SP-F's Wenson Makes History at UCT Track and Field Champs

Scotch Plains-Fanwood High senior Kim Wenson pulled off one of the most memorable efforts in the history of the Union County Track and Field Championships this past weekend.

Wenson became just the second athlete in meet history to win the discus, shot and javelin. If that wasn't good enough, her 30 points propelled the Raiders to the team championship. The Raiders, who hadn't won the title since 2007, beat Benedictine 73-70.

"It was exceptional," Raiders coach Jeff Koegel said. "She went to the junior prom last night so I was a little bit worried about her having prom legs, but she came in this morning and she was focused."

Wenson reached personal records in all three events, putting the shot 37-9, 112-0 in the discus and 121-8 in the javelin. No competitor was close to her.

"I've been preparing for this. I've been excited about this meet for a while," Wenson said. "Going in, I thought I had a good chance to win the shot and disc, but the jav was a bit of a surprise because I was seeded fourth or fifth, so I'm really excited that I could pop that out there."

The Raiders scored plenty in the jump events with Sarah Canfield and Camille Handy and distance runners Erin Pierce and Kathleen Leeper scored.

Wenson, however, was the highlight. She was the team only winner.

"I'm just happy to contribute enough for us to win," she  said. "At the county 
relays we were beat out by only a few points by Johnson, so it feels good to say, 'Yeah, we got it this time."

Wenson is the latest of a long line of Raider throw stars.

"We do have tradition, especially in the throws," she said. "I wanted to live up to 
that, and I think that I have."

Leeper was second in the 3,200 with a 11:26.18. Pierce was third in the 1,600 at 
5:20.81 and fourth in the 3,200 at 11:38.21. Canfield was fourth in the long jump with a 15-10.25, and Handy and Canfield were fifth and six respectively in the triple jump.

Canfield was runnerup in the high jump by clearing 4-foot-10. Danielle Schweizer was third in the discus.

The boys placed 10th with 15 points well behind Westfield's first-place 87. Senior 
Frankie Mellana scored a first in the javelin with an outstanding distance of 195-10.

Union Catholic placed sixth with 41 points as senior D.J. Thornton won the 1,600 in 4:12.73 in a great race. He nipped Rahway junior Jeremy Antivo, who finished in 4:14.74. Viking Raymond Hyman was third in the 110 hurdles and Allen Eke was fourth in the 400 at 50.11.