Forys, Higginson smash MOC meet records
Goldwasser wins pole vault
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

JEFFGRANIT staff Colts Neck's Ashley Higginson receives some encouragement from her father, John, en route to winning the 3,200 at Saturday's Meet of Champions in Toms River in a meet record time of 10:26.53. It was also the fastest time in the nation this year.

Two of the greatest distance runners in state history left a final, lasting impression on the NJSIAA Indoor Meet of Champions.

Colts Neck's unflappable duo of Craig Forys and Ashley Higginson not only defended their 2006 3,200-meter titles, but turned in meet records and the fastest times in the country in the process.

The MOC was held over two days at the Bennett Indoor Sports Complex in Toms River. The girls competed Saturday and the boys, Sunday.

For Higginson, it was a historic hat trick as she became the second girl to win three straight indoor 3,200 crowns (Bridgewater-Raritan's Monal Choski ruled the race from 1990 1992). She smashed her own meet record (10:36.74) with her national-leading 10:26.53

Forys again left the state's best distance runners in the rear-view mirror after he put the hammer down. A 61-second last quarter brought the Cougar home in his national-leading 9:03.58, lowering the old mark of 9:06.58 set in 2004 by Mohamed Khadraoui of JFK Paterson.

CHRIS KELLY staff Colts Neck's Craig Forys leaves the field in the dust in winning the 3,200 at Sunday's Meet of Champions in Toms River.

The boys' 3,200 was one of the featured events on Sunday, with Gill St. Bernard sophomore Doug Smith coming in with the second-best time in the country (9:08.01). Based on his Group IV winning time, Forys was seeded sixth. Has there ever been a better sixth seed?

Forys, who sees a little bit of himself in Smith (after all, he was the super sophomore upsetting the careers of upperclassmen just two years ago), knew what he was going to be up to Sunday.

"He was going to run negative splits at the mile," said Forys.

Smith did just that, knowing it was his only chance to win, hoping that Forys, whose had a limited racing schedule in 2007 wouldn't be ready to handle a fast pace.

CHRIS KELLY staff Freehold Township's Robert Searby hands the baton off to O'Shane Rennie during the 4x400-meter relay at Sunday's NJSIAA Meet of Champions in Toms River.

"He's more experience than me, he's older than me and he's faster," said Smith. "My goal was to run fast and just try and hold on."

An opening 1,600 in 4:40 had a number of runners in the race, but not for long, when Smith picked it up, running the next 800 in 2:16, and quickly it was down to two runners with Smith still leading, but knowing that Forys and his famed kick were waiting to strike.

The move came with around 550 meters to go. Following the advice of his coach Jim Schlentz, who had told him when he made his move to make it decisive, Forys took off. Smith tried to respond but had no answer as Forys unwound his devastating long, sustained sprint to the finish. He would run his final 800 in 2:06.6, including his closing 61.

"I felt awesome," said Forys. "It was great to get out and unleash like that. It's great to be able to race this strong and feel so good at the end of the race."

Afterward, Forys and Smith each commented on the mutual respect they have for each other - Forys for the way Smith puts it all on the line, and Smith for the talent and composure Forys has.

Forys ran his second 1,600 in 4:23. The winning time of the 1,600 on Sunday was 4:21.63, which tells you what the state's best distance runners are facing against him.

Higginson didn't have someone who was going to push her on Saturday. Good thing for her she has had practice at it.

"Occasionally I do workouts alone and on Sundays I usually run by myself," she pointed out. "I really enjoy that time to myself."

Higginson really enjoyed Saturday's solo run as she smashed her own MOC record by 10 seconds.

"I wanted to prove that I was better than last year," she explained. "I felt good. I'm proud of this race."

It has been Higginson's constant improvement each year that has kept her on the top and enabled her to become just the second runner to win three straight MOC 3,200s. Her time is third-best all-time in the state.

"It's really an honor [three straight]," she said. "Each year my times have excelled. It says so much about Coach Schlentz."

It also says an awful lot about her remarkable consistency - a consistency that has allowed her to join the ranks of the best the state has ever produced.

Forys and Higginson both end their indoor MOC careers with three championships - Higginson with her hat trick and Forys with three in the last two years. Last year, he became just the second boy to win both the 1,600-3,200 double. Overall, including cross country and outdoor track, Forys has won seven MOC titles.

