Cougars' girls first in county track again
Linnell, Unachukwu win for Colts Neck
BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer
The Monmouth County Indoor Track and Field Championships were golden for Freehold District athletes.

Manalapan's Robby Andrews was a double-winner on the boys'side,whileColts Neck's Allison Linnell and Marlboro's Ada Unachukwu won two events in the girls meet at the championships held in the Bennett Indoor Complex in Toms River.

Linnell's double helped Colts Neck win the team championship with 48 points, 18 better than runner-upNeptune (30).Marlboro was third (28), Freehold Township, sixth (23.25), and Howell, ninth (18). This was the Cougars' third consecutive championship.

Linnell, who split 5:03 for 1,600 meters at the recent Lavino Relays, won the 1,600 (5:12.22) and 3,200 (11:17.99), employing a strategy she has been using all season, surging at midrace.

"It kind of started this year," said Linnell. "In my first race [Cougar and Friends Invitational], coach [Jim] Schlentz told me to sit on the leaders for the first half and make a move whenever I wanted in the second half.

"He told me when I make the moves to stay with it for 400 meters to break the others," she added.

It's been working and turned Linnell into the county's finest distance runner this winter.

"It [double wins] makes me a little more confident," she said.

She was able to turn back 800-meter champion Janel Parker of Freehold Township (5:16.24), and in the 1,600, beat her cross country rival Lindsay Lambert of Howell (11:32.56) in the 3,200.

This was the fourth straight year that a Cougar runner has won the 1,600 and 3,200 at the county championships.

Colts Neck has more than its talented distance runners going for it; the scored points in the sprints and hurdles and in the field as well.

Lindsey Rappleyea won the high jump title, as she was the only jumper to clear 5 feet 2 inches. Rappleyea also picked up a point for the Cougars in the 55-meter hurdles, finishing sixth (9.69). Teammate Karissa Herrick was fourth (9.19).

Kathlyn Herrick was fourth in the 400 (1:03.34).

Lauren Knauf, Kariss Herrick, Samantha Santo and Kathlyn Herrick were fourth in the 4x400 relay (4:17.75).

Still on the track, Rachel Morris was fourth in the 3,200-meter run (11:53.41).

In the shot put, Sheila Renner (29- 6½) and Brooke Schneider (28-5½) were fifth and sixth for the champions.

Marlboro's Unachukwu is now a junior and ready to pronounce herself as a championship sprinter. She turned in two impressive performances, taking the 400 meters in a personal best and school record 59.20 and then the 55-meter dash in another personal best 7.19.

"Ada ran real well today," said Marlboro coach Ray Sypniewski. "I think she's turning the corner.

In taking the 800 meters, Parker lowered her season's best to 2:18.96 in winning a close race withMarlboro's Lauren Pietrosh (2:19.64).

Lambert also finished fourth in the 1,600 (5:19.80) for Howell. The Rebels 4x400 relay of Madsen, Amanda Luccarelli, Lauren Rupp andMelissa Parato were third (4:14.59).

Andrews preps

for Millrose Games

Andrews, who has a date at the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden on Friday night in the Boys High School Mile, stepped down to the 400 meters for some speed work, much, to the chagrin of the sprinters. Andrews unleashed a 50:89 that left other quarter-milers in his wake.

Andrews came back and turned in a 2:03.0 800 meters, using his kick at the end to pull away from Christian Brothers Academy's Brendon Pierson (2:03.94).

Andrews has fourth-fastest mile in the country, the 4:12.48 he ran at the Millrose Qualifier at the New York City Armory.

Colts Neck'sMark Leininger, who enjoyed a breakout cross country season, has carried that over to the indoor track season. The Cougar junior won the 3,200 meters in 9:43.70. Teammate Mike O'Dowd was fourth (9:55.89).

The Cougar boys scored 25 points and were second to Christian Brothers Academy (61.50). Freehold Township was third (22) and Manalapan, thanks to Andrews' double, was sixth (20).

Also scoring for the Cougars was Ulke Vytautus, who was fourth in the 400 (52.39) and sixth in the 55 dash (9.90).

Vytautus anchored the 4x400 relay team that was third (3:36.08). Hunter Karass, Kevin O'Dowd and Tyler Talcott ran the opening three legs.

Dan Mularz was second in the 55- meter hurdles (7.81) for Freehold Township and on the 4x400 relay team that was also second (3:33.82). Ryan Spadola, Abe Hamami and Bob Searby were the other runners on the relay team.

The Pats'Greg Tilley was third in the 800 meters, running in the unseeded section. Tilley won his heat in 2:05.78, good enough to bump runners from the seeded section and take third.

Howell's David Hayes was third in the 400 (51.06) and then stepped up to the 800 meters where he was fourth (2:087.48).

It's back to the Bennett Complex on Saturday for the Shore Conference Championships.