Nick Fogarty Runs Race of His Life; Wrestlers Win Title

Nick Fogarty thought he would be vacationing in Delray Beach, Fla., until this Sunday, while Livingston High School was on its Winter Break.

But the junior at Livingston has to cut his vacation short.

Fogarty’s plans changed when he shocked himself by coming up with the best race of his life at Friday’s 74th NJSIAA Group 4 Track and Field Championships at the Bennett Center in Toms River.

Fogarty exceeded his own expectations by placing fourth in a personal best 4:21.70 in the 1,600-meter run to earn a spot in this Saturday’s state Meet of Champions at the Bennett Center.

It’s the first time Fogarty has advanced to the biggest track meet in the state.

"Before the race, I didn’t think I was going to make it to Meet of Champions, and it wasn’t a goal at all for me because I was going to be in Florida for the week,’’ said Fogarty. "But while I was racing, I saw I had the chance to move on and I just went for it. For me, coming in fourth in 4:21 is just absolutely unreal.’’

Based on his great race result, Fogarty, who drove to Florida with a friend this past weekend, knew he had to adjust his travel schedule.

"I was going to stay until Sunday, but that night (last Friday) I booked a flight (this Friday out of West Palm Beach) to get back in time for Meet of Champions because I can’t imagine missing it,’’ said Fogarty.

Before this season, Fogarty had a modest personal record of 4:30 for the 1,600.

"I’m real happy with the big PR (personal record),’’ said Fogarty. "As for Meet of Champions, I hope I can get one more second off my PR. That would be fantastic. I feel like I’m already far beyond my expectations I had for this season.’’

Coincidentally, Livingston junior Shannon Kelly is also in Florida this week and is flying back early so she can compete in the girls 3,200.

Kelly qualified as a wild card after placing 11^th in the Group 4 race in 11:36.74.

The top six finishers each event from each of the six groups automatically qualified for the M of C, plus six wild cards from each event from the six groups combined.

Fogarty and Kelly are two of six Lancers who will be in action at the M of C. Senior Andy Jung, fifth in the boys Group 4 pole vault with a 13-0, qualified automatically, and junior Jenn Berger, who tied for eighth in the girls Group 4 pole vault with a 9-6, advanced as a wild card.

All-American Jeramy Elkaim of Livingston , the top seed in the Group 4 1,600 and the No. 3 seed in the 3,200, didn’t run at the Group 4 meet. Elkaim, who had a slight knee issue, but was cleared to run by his doctor, opted not to compete. Elkaim has committed to run the 3,200 at the Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle this Sunday instead of running at the Meet of Champions. But he’s paying a visit to his physical therapist on Monday and may wind up skipping the Brooks meet since he’d like to be at his best to anchor the distance medley relay for Livingston at the Eastern States Championships on March 1 at the New Balance Track and Field Center in New York .

Livingston’s DM team, with Fogarty on the 1,200 leg, senior Tyler DaSilva on the 400, senior Dave Coleman on the 800 and Elkaim on the 1,600 anchor, currently owns the fourth fastest time in the nation (10:23.36). The Lancers are hoping to run a bit faster at the Eastern meet to ensure a berth into the Penn Relays in Philadelphia in April.

ON THE MAT: WRESTLERS WIN DISTRICT TITLE

Livingston wrestling coach Patrick Trabucco asks one thing of his charges at the Essex County school.

"I show them our trophy case and preach to them about the tradition here," said Trabucco. "They can do things that live on forever.

"It’s all about the Livingston tradition."

On Saturday, Feb. 19, Trabucco had a lot to be proud of as Livingston won its second District 14 team title in three seasons and 10th since 1998.

Anthony Paris, who won the 189-pound title last year, dropped down to take the 171-pound crown this season, defeating Nick Gaeta of Nutley, 7-2, in the final. Jason Esteverez won the 125-pound title with a 6-3 decision over Montclair's Katon Washington and Brad Krosser won by injury default over Ian Chauncey of Bloomfield in the 145-pound final.

Livingston also had two other finalists in Keith Arlotta at 119 pounds and mike Silverberg at 215. Mitchell McDonald (130 pounds), Joseph Zarro (140), Brett Blank-Singer (160) and Matthew Mellhorn (189) round out the Livingston contingent that will participate at the region 4 tournament in West Orange beginning Tuesday at west Orange High at 6 p.m.

The Region 4 tournament continues Friday and Saturday before the state tournament wraps up at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City March 4-6.

"We had a kind of a rough year going just 11-9," said Trabucco. "But the kids went out and got this over the weekend. It was a nice way to go out in our final team event of the season."

Trabucco knows something about tradition himself at Livingston, winning four District 14 and four Region 4 championships before placing four times at the state tournament, including a second-place finish at 160 pounds as a senior in 2001.

"It’s been a lot of fun coaching," said Trabucco. "I just want to do my part to uphold the tradition here."