout of the only high school championship to elude her.
With West Windsor-Plainsboro South moving into Central Jersey, Group IV for the outdoor season, the rivals race each other a few times before the MOC.
For Roche, beating Rancan became a priority. The first chance came in the 1,600 on the first day of competition at the sectional meet.
“The whole season led to this race,” Roche said.
The race unfolded as expected, with Rancan taking the lead and Roche following. But when Roche unleashed her all-out sprint with 300 meters to go, Rancan had no response. The Pirates’ runner found an extra gear indoors, but Roche, who has been working on her speed with repeat 200s, was even surprised at how easily she pulled away from her rival this time.
“I was a lot stronger than I thought I was,” said Roche, who has been able to dramatically switch gears with her closing sprint this spring to the point that no one can stay with her.
Roche produced her fastest time of the spring (4:58.78), with Rancan coming in four seconds back (5:02.79).
Roche pointed out that it was important to gain the psychological edge on Rancan in their first meeting. However, it all could be lost the next day in the 800 if Rancan was able to outrun her at a distance where Roche has been better.
If the first race didn’t give Rancan doubts, Roche solidified the edge she gained by outkicking her rival again, 2:12.34-2:12.69.
As an added bonus, Roche broke the meet record, which was 2:12.40 — set by Shabazz Kelly from Trenton Central High School in 2001.
In addition to wanting to maintain the psychological edge Roche gained in the 1,600, there was a material goal for Roche in the 800. With a win, Roche would collect the 10th sectional title of her great career in her last Central Jersey race.
“It was important to me,” she said.
While Roche added to her legacy, she wasn’t the only Freehold Regional High School District athlete to win a sectional championship.
Freehold Township’s Stephen Staklinski produced the season’s best high jump among district jumpers, clearing 6-8¼. Beside winning the Central Jersey, Group IV title, Staklinski broke the Patriots’ school record of 6-8 held by K.C. Acampora, who set his record in 1990.
Staklinski’s previous personal best was 6-4.
The South Jersey, Group IV championships were held at Egg Harbor Township High School, and Howell Hugh School’s Stephanie Bock added a sectional victory to her championship collection. She won the discus competition with a throw of 127-5.
The Rebels’ senior also took second in the shot put (40-10). The top six in each event at the sectionals qualified for the overall group championships June 3-4.
Howell claimed a second South Jersey, Group IV champion when Jada Covington won the high jump with a personal best mark of 5-2.
The Central Jersey, Group III schools competed at Northern Burlington County Regional High School, where Colts Neck High School’s girls came away with a relay championship in the 4×800. The team of Catherine Anderson, Raeanna Giannattasio, Eva Gibson and Kayleigh Hoagland won with a time of 9:43.27.
In addition to the sectional champions, many other district track and field athletes qualified for the group championships.
The girls who qualified in Group IV were Marlboro High School’s Danielle Spano, sixth in the 100 (12.77) and 200 (26.03) dashes; Freehold High School’s Chisom Chinedu, sixth in the 100 hurdles (16.27); Marlboro’s Gianna Gomez, sixth in the long jump (17-2½); Marlboro’s Antoinette Gyles, fifth in the shot put (36-11); and Marlboro’s 4×100 relay team of Alicia Zhou, Khizir Labeeqa, Lauren Newman and Spano, fifth (49.38).
Advancing for the boys were Marlboro’s Kwaku Amponsah, sixth in the 100 (11.17); Marlboro’s Charles Maree (1:57.06) and Manalapan High School’s Jared Skalski (1:57.21), third and fourth in the 800; Freehold Township’s Jake Konig, sixth in the 3,200 (9:48.14); Marlboro’s Julie Hill, fifth in the 400 intermediate hurdles (57.23); and Freehold Township’s 4×800 relay team of Chris Cardace, Mike Maltese, Sean O’Donnell and Konig, third (7:57.76).
Colts Neck’s Group III qualifiers for the girls were Giannattasio, third in the 800 (2:19.39) and second in the 1,600 (5:08.77); Amy McGee, sixth in the discus (103-0); Jordin Hugger (108-7) and Lauren Feaster (106-6), fifth and sixth in the javelin; and the 4×400 team of Katrina Balzotti, Giannattasio, Meredith Schaffer and Julia Saffaye, fourth (4:08.54).
The Colts Neck boys moving on from Central Jersey, Group III were Jordan Brannan, second in the 1,600 (4:24.63) and 3,200 (9:27.94); Anthony Russo, third in the 3,200 (9:36.27); Ryan Tompkins (6-4) and Pat Boehn (6-2), second and fifth in the high jump; Mike Post, sixth in the shot put (48-4); and the 4×800 relay team of Brannan, Bryan Chehanske, Brad D’Antuono and Liam Hoagland, sixth (8:08.00).
In South Jersey, Group IV, the girls from Howell that moved on were Niamh Hayes, fourth in the 1,600 (5:05.15) and second in the 3,200 (11:05.36); Rachel Kern, fourth in the javelin (131-8); and Kelly Doyle, sixth in the pole vault (8-6).
The Howell boys who emerged were Evan Hodousek, second in the pole vault (12-6); David Galarza, sixth in the 200 (22.70); Brandon Maurice, third in the high jump (6-4); and the 4×400 relay team of Bill Bajohr, Alex Behan, Galarza and Simas Glebavicius, fifth (3:27.86).
