Bucs look to build on indoor track success

Red Bank to host Matawan Wed. in critical

B North dual meet

Tim morris

The Hub

All that the Red Bank Regional High School boys track and field team is looking to do this spring is continue the success that began back in the fall when the cross country team won the Central Jersey Group III and State Group III championships.

"We’re hoping to be just as successful," said Coach Corey Radcliffe, who coached the Bucs to the indoor Group II State Championship and the Group II State Relays crown this winter, "We’re a small team, but we have good quality."

That may be an understatement. The Bucs have serious talent led by senior distance star Walton Kingsbery. He’s the state’s premier distance runner on the track and is coming off an indoor season in which he not only won a pair of Group II championships (1,600 and 3,200), but placed third in the one-mile run at the national scholastic championships held in New York City, earning All-America recognition.

Kingsbery won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters at the Shore Conference championships, helping the Bucs tie heavily favored Christian Brothers Academy, Middletown, for the title.

He can bring the team a truck load of points at championship meets, but the Bucs are hardly a one-man show. Jamel Harris is one of the best hurdlers in the state having qualified for the Meet of Champions this winter in the 55-meter high hurdles. Harris will be more effective outdoors in the longer 110-meter hurdles. He’s also a top long jumper.

Joel Gray and Jordan MacNeil are both superb one-lappers. They may be the one-two punch in the Shore. Gray won the county championship indoors with MacNeil third. They will both be in the running for outdoor honors as well.

Both are very versatile. MacNeil will run the 400 intermediate hurdles outdoors and he’s the team’s top high jumper. Gray is a top-flight, 200 meter sprinter.

Jon Crook is a solid 400/800 runner and Jeff Arek is back, looking to soar higher than the 13-6 he did in the pole vault last year. He is one of the top returning vaulters and was a state place-winner last spring.

MacNeil, Crook, Gray and Kingsbery form an outstanding 1,600-meter relay team. The Bucs swept the 4x400 at the conference and county meets.

In the throwing event, the Bucs will be counting on Sam Kiningham (shot put), Will Gilikson (discus/javelin), and Derek Ng (shot put/discus/javelin).

Tofes Ruggiero will help the team out in the long jump.

Two newcomers, Jovannie Cortez (1,600) and Myan Colotat (sprints/hurdles), could have an impact before the season is over.

On Wednesday, Red Bank’s quality will go up against Matawan’s depth in what will be the Shore Conference B North Division meet of the year in Red Bank. Matawan used its advantage in the throwing events to hand Red Bank its only dual meet loss last year, and this year the Huskies are just as formidable.

"They are a very solid dual meet team," noted Radcliffe. "In championship meets we’re better because of our quality, but dual meets are different."

This should be one of the best dual meets in the Shore in 2000. The Huskies are indeed a formidable dual meet team. They will have the edge in the throwing events.

The meet will come down to two things: can the Bucs break through in the field events and chip away at Matawan’s edge, led by Chris Dapolito (javelin) and Stephane Pluviose (shot put)? And can Red Bank’s quality on the track be too much for the Huskies?

Regardless of what happens on Wednesday, the Bucs are pointing toward the championship meets in May where their quality counts more.

Red Bank got its season off to an early start at the Colonial Relays in Williamsburg, Va., last weekend. Kingsbery won the invitational one-mile in 4:21.7 and Harris placed third in the 110-meter high hurdles (14.9). Arek did not place, but started his season off with a 12-6 in the pole vault.

Red Bank will be at the Husky Relays tomorrow, but they aren’t looking for an overall championship. The Bucs will be looking to run in a selected group of relays, to win in the ones they do compete in.