Track & Field: Vianney's Scott stars, Coleman leads CBA at Monmouth County Championships
HOWELL – Monmouth County is loaded with elite high school track & field talent, but only one athlete walked away from this spring’s county championship meet with two gold medals.
That was Alexandria Scott.
The St. John Vianney junior won the girls 400-meter hurdles in a time of 1:02.21 and the long jump with a distance of 17 feet, 8.5 inches. Those are two of the state's top marks this season, they romped the competition in this two-day meet, and yet Scott revealed something surprising when asked about her interest in competing at the next level.
“I’ve been trying to reach out, trying to see where I envision myself going to college,” she said, “but I have not been recruited yet.”
That should change, pronto. The Aberdeen resident is improving by leaps and bounds. As a sophomore last spring Scott finished ninth in the 400 hurdles at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions (1:04.81). She’s already shaved 2.5 seconds off that time, and on Friday she added five inches to her personal best in the long jump.
Scott has late bloomer written all over her, and that should command the attention of college coaches.
“It feels good to come out this season and get so much better,” she said. “I definitely felt I was right on the cusp of getting to the top level in the state, so just being able to compete against all these top people is a really good experience.”
Memo to college coaches: She left them in the dust.
A healthier Coleman leads CBA
It was no surprise that Christian Brothers ran away with its 13th straight Monmouth County boys crown, racking up 165 points. But as the Colts pursue a state title, a big development is the emergence of senior Kam Coleman, who’s been making his way back from a hamstring injury that’s hampered him since the start of indoor season.
The Cornell-bound Coleman won the triple jump with a distance of 45-7, placed second in the 110-meter hurdles (15.01) and fifth in the long jump (a personal-best 21-0.75).
“This was a giant step ahead for me,” he said. “I was looking for this day to come.”
The hamstring problem sidelined Coleman for six weeks after the indoor season. He started revving up again the third week of April, but there was considerable rust to shake off.
“It was so frustrating,” he said. “I’ve been a little disappointed in my performance in recent meets.”
The deep and balanced Colts can afford to bring him along slowly. They posted 1-2-3 sweeps in two events at the Monmouth County meet – in the 1600 with junior Conor Clifford (4:13.74) senior Nick Sullivan (4:14.36) and sophomore Joe Barrett (4:15.63); and in the javelin with senior Jack Ostrowsky (165-1), senior Cole Abutel (157-10) and junior Travis Spader (157-9). They also got wins from junior Sean Lawson in the 400 (49.91) and junior Tristan McFarlane in the high jump (6-2).
But winning the Non-Public A title next month requires star power, and Coleman can provide that if his resurgence continues.
“This is one of the best teams we’ve had,” he said. “Our indoor state championship loss to Seton Hall Prep really motivated us to get better. For this senior class, for our last hurrah to be a win would be awesome.”
Poignant moment for RFH girls
There was an unusual and poignant moment in the girls 200 on Friday. Rumson-Fair Haven freshman Reese Reynolds Malone won the gold out of the second heat with a personal-best time of 25.77. She bumped first-heat winner and teammate Clemmie Lilley, who clocked 25.82, to second place.
Guess who delivered the news to an unaware Malone in the most emphatic fashion?
“Clemmie ran over to me and screamed, ‘You just won!’” Malone said. “And she gave me a big hug.”
Lilley already had a gold, having won Wednesday’s 400 (56.53), but the sophomore’s reaction showed maturity and leadership beyond her years. The pair also teamed together on victories in the 4x100 (49.10) and 4x400 (4:00.43), with Malone splitting 57.7 and Lilley 58.3 in the latter. That punctuated a dominant overall showing by the Bulldogs, who racked up 94 points to turn the tables on Monmouth County Relays champ Colts Neck (which scored 58).
“We have such a fun time together,” Malone said of her teammates.
The hug after the 200 was a perfect example.
Ocean Township pair impresses
Keep an eye on Mark Viggiano. After suffering a dislocated kneecap at the indoor NJSIAA Meet of Champions, Ocean Township’s Rutgers-bound senior is on the move. He won a scintillating boys 800 Friday in a school-record 1:53.27, holding off Red Bank Catholic junior Patrick Coyle (1:53.53) as both ran negative splits.
