2006 Scotch Plains Girls Watchung Conference

Two down and one to go for the Scotch Plains Fanwood Girls Track Team.
With their youthful stars again dominating, the quickly improving Raiders won their second major championship in the last two weeks at the Watchung Conference Championships contested Thursday and Friday at Kehler Stadium in Westfield.

Using their customary balance the Raiders easily outscored Cranford 201-143 and like they did at the Union County Relays the previous week, the Raiders’ defended their title from a year ago. Winning and defending their third title in three weeks will be a tougher challenge according to Coach Jeff Koegel.

“We have the talent to win the Union County individual championships, but it is not going to be easy,” said Koegel of the meet which begins today and concludes tomorrow at Hub Stine Field in Plainfield.

“I am confident we have the best all around team in the county but that doesn’t mean you will win this meet,” said Koegel.

“Often it just takes two or three superstars on one team to score enough points,” added Koegel.

Plainfield, with the trio of Letecia Taylor, Jahlisa Smith and Ashley Adams, appears to be the favorite along with Rahway, which has LaShonda Carter and Andrea Butler.

In similar fashion to the relays victory, the Raiders used field event and middle distance strength to overwhelm the opposition. Like the Boys, the Raiders had their greatest success in the weight events.

Sophomore Carlaya Jones, who has come on strong the past few weeks, led a 1-2-3 sweep in the shot put with a season best 36-2 ¾. Sophomore Erin Rossi was second at 35-7 ½ and junior Lauryn Adams followed in 33-11 ¾. Jones is confident the trio can score well in the county meet.

“We push each other hard in practice. We know we have to throw further next week,” said Jones.

Rossi, who also was second in the pole vault, led a 1-2-4 finish in the discus with a winning effort of 106-6. Adams followed in 102-9.and Jones was fourth in 97-8.

Sophomores Alex Fragna and Kate Johnson completed the weight event onslaught with a second and fifth in the javelin.

After losing weight throwing star Kat Berka to graduation, the weight event strength has been a pleasant surprise for Koegel.

“We didn’t see this as a strength coming into the season but they have really come on,” said Koegel.
The Raiders added another 40 points with 1-2-5 finishes in the long jump and triple jump. Two time Union County long jump champion Junior Amanda Bobyack, hampered most of the season with injuries, jumped 16-5 followed by sophomore Tina Olsson in 16-1 1/4.
Freshman Whitney Adams was fifth in 14-10 ¾.

Sophomore Natasha Celius (33-8 ½) surprised defending county champion Meaghan Kelly 33-1 in the triple jump with freshman Kim Shelius fifth in 29-9.

Overall the Raiders tallied 112 points in the seven field events. Kelly and Olsson were also proficient on the track. Kelly won the 400 meter intermediate hurdles for the second straight year in 1:06.9 and was second in the 400 behind the meets’ only triple winner, Shaylah Counts of Shabazz. Olsson finished third in the 400 and was second behind Counts in the 200 with Kelly third.

The Raiders’ revamped distance corps more than held their own against Cranford and Westfield. Sophomore Bridget Cornwell held off Caitlin Curtis of Cranford to win the 800 in 2:23.6. Although she finished second and third in the 1600 and 3200 respectively, freshmen Brittney Veeck continued her sensational improvement by lowering her freshmen 1600 record to 5:15.6.

“Brittney was a real highlight for us. She keeps getting better each week,” said Koegel.
Sophomore Cassy Valdes added fourths in the 1600 and 3200.

“Considering our graduation losses and injuries it was a great effort to score over 200 points,” said Koegel.

A victory in the meet’s final event the 1600 meter relay gave Westfield its only gold medal as the Blue Devils finished a distant third with 63 points.

Stephanie Cortinhal, Meg Driscoll, Erica Ammermuller and Tessa Schaaf, combined to run 4:09.5. Ammermuller also added a third, fourth and fifth in the long jump, 200 meters and 100 meters respectively. Rose Driscoll added a third in the 800 and Lauren Brachman was third in the javelin.