Raiders Finish Strong in First Winter Track Meet

The Drew University indoor track was packed Saturday morning with athletes and fans for the 27th annual Wayne Gardiner Holiday Relays. Originally scheduled for an AM and PM session, both were combined due to expected record snowfalls.

Some teams had even decided to leave, hoping to avoid poor driving conditions, but still the competition was made tougher by combining the meets. Although there is no scoring in the Gardiner relays, the top six finishers in each event win a medal. This remained the same in the combined meet, but now the field was larger, making it harder to place.    

The Scotch Plains-Fanwood boys came close to placing in the top six and earning a medal in the 4x55 meter shuttle hurdle relay, finishing in 8^th out of 22.

Scotch Plains varsity girl's shot-putter Kim Wenson placed second out of a field of 40, with a top throw of 34 feet and 8.5 inches, leading her team to a 3^rd place finish in the girls shot put relay and earning the only medals of the day for the team.

"I was happy with my performance because last year I didn't start off so well. Considering it was my first meet this year, it was a good performance," Wenson said. "My throw was only one foot under my outdoor personal record, and as of now it is my indoor personal record."

The Scotch Plains boys came close to winning a medal again with their 9^th out of 34 finish in the boys 4x200 meter relay. They did not place in the top 6 for any event at the meet.

In the girls high jump, there was a tie for 9^th place – 15 competitors jumped 4 feet, 3 inches, including Scotch Plains senior Sarah Canfield.

"It's our first meet," said coach Jeff Koeggel. "Some of these kids haven't been in a meet since May. We're getting the rust off."

The next Raider track meet is in New York City on Monday, Dec. 21, at the New York Armory.