While gold from Forys and Higginson was expected, all season, Manalapan's Mike Goldwasser provided the surprise.

The Brave senior came into the undercover campaign with an outdoor best of 13-0 in the pole vault. Unable to practice during the week, his vaulting has been limited to competitions. He's used the New York Armory as well as the Bennett Complex.

Although Goldwasser hasn't been able to vault outside of competitions, it doesn't mean that he hasn't been working. He's been lifting, running and practicing his run-ups. The results of this core work produced a personal best 13-6 during the season.

"My whole run-up has improved," noted Goldwasser.

That pb from the State Group IV championships tied him with two other vaulters for the top seed at Sunday's competition. Among those competitors was St. John Vianney's Chris Favaloro, who won the Group III state title at 13-6. Favaloro, a senior, lives in Marlboro. Goldwasser was second in Group IV to Don Bosco's Matt Steeg because he missed at lower heights, giving Steeg the tiebreaker.

Sunday, four vaulters, Goldwasser, Favaloro, George Vallone of North Hunterdon and Steeg, all cleared 13-6. But none could fly over the bar at 14-0 and, because he did not miss before 14-0, Goldwasser won the MOC crown.

"I didn't expect it," said Goldwasser of his state championship. "Maybe in a day or two it will sink in.

"I knew from last week that it was important not to miss at lower heights," he added.

Goldwasser entered the competition at 12-0 and did not miss until 14-0. He was pleased with his third attempt at 14-0 and believes he can scale that height before the outdoor season begins.

"I feel more confident now," he said.

The pole vault is just in its third season, thus Goldwasser becomes the first Freehold Regional District athlete to win the event at the MOC.

Favaloro was second by the tiebreakers, followed by Vallone and Steeg in third and fourth.

Freehold Township's Allyson Moskal didn't win her 1,600-meter race, but made history of her own. In finishing third in 4:59.20, she set a new pb and school record and became just the third Freehold Regional girl to run 1,600 meters under 5:00, joining Higginson and Howell's Lindsey Gallo. Splendid company, indeed.

The sophomore said that a pair of quick 800s during the relay season of 2:19 and 2:16 told her that she was ready to step up.

"Ever since then, I've concentrated on the mile," she said.

After running a 5:03.18 at the State Group IV meet, it gave her the confidence that she can run with the best.

"My goal was to place," she said. "I've been more focused this year. I had the confidence I could go out and pace with the top girls."

That she did, as only champion Southern Regional's Jillian Smith (4:53.98) got away. Moskal was outkicked in the home stretch by Kesley Ramsey of Ramapo (4:58.81).

Still, it was a major breakout race by the Patriot sophomore who has joined the state's elite.

Howell's Lindsey Lambert was 11th in the 3,200 (11:14.22).

Marlboro's Kristin Batts was sixth in the shot put (41-4). Teammate Jenna Meagher tied for sixth equaling her pole vault pb of 10-0.

Ada Unachukwu ran a 7.28 in the 55-meter final and finished seventh.

It's been an eventful winter for the Marlboro sophomore as she has competed in the shot put, triple jump, long jump, 55 dash, 200 dash and run the 400 on Marlboro's 4x400 relay team.

"I'm pleased with the season," said Unachukwu. "It's gone very well. The most important thing is to be competitive."

Her 4x400 teammate Brittany Pietrosh never expected to be in the MOC until she had her breakthrough race at the Group championships. She had been hovering around 2:20 all season and pulled off a 2:18.97. She came back with a 2:19.63 and was 11th.

Megan Patterson of Freehold Borough was 12th in the 800 (2:21.57), and Colts Neck's Meryl Wimberly was 13th (2:21.69).

Wimberly and teammates Kathlyn Herrick, Julia Tomaro and Samantha Santo were 13th in the 4x400 (4:08.57).

Freehold Township's quartet of Robert Searby, O'Shane Rennie, Ryan Spadola and Dan Mularz were 18th in the boys 4x400 (3:32.34).

Colts Neck's John Krewer improved his shot put pb and school records to 51-53/4 and finished 14th.

Howell's Anna DiPaolo was 20th (36-3) in the girls shot put and David Hayes was 17th in the boys 400 (51.79) for the Rebels.

This was the first season for the Bennett Sports and it got the approval of athletes, coaches and officials. Look for more indoor meet opportunities for Shore-area track and field athletes as a result of having it so close.