Shuler Foster, Bellin third in MOC track

Long Branch High School's sprint tradition is in good hands. Following in the steps of recent stars Mike Bland and Damier Johnson, sophomore Miles Shuler Foster has established himself as one of the state's supreme dashmen.

ERIC SUCAR staff Rumson-Fair Haven's Max Sparshatt competes in the boys 1600-meter run at the 2009 NJSIAA Track & Field State Championships held at South Plainfield High School's Frank Jost Field on June 3. More photos, page 42. Shuler Foster backed up his Group II 100-meter dash state championship by running a personal best 10.72 in finishing third at the June 4 NJSIAA Meet or Champions at the Frank Jost Field in South Plainfield.

Shuler Foster ran the fastest qualifying time in the heats, 10.92, but in the final, everyone was quicker as five sprinters ran under 11 seconds.

Group IV champion Tejay Johnson of Egg Harbor won in a photo over James Brown of Glassboro, after each was given the same time, 10.67. They were followed quickly by Shuler Foster

With a personal best of 11.4 run last year as a freshman, Shuler Foster admitted he never expected to be spring in June.

"I wasn't even thinking about going to the MOC," he said of his season's goal.

But, it was not by accident that Shuler Foster has joined the ranks of the state's swiftest.

"It was a lot of hard work," he said. "I didn't think I'd run these kinds of times. "I'm finishing off races this year," he added. "I've gotten more strength over the last 20 meters of the race."

More dedication in the weight room is one of the reasons he's stronger at the end of races, and Shuler Foster also credited Bland.

"Mike Bland came back from college to see us, and he helped me," said the Green Wave sprinter.

The Group II championships were Shuler Foster's breakout race winning in a then personal best 10.77.

Football remains Shuler Foster's favorite sport, but he readily acknowledges that he has a 'passion' for track and field. This spring's results have added to that passion.

Rumson-Fair Haven's Melissa Bellin made ending her career 'on a good note' her goal for the 2009 season. The senior did that by finishing third in the 400-intermediate hurdles at the MOC. The twotime State Group II champion ran her personal best in her final New Jersey high school race, 1:00.62. She's headed for Harvard in the fall.

Ocean Township's John Alesi polished off his solid year running the 400 meters. He won his heat in a season's best 48.96 and the time held up for a fifth place finish overall.

Alesi's teammate Josh Rosenheck tied for 10th in the pole vault (13-6).

Red Bank Catholic sophomore Kevin Byrne got caught up in a meet record- setting 800-meter race by Manalapan's Robby Andrews (1:48.66) and got pulled along to a fast 1:53.51. Byrne's personal best got him sixth place in the race.

Rumson's Max Sparshatt didn't medal at the MOC, but, he did what he wanted, running a personal best in the 1,600.

Running in what turned out to be the fastest en mass MOC 1,600, Sparshatt finished 12th in 4:15.37. He lowered his personal best by more than three seconds.

"I wanted to break 4:20; after that everything was gravy," he said. "It was a thrill just to run with these kids that I've looked at on dyestat."

Morris Hills' Liam Tansey led the parade of 12 runners who did 4:15 or better with his meet record 4:08.11.

Sparshatt will be competing for the College of New Jersey next year.

Rumson's indoor state high-jump champion Alex Smith tied for 10th outdoors clearing 6-4.

The Bulldogs' Jaime Carroll lowered her pb in the 800 to 2:13.55 in finishing ninth.