2005 Union County Girls Outdoor Track Review

Long after the events on the track had ended and with nearly all of the schools having departed, only the teams from Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Plainfield and Rahway remained as the high jump competition continued with only Plainfield and Rahway competitors left.

“We knew we had it won, but I didn't want to say anything until the meet was over. We sat there and respectfully watched the high jump,” said an elated Raider coach Jeff Koegel.

It was only fitting that the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Girls Track team had to go overtime to win their first Union County Track championship but for the Raiders the wait was worth it. Using their outstanding team balance the Raiders were able to withstand Rahway’s talented twosome of LaShonda Carter and Andrea Butler and squeak out a 72-68 victory.

Carter won the high jump for her third gold medal and with Butler scored 64 of Rahway’s points but the Raiders parlayed three first place finishes with numerous seconds through sixths to complete an outstanding three-week period that also included
the Watchung Conference and Union County Relay championships.

“We had a good team effort and didn't have to rely on one superstar. We had eight girls score, and the highest scorer contributed 17.5 points,” said Koegel.
It was also a nice bookend to the Union County Cross Country championship the Raiders had won last fall, also the school’s first.

“We’ve had a few firsts this year, starting with cross-country, and this was another,” said Koegel.
“The girls deserve this, and they should enjoy it. There will never be another group of girls at this school to say they were the first ones to do that, “

Of their three individual winners, Meaghan Kelly was the biggest surprise. Sidelined with a pulled hamstring two weeks ago, the junior upset teammate and defending champion, Michelle Regg in the triple jump(32-11.75) and added a third place in the 400 hurdles (65.5). Both marks were personal bests. Kelly also joined Amanda Bobyack, Sam Gates and Bridget Cornwell for an important third place in the 4 by 400 relay, which was accentuated by the Raiders finishing ahead of Plainfield and Rahway.

“Meaghan really stepped it up in the triple jump. Those points were crucial for us.
She also ran a two-second PR in the intermediates. Her leadoff leg on the 4 x 400 was
one of her fastest times ever,” said Koegel.
A shocking victor a year ago in the same venue, Bobyack repeated her triumph by bettering her mark of a year ago with a 16.9.5 effort.

“I was very happy with the way I jumped. I feel very confident jumping here. ,” said Bobyack.
“She is starting to jump much better than she was at the beginning of the season. I think
she can still go further if she perfects her finish. She has good speed down the runway and has been getting good height on her jumps,” said Koegel.
Katie Zaleski easily won her specialty, the pole vault, with a county record 10-0, surpassing her second place jump last year by two and one half feet.

Kat Berka provided 17 points with seconds in the discus, javelin and a sixth in the shot put. “It was a long day but I’m happy I was able to place in each event because the team needed the points,” said Berka.

Senior Mary Shashaty repeated her second place finish of a year ago in the 3200 with a
time of 11:30.4. “I ran as well as I could so I’m pleased,” said Shashaty. Fellow senior Laura Harrison placed sixth in 12:19.1

Cornwell, a freshman, continued her relentless improvement with another personal best of 2:24.1, good for fifth in the 800.Gates added a fifth in the 400 with a time of 1:02.6.
The Raiders now face different competition today and tomorrow as they compete in the Group III Sectional championships at South Plainfield.

Indoor champion Westfield finished seventh with 36 points. Emily MacNeil led the Blue Devils with her third straight 800 championship with a 2:18.4 and also led off the second place 4 by 400 relay. Also running were Miriam Becker-Cohen, Erica Ammermuller and anchor Annie Onishi whose strong finish moved the Blue Devils from third to second.

Other scorers included Onishi, fourth in the mile (5:26.2), freshmen Jen Danielson and Ayn Wisler fourth and fifth in the two mile (12;08.8 and 12.12) , high jumper Emily Perry fifth (4-10), discus thrower Christina Henry fifth (94-7) and javelin thrower Olena Borkowsky fourth (94-8).