Monmouth (2), Ocean golden at state relays
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

In their first state championships as Monmouth Regional teammates, twin brothers Charles and Chris Cox did not disappoint.

The seniors delivered on their potential Sunday at the NJSIAA State Group Relays, teaming up to win a pair of Group II championships for the Golden Falcons at the Jersey City Armory.

Ocean Township's Georgina Nembhard struck gold with her teammates in the girls Group III shuttle hurdles relay.

The Cox brothers were part of Monmouth's victorious 4x200-meter and 1,600 sprint medley teams.\

In the 4x200, Kelly Fisher ran lead-off for the Falcons, with Chris taking the baton for the second leg. Rashon Verrett ran the penultimate third leg and Charles, last year's outdoor Meet of Champions 400 winner, brought it home. The Falcons ran a 1:35.50, well clear of the field.

The same quartet won the 1,600 sprint medley, which began with a 400 leg from Charles. Verrett and Fisher did their jobs on the 200-meter legs, and Chris, jumping up to run the 800 for the anchor leg, held off Rahway, 3:42.66-3:43.05.

Shot-putter Brandon Catley (48-6 1/2) and Charles Johnson (39-7 3/4) teamed up to take fifth in the shot put relay (88-2 1/4).

With 22 points, Monmouth was fifth in Group II. Rahway was the champion with 38 points.

Red Bank Regional's quartet of Dennie Waite, Joe Miller, Mark Degenhart and Mike Kolodziej placed third in the Group II Distance Medley Relay (10:59.11).

Behind the Bucs in fifth place were Red Bank Catholic's Nick Bond, Sean Curry, Dan Fitzpatrick and Shawn Platz (11:06.16).

RBC also got a fifth place in the 4x800 with Matt Lauletti, Jon Cusick, Platz and Bond clocking 8:34.52.

Nembhard started things off for the Spartan girls in the 4x55 hurdles event. Sam Kay, Vicky LaMarre and Jaimie Brown finished it off, taking 33.77 to win this event, which is over in a flash.

The Spartans' team of Hannah Boyce (5-0) and Sam Kay (4-8) were fifth in the high jump relay.

With 12 points, Ocean was seventh in the Group III team competition.

In Group II, RBC's girls were sixth (14), led by its DMR quartet, which finished second.

Janine Louie, Lauren Ibanez, Katie Andree and Erin Lunny turned in a 13:04.05 in the Distance Medley to trail only Hopewell Bally (12:40.31).

Andree, Lunny and Louie teamed up with Katie Rochford to take third in the 4x800 (9:55.6). Rochford ran the opening leg, and Louie, the anchor.

Rumson-Fair Haven's sprinters were third in the 4x400. Gabriella Kelly, Madeline Shebell, Jaime Carroll and Melissa Bellin combined for a 4:14.55.

In Group I, Shore boys were third in the 4x200 (1:38.04). The quartet consisted of Demitri Alicakos, Tom Juliano, Ryan Dwyer and Derek Schultz.