SPF 2004 Indoor Girls Break 10 in 4 by 800

Scotch Plains Indoor Track Coach Jeff Koegel had modest goals last Wednesdaywhen he took four girls to the 168th St. Armory Track & Field Center in NewYork to run the 4 by 800 at the Metropolitan Invitational. He told the girls hewas looking for them to run a good time.

Actually he had a lot more in mind but “I didn’t want the girls to get too nervous and take themselves out of therace mentally.” said Koegel. What the coach was really hoping for was a sub 10 minute time which wouldbreak the school record of 10:14.96 set in 2001 at the State relays and alsoattain a qualifying time for the Eastern States Championship on February 24 andthe Penn Relays in April.

What added to the challenge was that the four had never run a 4 by 800 relaybefore and one of the girls (Aja Bundy) was primarily a 400-meter runner. Tosay the girls exceeded his expectations was an understatement. Paced by aspectacular 2:23.8 anchor by team leader Mary Shashaty the Raiders shatteredthe school record with a 9:55.9 effort, which placed them fifth (Westfield wassecond in 9:36).

Freshman Kim Appezzato led off with a 2:27.2, which smashed her personal bestby six seconds and was 16 seconds faster than she ran outdoors last spring asan eighth grader.Laura Harrison and Bundy brought the team into range of its sub 10 minute goalwith 2:33.8 and 2:31.4 times respectively.“Bundy had only one 800 workout before the race, so she ran pretty well,” saidKoegel.Needing a 2:27 Shashaty “responded very well to my prompts during her leg” saidKoegel and passed numerous lapped runners during a furious final 200.

The relaytime was the eighth fastest in the state this winter.“I am confident that we can shave time off all four legs. Our focus has never really been on the 4 x 800 - we tend to put more of our effort into running the DMR and the 4 x 1600, but with more work and experience, I think we can get into the high 9:40's,” said Koegel.