Record-Breaking Track Star, Dangerous Batter Named Patch Athletes

Kelly Burke doesn't need the luck of the Fighting Irish to keep breaking records. Her motivation is fueled by the need to add another quarter-inch or so, every time she pole vaults or triple jumps.

The Notre Dame-bound senior showed everyone just how talented she is by breaking the school and Union County record again in earning a fifth place medal at last week's Penn Relays held at Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvania.

For her thrilling performance, she has been named the Cranford Patch Girls' Athlete of the Week.

"Finally getting a medal was one of the best feelings in the world," said an elated Burke. "Every year I've gone there and gotten sixth. I've always been one short, and this year I was finally able to achieve my goals. Unfortunately, I didn't place as high as I wanted to, but I still got my medal."

"I was thrilled. That girl deserves anything she wins," said Cranford track coach Peter Kane. "She works so hard, cares so much about it, it's a pleasure and I'm completely taken back by the opportunity to coach a girl at that level."

What makes her feat even more impressive, is that her mark of 39'.75" is better than the all-time record at Notre Dame right now.

"I think her actions speak louder than any kind of commitment she's made to them, in that, even though she's got everything any high school kid wants in scholarships in college, she still wants more," said Kane. "She wants to show them that she's still good."

"The competition was actually national level competition," said Burke of the Penn Relays. "I'll be meeting them at nationals. I got to compete against a girl from California, a girl from Louisiana, and a Jamaican girl who can jump 43 feet. So just to be able to go against that kind of competition really gets you in the mindset where you need to be by the end of the season."

Meanwhile, our boys' Athlete of the Week has been holding a bat in one hand and a baseball mitt in the other ever since he was a toddler.

Mark Osofsky's dedication to the sport has paid off in a big way. The junior outfielder leads the Cougars in hitting with a .333 batting average, and has proven to be one of the most dangerous hitters in Union County.

"Ever since I was younger, I played every single day," Osofskyy said. "And I just came to love the game, and now I play every day that I'm older too. It's been really good. I play basketball in the winter, but in the fall, we lift, and we hit, so we're getting ready for the season even during the off-season."

"Mark is a solid hitter," said Cranford head coach Dennis McCaffery. "He can handle several pitches at the plate. He really has been able to drive in some runs with the top of our order getting guys in. He's a good situational hitter. He's off to a good start this year so far."

Osofsky has been grooming his talents to play on the varsity level for years.

"It wasn't unexpected," Osofsky said. "It's definitely difficult to play, but the coaches are really good and you just come out every day and play how you should play."

And what is he thinking when he goes to up the plate?

"I just try to focus on every pitch that's coming, and if I don't hit the pitch that comes, I clear my mind and look for the next pitch. I always focus on that one pitch."

For Osofsky, the team always comes first, and right now, he's happy that his squad is off to a 10-3 start.

"I think we like where we are, but we know we can get better," said Osofsky. "We're not at the top of our game yet, but we're progressing every day, as long as we keep working hard every single day."

While Osofsky has talent, there's even more that he wants out of baseball. Hardware and a sheepskin.

"I'd like to win a state championship here and hopefully go on to play in college and win in college as well."

Editor's Note: For more of the interview with Kelly Burke, check back on Friday for the newest Cranford Patch Sports video update.