Smith, Bellin win county t&f titles

Rumson-Fair Haven High School's Alex Smith and Melissa Bellin won Monmouth County championships on Saturday at Neptune High School.

CHRIS KELLY staff Long Branch's Steve Worsley races in the 100-meter hurdles during the Monmouth County Track & Field Championship at Neptune High School on May 9. Smith, the state indoor champion in the high jump, won his specialty clearing 6-4. He was the only athlete in the competition to negotiate that height.

In the triple jump, the senior got off a big jump, 46-8 ¾, and won the competition by 4 feet. The mark threatened the Shore Conference record 46-10 ¾ held by Freehold Township's Marcus Goode.

A multi-event competitor, Smith also took sixth in the 110- meter hurdles (15.76)

Thanks to the 21 points won by Smith, Rumson finished sixth with 31 points. Defending champion Freehold Township High School won its second straight title with 79 points.

Max Sparshatt took second in the 1,600 meters behind Christian Brothers Academy's Mike Mazzaccaro, 4:20.01-4:20.84. Sparshatt then came back and finished fifth in the 3,200 (10:04.48).

Bellin won her race, the 400- meter intermediate hurdles, twice. She won her seeded section race on Thursday, but that was the only race run that day because of rain and lightning. The meet started anew on Saturday with no results from Thursday counting.

The change mattered little to Bellin, who turned in a faster time, 1:01.70, on Saturday in defending her county championship. Her time bettered her winning mark from 2008 (1:02.26), a promising sign for last year's Group II state champion and Meet of Champions runner up.

Rumson's girls finished eighth with 26 points. Marlboro was the team champion with 89.

Jamie Carroll (2:16.50) finished second in the 800 meters for the Bulldogs, with teammate Hannah Satzke taking sixth (2:21.69).

Satzke was also sixth in the 1,600 (5:12.75).

Victoria Hardwood was second in the pole vault for RFH, clearing 9-6.

Two other area girls struck gold at the championships. Red Bank Catholic's Michelle Capozzi won the 3,200 meters (11:36.15) and Monmouth Regional's Stephanie Skove captured the pole vault at 10- 3.

Ocean Township sprinter John Alesi was the only local boy besides Smith to win a county title. He surprised indoor champion Ryan Spadola of Freehold Township in the 400 meters (49.38-49.49).

It will be back to Neptune High School's track facility for the athletes on Friday (3:30 p.m.) and Saturday (9 a.m.) for the Shore Conference Championships.