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Manasquan advances two runners to state meet
Indoor Track Notebook
By Len Bardsley
Photos
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TOMS RIVER — The Manasquan boys track team had a strong showing at
the Central Jersey Group II sectional meet on Sunday at the William
Bennett Indoor Complex in Toms River.
The Warriors advanced two runners from the sectionals to the state
meet.
The Group II state meet will be held on Friday at the William Bennett
Complex.
Craig Lapham took fourth place in the 1,600 for Manasquan, while Shane
McNamara took sixth in the 800 meters.
The top six finishers in each event advance to the Group meet.
Lapham ran to a personal-best time of 4:35.19 in the 1,600.
Lapham’s time was the second fastest indoor time for a Manasquan
runner since Owen Boyle ran a 4:28.13 during the 2006 season,
according to coach Rich Read.
The Manasquan Distance Medley relay
consisting of Craig Lapham [from left], Liam
Tobin, Shane McNamara and Kyle McDermott set
a school record at the Varsity Classic on
Thursday at the Jersey City Armory. The
Warriors foursome ran to a time of 10:57.4.
Photo courtesy ERIC LAPHAM
Lapham had a negative split in the 1,600, running five seconds faster
during the final two laps compared to the first two laps.
The senior caught several runners during the second half of the race.
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McNamara had a strong day for Manasquan.
The senior actually ran to his personal best in the 400 meters and would have advanced to the
Group meet if he were in almost any other section.
McNamara ran to a time of 52.14 which is a school record for the Warriors for the indoor season,
bringing down the time of 52.9 run by Alfred Esdaile during the Monmouth County Championship
in 1981.
McNamara may have set the school record, but it was only good for seventh in a very fast heat.
He would have won the race if he was competing in the North II Group 2 section.
McNamara’s time would have been good enough for a top-five finish in every other sectional race in Group II, but Central
Jersey.
The senior also took a tough fall in a collision of the finish before he had to get ready for the 800 meters.
Despite falling on his hand and shoulder and getting spiked during the 800 meters, McNamara stayed with the top six.
He would cross the line in sixth place with a time of 2:05, battered and bloodied, but advancing to the Group meet.
Manasquan also got a solid day from Kyle McDermott, who took ninth place in the 1,600 with 4:42.95.
Liam Tobin took 15th in the 800 meters in 2:10, while teammate Joe Desomma was right behind in 18th in 2:13.20.
Read was pleased to see his seniors perform well at sectionals.
“I am really looking forward to Friday and the Group II Championship,” said Read. “I am going to miss this group of
seniors. They have really worked hard and put themselves in the positions they are in. They should be excited about what
they have accomplished and what they can achieve in their final spring season.”
The Warriors’ senior foursome of McDermott, Tobin, McNamara and Lapham combined to set the school record in the
Distance Medley Relay on Thursday at the Varsity Classic at the New York City Armory.
The relay ran to a time of 10:57.4, bringing down their previous best time by nearly 15 seconds.
McDermott ran the 1,200 in 3:23, McNamara covered the 400 meters in 52 seconds, Tobin had an 800 split of 2:06.1 and
Lapham brought home the baton in 4:36.3.
Lapham knew it was the last opportunity for the Warriors to run a DMR during the indoor season.
“We knew that going in,’’said Lapham. “We wanted to make the best of it.’’
Lapham felt the record run was due to everyone being fresh for the race.
“This was the first DMR of the season we all ran our respective legs of the race, we were not tired from a race we ran
before,’’ said Lapham. “That is why we did pretty well in this one.’’
The Manasquan girls also competed at the Central Jersey Group II Sectional meet on Sunday.
The Warriors girls did not place in any events, but several athletes lowered their previous best times.
Brona Nielsen ran her season-best time in the 800 meters in 2:48.92, as well as Maddy Harkness, who finished in 2:56.28.
HAND ADVANCES FOR WALL
Katrina Hand of Wall advanced to the Group III State meet after taking fifth in the high jump.
Hand cleared 4-foot-10 on Sunday at the William Bennett Indoor Complex in Toms River.
Alex Panasuk took eighth in the shot put for Wall with a season-best throw of 33-2.
ST. ROSE AT NJCTC
The Purple Roses competed at the New Jersey Catholic Track Conference Championships on Saturday at the Jersey City
Armory.
The top finish was a third place by Luke Grodeska in the shot put with a throw fo 55-10 3/4. Andrew Huisman took seventh
in the shot put for the Purple Roses with a season-best throw of 47-5 3/4.
Kathleen Dailey finished fourth for St. Rose in the 1,600 with a time of 5:43.21.
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