“This is a very big boost of confidence, to know I’m getting back to where I was, and it’s coming back quick,” said Viggiano, who spent a month rehabbing the knee. “As much as it was tough to be out all that time and miss the training, I think in the long run it will help me because my body will be rested.”
He’s not the only fast-improving Ocean Township senior. In the girls 100 hurdles, Samantha Trench broke 15 seconds for the first time, clocking 14.83 in a runaway triumph. She also displayed great versatility, placing second in the triple jump (36-2), fifth in the long jump (16-4.5) and fifth in the 100 dash (13.12).
“This is definitely what I’ve been working for,” Trench said. “Last year I realized if I wanted to get better I’ve got to stop messing around in practice. So I started putting in a lot more effort. I love seeing the improvement.”
TOP 10 BOYS PERFORMERS
Josh Huisman, St. Rose: The junior won the shot put with a 64-7 bomb, a personal best and a top 10 throw in the U.S. this spring, and placed second in the discus at 151-8.
Kam Coleman, Christian Brothers: The senior won the triple jump (45-7), placed second in the 110 hurdles (15.01) and fifth in the long jump (21-0.75).
Nikolaus Winzer, Matawan: The senior won the discus with a distance of 168-3, more than 16 feet ahead of the competition. He also placed second in the shot put with a personal-best 57-5.25.
Jack Chenoweth, Middletown North: The senior won the 400 hurdles (56.61), placed second in the open 400 (49.99). Both were personal bests. He also ran on the third-place 4x400 (3:25).
Conor Clifford, Nicholas Sullivan and Joe Barrett, Christian Brothers: The trio executed a 1-2-3 sweep of the 1600 in 4:13.74, 4:14.36 and 4;15.63, respectively. Clifford and Sullivan also ran on the winning 4x800 (7:58).
Mark Viggiano, Ocean Township: The senior won the 800 in a school-record 1:53.27 and ran on the second-place 4x400 (3:25) and 4x800 (8:13).
Sean Lawson, Christian Brothers: The junior won the 400 (49.91), placed fourth in the 200 (22.74) and ran on the winning 4x400 (3:21).
Alec Stillitano, Middletown South: The senior won the 200 (22.40) and placed third in the 100 dash (11.05).
Kieran Falzon, Raritan: The senior won the 100 dash in a personal-best 10.87.
Emanuel Ross, Red Bank Catholic: The junior won the long jump with a personal-best 22-10 leap.
TOP 10 GIRLS PERFORMERS
Alexandra Scott, St. John Vianney: The junior won the 400 hurdles in a personal-best 1:02.21, a whopping five seconds ahead of the next-closest finisher, and won the long jump (17-8.5). She also placed fourth in the open 400 (58.31).
Clemmie Lilley, Rumson-Fair Haven: The sophomore won the 400 (56.53), placed second in the 200 (25.82) and ran on the winning 4x100 (49.10) and 4x400 (4:00).
Samantha Trench, Ocean Township: The senior won the 100 hurdles (14.83), placed second in the triple jump (36-2), and fifth in the long jump (16-4.5) and 100 dash (13.12).
Catherine Vota, Colts Neck: The senior won the discus (123-1) and placed third in the shot put (34-7).
Kennedy Miller, Red Bank Catholic: The sophomore won the shot put (38-1.25) and placed third in the discus (113-5).
Isabella Murray, Marlboro: The junior won the 100 dash in a personal-best 12.54, a comfortable three-tenths of a second faster than the next-closest finisher, and took third in the 200 (25.92).
Samantha Strydesky, Kaitlyn Inzerillo and Jasmine Allen, Howell: The seniors pulled off a 1-2-3 sweep in the high jump with Strydesky clearing 5-6 and Inzerillo and Allen each going over 5-0.
Alexa DiNardo, Holmdel: The junior won the triple jump with a personal-best leap of 36-6 and placed fourth in the long jump (16-9).
Megan Donlevie, Shore Regional: The senior won the 1600 in a personal-best 5:02.13 and ran a leg on the Blue Devils’ second-place 4x800 (9:52.).
Cate DeSousa, Red Bank Catholic: The senior won the 800 in 2:12.04, edging St. Rose's Tilly O'Connor (2:12.34) in a sensational race.
Sophia Laudi, Holmdel: The junior won the javelin with a personal-best throw of 115-11, more than 14 feet farther than the next-closest competitor.
Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Track & Field: Top performers Monmouth County Championship
