Local Athletes Shine at Shore Conference Meet
Coaster Photo
Neptune Senior Corey Nelms (center) placed third in the 100 meter dash with a time of 11.25 seconds. Nelms won the 110 high hurdles by running a 14.88.
Boys: Nelms, Wright Lead Fliers, Oceans Hitman Wins Javelin
By ANDREW CANGIANO
Despite windy conditions on the track, the top boys in the Shore battled each other in a number of tight finishes, including the highly touted 400 meter dash.
In the most anticipated race of the day, Charles Cox of Monmouth won the 400 meter dash with a time of 47.58, out-sprinting Centrals Paul Fay and Neptunes Corey Wright, who ran a 48.79 to grab third.
Chris Horel of Christian Brothers Academy, which boasted three runners in the seeded heat of the boys 3200, took first by a wide margin, as he opened up his lead during the races second mile.
Lakewoods Emanuel Mayers finished on top during Fridays first track event, the 400 meter hurdles, with a time of 54.87 seconds. Demetrius Barkley, of Asbury Park High School, narrowly missed meddling (top six finishers), running ninth with a time of 58.11.
In the 100 meter dash, an exciting race was determined by a photo finish as Fay (11.20) nipped Cox (11.21) by a hundredth of a second. Neptunes Corey Nelms continued a solid senior season, as he finished third (11.25).
Nelms, who finished second in the 100 at the Monmouth County Championships, said he knew it was going to be a close race.
His strategy? Get out the blocks and just fight through the wind to the finish line, Nelms said.
In the 110 meter high hurdles, Nelms was able to exact a measure of revenge for his second place finish in the event at least years Shore Conference Meet, as he took first with a time of 14.88.
In the 200 meters, Cox was able to make up for his second place finish in the 100 by grabbing the top spot (22.69). Fay took second this time, with Nelms taking third (22.96) and teammate Corey Wright (23.38) earning fourth. Nick Moyle of Ocean (23.60) finished sixth.
CBAs Horel would finish second to Manasquans Owen Boyle in the 1600 meters. Oceans Greg Kremler finished 13th, completing the mile race in an impressive 4:38.9. The Spartans John Mamora also took 13th – in the boys 800 meters – with a time of 2:05.02 for the half mile.
In the field, Oceans Dan Hitman won the javelin by throwing the long spear 182 feet seven inches.
The shotput was won by Rick Jaeger of Raritan with a throw of 54 feet. Paul Zarella of Asbury Park High School took 14th with a throw of 44 feet five inches and Neptunes Joshua Hudson Bonner finished 15th after throwing 44 feet four and a half inches.
In the 4×400 meter relay, Monmouth Regional, took first with a time of 3:22.11, as Charles Cox ran the anchor leg.
Neptune finished fourth in the relay, nipping CBA with a time of 3:26.95. The Scarlet Fliers relay team was made up of Nelms, Wright, Stephen Floyd and Nick Westbrook.
Monmouth Regional took first in overall team score, with Neptune tying Central for second place.
Girls: Spartans Excel, Neptunes Bradley Wins High Jump
By ANDREW CANGIANO
Oceans Georgina Nembhard and Tiffany Grant showed why they are among the top track athletes in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, as they tore up the track at the Shore Conference Championships at Neptune High School last weekend.
The two led a solid effort for the Spartans as the team took fourth place in overall team score.
The girls performance in Shore Conference overall was outstanding, said Paul Looney, an assistant track coach for Ocean.
On Friday afternoon the runners had to compete not only with themselves, but also battled strong winds on the tracks homestretch.
When we came out here today I noticed that it was a really strong headwind, Nembhard said on Friday.
She said her goal in running the 100 meter dash in the windy conditions was not to focus on time, but on staying ahead of the pack.
Her strategy worked as she was able to win the 100 with a time of 12.65.
Nembhard also took first place in the 100 meter hurdles, running a 14.89.
The Spartans Tiffany Grant, who will attend Georgia Tech on athletic scholarship, won the 400 meters at 56.45, beating the next closest competitor by over two seconds.
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