District’s best medal at Varsity Classic at Armory

Four of the area’s best track and field athletes traveled to the famed Armory in New York City for the Ridgewood Varsity Classic and left with medals.

Many of the best scholastic track and field athletes from New Jersey and New York participated in the meet that was held at the site of the upcoming Eastern States and National Scholastic championships.

Freehold Borough’s Jonas Tepaske, the reigning state pole vault champion, has been looking for competitions all winter in an effort to be better prepared for the outdoor season and his quest to do 15-0. He won the state title last June at 14-6.

Tepaske, who won a competition at Fairleigh Dickinson University earlier in the season, tied for second at the Varsity Classic, clearing 13-6. It was his best under cover.

Tom Murray from James O’Neill High School in New York captured the boys’ pole vault at 14-0. Teammate Rory Quiller tied Tepaske for second place.

The indoor queen of the girls’ high jump, Debra Vento of Freehold Borough, was third at the Armory at 5-2. Vento had been on a hot streak, having raised her personal best from 5-4 to 5-8 at the indoor Meet of Champions where she won her state title.

That 5-8 tied her for the second best jump of the year in the nation.

Jackson’s Lisa Schenk made up for her disappointment at the MOC where she tied for sixth at 5-2, by winning the competition on fewer misses at 5-6. Shawnee’s Abby Campbell, beaten by Vento at the MOC, was second at 5-6, giving New Jersey jumpers a sweep of the first three places.

The Colonials’ Diana Constanzo came up with her second best throw of the indoor season in the shot put, 39-0, and finished third. Trenton’s Nicola Wilson shattered the old girls’ meet record of 40-11 1/2 (held by former Trenton star Tara Hollowell) by more than 3 feet in finishing first. Wilson did 44-6. Runner-up Toys Woods of New Rochelle, N.Y., was also over the old mark with her 42-7.

On the track, Howell’s Matt Forys ran fourth in the boys’ 3,200 meters. The Rebel junior posted a 9:50.8 in what turned out to be a tactical, kickers’ race. Indian Hills’ Matt Klypka had the most speed in his legs at the end and won in 9:47.1.

The Varsity Classic was good preparation for the Freehold District champions as they look ahead to Eastern States Championships on Tuesday at the Armory and the National Scholastic Championships March 8-10.