2007 SPF Indoor UC Relays

It was a whirlwind week for the area’s winter track athletes with the county relays on Monday and Wednesday nights at Dunn Arena in Elizabeth and the state championship relays on Saturday and Sunday at Jersey City Armory.

Although none of the four local teams won any overall titles, the Scotch Plains Fanwood Boys and Girls Shot Put throwers continued their consistently strong efforts, winning three of the four possible titles.

The Raiders swept the Union County titles with Junior Mike Alleman, and Seniors John Badala and Jon Birnbaum pacing the boys while Junior Erin Rossi and Senior Lauryn Adams led the girls.

In the county meet, Rossi recorded a meet-best throw of 35 feet, 10 1/2 inches and Adams registered a 33-9 for the Raiders as they finished third overall. Sophomore Brittney Veeck also starred helping the team to place third in both the distance medley and 4x400.

In the Group 3 championships, Adams exploded for a personal best 36-07.25 as she and Rossi won with a combined 69-04.75 to outscore Bergenfield and win the first state indoor title in the history of the girls’ program.. With the foursome of Junior Cassy Valdes, Sophomore Kim Shelus, Senior Kim Appezzato and Veeck combining to run a school record time of 13:02.35 for sixth in the distance medley the Raiders wound up with 11 points for ninth overall in the team standings.

Alleman, Badala and Birnbaum combined for a meet-record 146-0¼ in winning the shot put. The former three-man mark of 142-3½ was set by Union in 1999. The shot put had been a four-man competition prior to 1996. The performance was also a school record.

Alleman, the county shot put champion last winter and spring, had the top throw of the meet with a 54-9¾. Badala had a 47-5¾ and Birnbaum a personal-best 43-8¾. The Raiders also placed well in the two Mile Relay, where
Junior Pat Doliber, Senior Tim Salisbury, Junior Dan Sapienza, and Junior Mike Ragan took second.

While many of the area’s indoor track competitors have gotten off to subdued starts, Alleman has quickly built on his fantastic spring 2006 finish when he finished second in the Meet of Champions.

Until last weekend Alleman was at the top of the State Shot Put performance list with his personal best 56’11 ½ achieved at Drew University...

The duo of Alleman and Badala tasted defeat for the first time at the state meet as the hot throwing duo Pat Park and Kyle Goodman from Toms River South exceeded their effort. Alleman threw 53-11.00 and Badala 47-10.00.

In the Group 3 distance medley the Raider foursome of Doliber
Senior Kyle Rowbotham, Ragan and Senior Adam Biner combined to finish fifth in 10:57.14.

The Westfield foursome of Junior Alex Tarlow, Senior Connor Davis,
Senior Brent Souders and Junior Evan Friedman finished fifth in the Distance Medley in 10:53.14.

Senior Shot Putter Erik Anderson had the sixth best performance with a throw of 47-11 as Westfield tied for sixth. Junior High Jumper Adam Bergo led the high jump duo to a fifth with a 6-04 leap, the fourth best in ultra competitive group 4, which featured a winning jump of 7-00.

Despite running in the last and slowest heat at the County Relays, the Westfield Girls’ 4 by 400 team nearly won the event, settling for second.

“I had timed the previous heats and I knew we could crack in for medals if we raced the watch. The girls listened and we ended up with a good result,” said Westfield Coach Jen Buccino...

Like others, Buccino is no fan of the unyielding surface of Dunn and planned her lineup to avoid injuries.

“We do not enjoy racing at Dunn Arena. I give a lot of consideration as to how I plan my line up when we race there. Some kids run very well there, and others really struggle on the surface and the tight turns,” said Buccino.

“No matter who you are, that track takes a lot out of your legs. I am hopeful that we find a new venue some day soon.”.

2007 Indoor MOC Alleman wins

Showing an innate ability to ascend as the level of competition toughened, Scotch Plains Fanwood Junior Mike Alleman completed his inexorable climb to become the state’s best shot putter by winning the Meet of Champions last Sunday at the John Bennett Complex in Toms River.

Alleman’s throw of 59-3 came on his final attempt in the trials and held up as the winning mark, which makes him the first indoor Meet of Champions winner for Scotch Plains since Renaldo Nehemiah captured the hurdles in 1977.

“I love the competition. There were a lot of great throwers there that could have beaten me if I didn't throw my best. I get excited and at the same time I get nervous because I know those guys can have a big throw at any time. I think being nervousness adds to the adrenaline,” said Alleman.

Pre meet favorite Steve DArcy of Hanover Park, the indoor and outdoor Meet of Champions winner last year, was second at 57-6¼, and Vinnie Elardo of Lacey was third at 57-1½.
Elardo, second to Alleman in the Group 3 meet the week before, had surpassed Alleman’s throw from the state Group 3 championships on February 18 when he threw 60-6.earkier last week.
But Alleman, who first burst on the state scene last June with a surprise second place finish in the Meet of Champions has been on a roll lately and surpassed 59 feet for the second straight week.

In a magical two hour period the week before, Alleman had ended a throwing slump, won his first state championship, broke a long time school record and uncorked the furthest throw in the state to that point.

Alleman unloaded a tremendous throw of 59-6¼ on his final attempt to win the shot put at the NJSIAA/Star-Ledger Group 3 Track and Field Championships. Alleman's previous best of 56-11¼ came at the Drew Invitational on Dec. 29 and he had struggled recently to exceed 56 feet.
“I didn't see 59 coming at all. I've been in a rut for a while, so I didn't know what was going to happen. I knew that I was going to have to throw my best or better if I wanted to win. It was a do or die situation,” said Alleman, whose series was 55ft 4 inches, 56ft 9 inches, 58ft 2 inches, foul, 59ft 1 inch, and 59ft 6 1/4inches
Alleman had been working hard to improve imperfections in his form.

“I have been working on my speed and timing, trying to get my body used to going fast while being able to keep my technique. I've been weightlifting a lot, trying to get my legs stronger and more explosive,” said Alleman.

And the record is icing on the cake.
“It’s a great feeling to know that I have left my mark in school history
With all of the good throwers that have gone to this school it’s an honor to have the record