Gray, Forys top All-District track & field

CHRIS KELLY staff Colts Neck freshman Craig Forys made quite an impact on the local track and field scene this year, proving to be among the state’s top harriers already.

BY TIM MORRIS

Staff Writer

It was quite a track and field season for the Freehold Regional High School District, with today’s and tomorrow’s stars shining brightly.

Marlboro senior Earl Gray turned an illness-plagued season into one where he won two medals at the Meet of Champions. Colts Neck freshman Craig Forys continued setting records and started winning championships.

Earl Gray

Manalapan’s Joe Kircher saved his best for last and was an MOC runner-up in the shot put.

Freehold Township’s talented and deep squad won the Shore Conference A North Division public schools title, but it took a two-point win (71-69) over Manalapan to achieve it. Brian Golub’s Patriots also won the Freehold Regional District Regional championship.

MOC medal winners Gray, Forys and Kircher head the News Transcript’s 2004 All-Freehold Regional District Boys Track and Field Team

Joining Gray (100 and 200) and Forys (1,600 and 3,200) on the track are Freehold Township’s Dan Ceparano, Colts Neck’s Ryan Jagielski (800), Marlboro’s Dan Giudice (110 high hurdles), Manalapan’s Joe Quintano (400 intermediate hurdles), and Freehold Township’s 1,600-meter relay team of Ceparano, Greg Hartlein, Bryan Allman and Steve Blenderman.

Kircher (shot put and discus) tops the field performers, who include Marlboro’s Preston Plevretes (javelin) and Giudice (triple jump), Freehold Borough’s Mark Edman (long jump), and Freehold Township’s Paul Diercksen (pole vault).

The 2004 season tested Gray’s resolve. After winning his record third straight Most Outstanding Track Performer Award at the Freehold District championships, it was downhill for the Mustang. A bout with bronchitis led to asthma, and he struggled just to finish races at the county and conference championships.

But unwilling to give up on his season, he came back with a vengeance in the states once his illness had been diagnosed. Even though he couldn’t run his best event, the 400, he won his first sectional titles winning both the 100- and 200-meter dashes in Group IV.

At the State Group IV championships, he was second in the 100 and third in the 200.

Gray’s perseverance was rewarded at the MOC, where he was second in the 200-meter dash (21.80) and fourth in the 100 (10.84). His 21.57 200 at the State meet is the fastest ever by a District sprinter. He lowered his best in the century to 10.77.

It’s on to the University of Maryland for the District’s best all-around sprinter.

Forys is the best freshman distance runner the area has ever seen, and there was no letdown this spring after his record-setting cross country and indoor seasons. If anything, he was even better outdoors as he began collecting the championships that had eluded him earlier. He won the 1,600-3,200 double at the Monmouth County and Central Jersey Group III championships. He was second by inches in both at the State Group III championships and finished his season with a seventh place in the 1,600 at the MOC. Forys runs with a tactical feel for a race that belies his years and he has the mental toughness that says, "Why can’t I run that fast?"

The Cougar set a national 14-year-old record for the 1,600 when he clocked 4:16.62. He best 3,200 time of the season was 9:20.82.

Kircher was a champion in both the shot put and the discus. The Brave senior won both at the District championships, and in Monmouth County he was first in the discus (165-10) and second in the shot put. He took third in the platter at the conference championships. In Central Jersey, he was second in the discus and fourth in the shot. At the Group IV state championships, he was second in the shot put and fifth in the discus. At the MOC, Kircher unleashed his personal best in the shot put, 56-8, to take second place.

Ceparano stepped in in Gray’s absence and emerged as the best 400 runner. He won the District crown, was third in Monmouth County, fifth in the conference and fourth in Central Jersey (50.6). The senior was a quality 800 and 400 intermediate hurdler

The Patriots ruled in the 1,600 relay, taking third in the county and fourth in Central Jersey (3:26.5).

Jagielski was the top 800 runner throughout the season, starting with his triumph at the District. The junior was fifth in the county and third in Central Jersey, where he ran a quick 1:56.83. Jagielski is a solid 400 runner as well.

Giudice won the District championship in the high hurdles and was third in Central Jersey (15.1). He was also one of the top jumpers

The Braves’ Quintano dominated the 400 intermediate hurdles. He followed up his victory at the District meet with a fourth in the county, fifth in the SC (56.50) and a third in Central Jersey.

It’s been a while since a javelin thrower put together a season like Plevretes did. The Mustangs senior finished the season 10th at the MOC. Along the way, he was first at the District meet, third in Central Jersey and second at the State Group IV (173-7) championships, missing state gold by less than a foot.

Plevretes could throw any implement with effectiveness. At the District, he placed in the shot put (fifth) and discus (third) and was sixth in the county in the discus.

Diercksen and Marlboro’s Doug Fertig waged a season-long battle in the pole vault. Fertig won the District title at 14-0, but Diercksen finished ahead of his rival at the county, conference and state sectional meets and had the second-best vault in district history (15-0) in taking third in the SC to narrowly get the nod. Fertig did 14-6 at the conference meet as well. The District has never had two pole vaulters this good at the same time.

Diercksen’s versatility was one of the reasons the Patriots were able to win the A North Division dual meet title.

Freehold Borough’s Hickey earned the spot at high jump because of his District title and consistency. The sophomore was seventh in the county and conference and had the year’s best jump, 6-2.

The jumps were up for grabs with a different person leading the way at each meet. Under those circumstances, the District championships took on added importance.

Borough senior Edman leaped 19-11 in the long jump to win the District crown and was eighth in the county.

Giudice was as good as anyone in the District in both jumps. He was the District champion in the triple jump (38-4 1/2). He was runner-up to Edman at the District championships in the long jump and finished second in Central Jersey IV.

Those earning honorable mention are: Zach Tedoff and Chris Shoen, Colts Neck; Mike O’Flaherty, Justin Frick and Bryan Colyer, Freehold Borough; Ryan Donohue, Shane Donohue, Sean Coyne, Mike Weidman, Greg Lepore, Justin Cunard, Derric Harris and Joe Florio, Freehold Township; Jermaine High, Dominic Isolda, Steve Bachman, Adam Helger, Alan Berger, Steve Lin and Ricky Chung, Manalapan; and Wes Friedman, Doug Fertig and Bill Fore, Marlboro.different person leading the way at each meet. Under those circumstances, the District championships took on added importance.

Borough senior Edman leaped 19-11 in the long jump to win the District crown and was eighth in the county.

Giudice was as good as anyone in the District in both jumps. He was the District champion in the triple jump (38-4 1/2). He was runner-up to Edman at the District championships in the long jump and finished second in Central Jersey IV.

Those earning honorable mention are: Zach Tedoff and Chris Shoen, Colts Neck; Mike O’Flaherty, Justin Frick and Bryan Colyer, Freehold Borough; Ryan Donohue, Shane Donohue, Sean Coyne, Mike Weidman, Greg Lepore, Justin Cunard, Derric Harris and Joe Florio, Freehold Township; Jermaine High, Dominic Isolda, Steve Bachman, Adam Helger, Alan Berger, Steve Lin and Ricky Chung, Manalapan; and Wes Friedman, Doug Fertig and Bill Fore, Marlboro.