2004 SPF Girls Outdoor Track Preview

In athletics it is well know that success feeds on itself, which Coach Jeff
Koegel feels is responsible for the large increase in available girls for this
year’s Scotch Plains Fanwood track team. Last fall a miniscule but very
talented group of six underclassmen, led by junior Mary Shashaty broke every
school record with an undefeated cross country season and won the conference
championship. The success continued into the indoor season as the girls
finished second in the county relays to Westfield and established several more
school records.

As expected, the strength of the team is in the middle and long distance
running events.
Shashaty is the top returnee in the mile and should improve on the 5:25 run as
a sophomore last year. Juniors Laura Harrison (5:34), Liz Elko (5:43) and
freshman Allie Hoynes-O'Connor (5:44) give the team impressive depth.

Shashaty,who smashed the school record with an 11:34.indoors heads the 3200
with Harrison (12:15) and Elko (12:30) and Hoynes-O'Connor pushing the
leader.

Although Shashaty has run faster (2:23), freshman Kim Appezzato (2:27 indoors)
will be the top 800 runner with this as her primary event and will also run
events from the 400
through the 1600.

Junior Aja Bundy dominates the shorter events and should run under 60 seconds
this spring in 400, according to Koegel. She will also run the 100, 200,
compete in the long jump, and usually anchor the sprint relay teams. Freshmen
Samantha Gates and Amanda Bobyack, members of the county champion relay teams
will push Bundy in the sprints.

The hurdles are led by sophomore Meaghan Kelly, who qualified for groups in
the 400 intermediate hurdles event as a freshman last year and Lauren Belford
,who returns to the track team after being out last year.

The high jump is paced by junior Kaitlin Carman and Belford . Bundy and
Michelle Regg lead the long jump and Regg returns to defend her North II
Group III Championship in the triple jump where Kelly will also compete. A big
loss is Patrina Hillman, who won the conference high jump and long jump as a
freshman last year but hasn’t come out for the team.County gymnastics champion
Katie Zaleski is the leading pole vaulter. “I am looking to get more gymnasts
out- they make
good pole vaulters ,” noted Koegel.

The Raiders are very thin in the weight events where juniors Kat Berka and
Carly Wells are the leaders. “We will be taking a look at people who have extra
events to also compete here ,” said Koegel

Koegel is hoping another successful season will help to alleviate the depth
problems.
“Our numbers are small, but we made quite an impact this
winter, placing second in the county relay meet with a team of youngsters. We
have a number of newcomers now as well, and we will pool our resources to find
the best events for them ,” said Koegel..

“We usually pick up a few runners after the softball cuts.”

While the team continues to grow and improve Koegel still would like to see
much higher numbers. “We just have a much easier time getting boys out for the
teams than we do girls. We probably have about 80 boys out, but maybe 25
girls, “ said Koegel..
“We always make the best out of what we have though, so don't count us out.”