Rebels' Edwards shines a District track meet

BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

It was a finale worthy of a champion.Howell's Ben Edwards made his finale appearance on his home track at Howell High School a memorable one earning Track Most Valuable Player honors at the Freehold Regional District Track and Field Championships.

"It was a great day from start to finish," he said. "Today was my last race at home."

Edwards won the 400-intermediate hurdles (55.2) and the 110 hurdles (14.4) and anchored the Rebels to victory in the 14x400 relay in a meet record 3:25.1 Thursday.

The only thing missing was the team title, which went to a balanced Colts Neck team with 125 points. Manalapan was second with 115.5 and Howell, third with 114.

Howell rode its sprinters and hurdlers - Edwards, Mike Newman, David Hayes, Jason Leacock and Matt Borzomati - to a ton of points on the track. Manalapan countered with its field events powered by multi-event star Adam Hegel and Mike Goldwasser, sprinters Cordell High and Alex Baker, and distance runners Rob Andrews and Joe Kreppien.

But Colts Neck dominated the distances with Craig Forys (1,600), Brenden Krewer (800) and Shane Hart (3,200) all picking up wins. Mike Moore, one of the surprises of the spring, took the 100 and was second in the 200. In the field, John Krewer (shot put, discus) and Kevin Kelly (javelin) provided the difference as they picked up wins for the Cougars in the field.

With just one event remaining, the pole vault, only three points separated Colts Neck and Howell. The Rebels picked up no points and Devin Moore clinched it for the Cougars finishing second. Manalapan moved up to second place scoring 12 points.

Colts Neck has become a true powerhouse with its ability to score points anywhere. This was the Cougars' first District title and with so many underclassmen, there's likely more to come.

Edwards continued his mastery in the hurdles. Last month he had the distinction of being the first Rebel to qualify for the Penn Relays individuals finishing 12th.

"I had a bad start at Penn, but it was a great experience," he said.

Thursday's meet also continued his trend of lowering his personal best in the intermediates.

"My times are getting better race by race," he said.

During the relay season Howell and Freehold Township developed a spirited rivalry that was good for both teams.

"We're very competitive," said Edwards, who will be hurdling for the New Jersey Institute of Technology next year, of the rivalry. "We just keep fighting for everything. It pushes us all to do better."

The rivalry was on full display Thursday as Edwards topped the Pats' Paul Proctor in the intermediates and nipped Sean Coyne in the 110's.

Howell's 4x400 relay team, which set a new indoor District standard during the winter, closed the track portion of the meet with a sizzling meet record 3:25.1. Hayes, Newman and Leacock had the Rebels in the lead heading to the anchor leg, and Edwards finished the record off. The Rebels topped the mark set by Freehold Township in 2001 of 3:26.9.

The Rebel's Newman won the 400 in 51.6 and Freehold Township's Steve Pugliese won the pole vault at 12-6.

Elise Tagatac stepped out of character and into her first Freehold Regional District title.

It was not a surprise to see Tagatac leading the girls 800 run at Thursday's District Track and Field Championships, but what no one expected was that she would still be there at the end, turning in the best performance of the day, a meet record 2:15.7.

"I ran negative splits, which is not my style," said the Freehold Borough runner. "I was just racing. I had Janel [Parker] on my right, and I wanted to stay with her. One thing I do have is good racing instincts."

Those instincts told her not to burn up

the track for the first 400 meters like she might have in the past. As is her style, she did go straight to the lead, but passed the first 400 in 70, a pace comfortable enough to leave her with a finishing kick. The question, however, was would she be able to hold off the most talented 800-meter field in the meet's history? Waiting to jump on her were defending champion Kellee Hand of Howell, a two-time District champion in the event; Colts Neck's Ashley Higginson, the double indoor MOC champion at 3,200 meters who has run 2:18; and Freehold Township's Parker, who had turned in sparkling splits in the 2:16 range during the relay season and was the best finisher in the race.

It didn't seem possible that Tagatac would be able to hold these runners off from the front, but this time she didn't waver. She had learned something during workouts that made her realize she could run faster over the second 400 if she held the accelerator back.

"I've gotten quicker," she said. "I know I can go out slow and have a kick at the end."

She needed that kick and more in the final 200 meters when Parker moved into another gear and pulled alongside Tagatac. For a second, it looked like her momentum would overtake the Colonial. They were stride for stride down the homestretch with both runners throwing all they had at each other, which is what makes the sport so compelling. That's when something else, perhaps the X factor called desire, came into play.

"I wanted it so bad," Tagatac said. "I've been second every year."

There would be no second this time, as she fought off Parker's challenge and smashed Lindsey Gallo's meet record from 2000 of 2:20.1. A 65-second last 400 kept the challengers at bay. Runner-up Park's 2:161 was well under the old mark, as was Higginson's 2:18.6, which was run after winning the 1,600 earlier in the meet. Hand, in fourth, was just off the mark of the ex-Rebel star at 2:20.2.

Tagatac's meet record allowed her to share Track Most Valuable Player honors with Colts Neck's Meryl Wimberley, who had a first and two third places on the track, in helping the Cougars easily defend their championship with 137 points. Howell was second with 97 just two ahead of Freehold Township.

Wimberley won the 400 in 59.1 and was the only sprinter under 60 seconds. She was third in the 100 (12.5) and 200 (26.0).

Higginson took a stroll, winning the 1,600 in 5:19.7, pulling Allison Linnell to a third place and Kristen O'Dowd, sixth. A charge on the homestretch took Howell's Lauren Rome from fourth to second (5:22.8).

Manalapan's Kristen Andrews won her showdown with Howell's Jamie Leacock in the battle of the area's two best intermediate hurdlers. Andrews' 65.2 topped Leacock's 65.9. Leacock came back and won the 100-meter hurdles in 15.8.

Colts Neck's Jessica Pagliano did in the field what Wimberley did for the Cougars on the track, piled up the points. In addition to her long jump win, Pagliano won the high jump at 5-4 and was sixth in the triple jump.

Back on the track, Colts Neck's Briana Jackucewicz won her first Freehold District title in 11:26.2 as the Cougars went one-two with Allison Donaghy, second (11:54.7).

Colts Neck's 4x400 relay team added its name to the record book as Nicole Vaccarella, Samantha Santo, Julia Tomaro and Kathlyn Herrick clipped more than two seconds off Freehold Borough 2004 mark on 4:09.5 with their 4:07.2. Victory wasn't secure until the final 100 meters, when Herrick completed the come-from-behind win. The Cougars were pushed to the win by second-place Freehold Township, which was also under the old mark at 4:07.4. Further back, Howell was also under the old standard with its 4:09.1.

Marlboro's Jenna Meagher was the other record setter on the day as she equaled the pole vault record of 9-6 set last year by Colts Neck's Gretchen Volherbst.

Kristen Batts of Marlboro defended her discus title with a 119-6. Howell's Brittany Napoli won the javelin (114-7) and Freehold Township's Crystal Mahoney won the shot put (37-2).

It was a total team effort for the defending champions, as in addition to their winners, they got points everywhere. Among the other scorers were Morgan Clark (800), Rachel Morris (3,200), Nicole Decker (discus) and Lauren Rappleyea (high jump). Herrick, Santos and Tomaro got points in the hurdles and sprints.

Next up for the area athletes will be the Monmouth County Championships, which began yesterday and conclude Saturday at Neptune High School.