Cougars win Group IV 4x800 relay state title
CN girls run nation's second-fastest DMR
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

Colts Neck's and Southern Regional's Distance Medley Relay teams gave track and field fans just what they expected - an epic dual.

Anchored by two of the finest runners in the country, Ashley Higginson for Colts Neck and Danielle Tauro for Southern, it took four strong runners to produce the country's No. 1 and No. 2 performances of the year at the NJSIAA State Group IV Relays held at the Jersey City Armory.

Southern, with national 1,600-meter champion Tauro clocking 4:53.8, was able to get the better of the Cougars, 11:59.20-12:01.76, in the two fastest clockings of the year, and shattering the State Relays record of 12:08.01 set by the Cougars last year.

The key for Southern's win was getting the baton to Tauro with the lead.

Briana Jackucewicz opened the DMR with a 3:44.5 1,200 leg for the Cougars. Kathlyn Herrick followed with a 63.7 split for the 400, and quarter-miler Meryl Wimberly, making her 800 debut, turned in a fine 2:18.3. Higginson followed with her best 1,600 split of the season, 4:55.2.

The Cougars would get to celebrate a state title on Saturday. Higginson came back with a blistering 2:16.8 800 leg to anchor Colts Neck to the Group IV 4x800 championship in 9:33.80.

Morgan Clark (2:30.0), Kristen O'Dowd (2:23.9) and Allison Linnell (2:23.0) ran the opening three legs for Colts Neck.

Herrick (63.5) and Wimberly (60.1) ran the first and anchor leg for the Cougars' 4x400 team that turned in a 4:11.2 in third place. Julia Tomaro (63.5) and Samantha Santo (64.0) ran the middle legs for Colts Neck.

With 24 points, the Cougar girls finished third behind Southern (40) and Lenape (26).

Marlboro and Freehold Township came up with third places at the Group IV meet.

The Mustangs took the bronze in the 1,600 Sprint Medley. Lauren and Brittany Pietrosh ran the opening and anchor 800 legs, while Emily Cellini and Ada Unachukwu ran the middle 400 splits. They turned in a 4:20.92 that was just .36 behind runner-up Jackson Memorial (4:20.56).

Freehold Township was third in the 4x800 that was won by Colts Neck. Allyson Moskal, Chelsea Thorsheim, Charlotte Walsh and Janel Parker (recovered from the stress fracture that cut her cross country season short) posted a 9:42.82.

Anna DiPaolo (343-2) and Brittany Napoli (31-10 1/4) teamed up for fifth place in the shot put.

Marlboro's Kristen Batts had the third best throw of the competition (38-8).

Colts Neck's boys took fourth in the Sprint Medley on Sunday with Brenden Krewer anchoring, in 3:45.97. Evan Stivala, Hunter Karass and Matt Sullivan ran the opening three legs for the Cougars.

Howell High School's Indoor Shot Put Series is under way, and its opening edition produced a number of meet records.

Anna DiPaolo gave the home school something to cheer about with taking down the Senior Girls record with her 38-0 that topped the 37-4 of Janelle Fuller of Lawrence. Teammate Brittany Napoli was second (32-4 3/4).

DiPaolo still holds the Junior record with the 35-0 1/2 she did last year.

Lacey's Vinnie Elardo broke the Senior Boys mark with a huge 57-5 effort that broke Raritan's Rick Jaeger's 50-11 last year. John Krewer of Colts Neck was second (49-6 1/2).

Brick Memorial's Taylor Calise won the Junior Boys at 44-1 /4. The Sophomore Boys record fell as Andrew Wondolowski of St. Peter's, Staten Island, N.Y., unleashed a 40-1 that topped the mark of Bob Dailey of St. John Vianney, who did 38-9 1/2.

Michael Hunt of Old Bridge topped the Freshman record with his 37-10 3/4. Mike Henry of Toms River East had the old record at 36-3 3/4.

Raritan went one-two in the Junior Girls with Shannon Boyle (32-2 1/4) and Val Carney (30-2).

Colts Neck's Sheila Rener won the Sophomore Girls at 26-4, and Howell's Aja Smith won the frosh competition at 27-11 1/2.

The series continues tonight starting at 6:30 p.m. (check-in is 6).

The remaining two dates for the series are Feb. 7 and 21.