Monmouth boys win county indoor title
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

Despite all of Monmouth Regional's success during the relay season, coach Jim Calvert still wasn't quite sure what to expect Saturday at the Monmouth County Indoor Championships.

"We've only had the relays," noted Calvert. "This was my first chance to see what we have individually."

It goes without saying that Calvert liked what he saw as Monmouth ran its way to the county championship with 54 points, 21 points better than runner-up Colts Neck.

The Falcons got the anticipated double from Charles Cox in the 55-meter dash and 400. While that was great, so was the fact that Kelly Fisher came up with fourth- and fifth-place finishes behind Cox. Fisher, who also ran a leg on the victorious 4x400 relay team, has been one of the pleasant surprised of the indoor season.

"He's really been a big asset for us," said Calvert.

Cox won the 55-meter dash in 6.63, with Long Branch's Damier Johnson second (6.70). Fisher stopped the clock at 6.82.

In the 400, the outdoor Meet of Champions winner was competing against himself. He was the only sprinter under 50 seconds, crossing the line in 49.88. Fisher turned in a 52.05.

Cox would collect a third gold in the 4x400, where he and his twin brother Chris Cox, were joined by Fisher and Rashon Verrett. The quartet had their best time of the season, 3:27.09.

Chris Cox moved up to the 800, where he finished second in an electrifying race. Cox, Colts Neck's Brenden Krewer and Christian Brothers Academy's Brandon Pierson were three-wide sprinting down the home straight. It was Krewer who had just enough speed left in his legs to get to the tape first in 2:01.06, followed by Cox (2:01.30).

Monmouth's prowess carried over to the shot put circle where Brandon Catley won with a best throw of 50-2.

"This (county championship) was one of our goals," said Calvert. "I'm pleased with it. We've made steady progress and improved all year."

It was a golden meet for more than the Golden Falcons. Red Bank Regional's Dennie Waite had his day in the sun, while on the girl's side Georgina Nembhard settled an old score and won twice, while Rumson-Fair Haven's 4x400 relay team won a thrilling race against girl's champion Colts Neck.

Red Bank Catholic's Shawn Platz and Sean Curry also picked up county championships.

Nembhard won the 55-meter dash (7.18) and 55 hurdles (8.65).

The hurdles win was a breeze for the Spartan as she bested the field by almost half a second.

The 55-meter dash was one of the highlights of the meet, pitting Nembhard against Marlboro's Ada Unachukwu, in a showdown between two of the best in the state.

Last year, Nembhard was surprised by the then unknown freshman from Marlboro.

There would be no surprises this time around as the Spartan sped her way down the track in 7.18, while Unachukwu was at 7.28.

Teammate Hannah Boyce gave Ocean a third individual championship winning the high jump at 5-0 1/2. Combined with Nembhard's wins, it helped the Spartans take second place with 34.5 points (Colts Neck had 76.5).

Gabriella Kelly, Madeline Shebell, Jaime Carroll and Melissa Bellin beat a formidable Cougar team that was anchored by the county 400 champion Meryl Wimberly. Relays are team events and the Bulldogs were able to put the best four sprinters on the track to win by the slimmest of margins.

Individually, Kelly was second in the 400 (59.40) and Bellin, fourth (1:00.60).

With 23 points, Rumson's girls finished fifth.

There should be many battles ahead between the Bulldogs and the Cougars as both teams are made up of underclassmen.

When Waite was a freshmen, the Bucs were loaded in distance running talent, led by the trio of his brother Steve Waite, Robbie Dennis and Joe Kingsbery. The trio helped the Bucs capture a State Group cross county championship, and the young, impressionable Dennie Waite was good enough to be the No. 5 runner on that state championship team.

Now a senior, Waite said it was his time to leave his mark at RBR and he made a great start with his county championship.

"It's a big deal for me, I'm pretty excited," he said.

The race unfolded the way that Waite wanted it. He was able to sit through first 1,000 meters and then make his move.

"On the fifth lap I dropped in a fast 200," he noted.

The surge opened up a gap that no one in the field was able narrow as Waite relied on strength, more than pure kicker's speed, finished three seconds up on the field with his 4:26.9.

Platz pulled away from RBR's Mike Kolodziej (9:50.11) and Waite (9:55.59) to win the 3,200 in 9:46.34.

Platz's teammate Curry won the 55-meter hurdles in 7.84 over Ocean's Willy Rodriguez (8.06) by a wide margin.

Rodriguez was also third in the 55 dash (6.73) and teammate Robert Yaffe, running in the unseeded section of the 400, won his heat in a fast enough time to finish second (51.76).

They helped the Spartans score 26 points and finish fourth. RBR was fifth (24) and RBC, sixth (22).

Shore Regional's Demitri Alicakos scored in both sprints for the Blue Devils. He ran 6.80 for the 55 dash for fourth place and won his heat in the 400 in 52.45, a time that stood up for fifth place.

Alicia Baldo was sixth in the 55 dash (7.71) for the Shore girls and their 4x400 relay team was fourth (4:14.72).

Long Branch's Adia Cobbs was third in girl's highlight 55 dash (7.45).

Tomorrow, its back to Toms River North for the Shore Conference Championships for the locals. There, Ocean County's best will be awaiting.