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.”.