Warriors Track Team Opens Season with Strong Showings

Submitted by Eric Binder

The Watchung Hills Regional High School Track & Field Team began its season this past week, and under coaches Doug Kolody and Rustin Finelle, they have high expectations for the 2013 season.

On Saturday, the Warriors participated in the Somerset County Relays. Then, on Tuesday, they held their first home meet in two years, hosting Hillsborough and Montgomery.

On Saturday, the Warriors placed fouth at the Somerset County Relays. Seniors Brian Green and Aaron Jaslove set a school record in the Triple Jump, combining for 38’3/4.” Brian Green also shone in the high jump, where he and senior Reid Chemidlin took 1st place by totaling 11’6.” Junior Andrew Hunter jumped 13’ in the pole vault, and with senior Trevor Devine, they took 2nd place overall.

On the track at the 4x800m, all four Warriors (Stephen Hawkins, Chris Negri, Nick Henrich, and Max Brown) set personal records to place 4th. Also, the sprint medley team of Brad Mluzan, Jaysen Bohrod, Mike Ceaser, and Matt Piekarski placed 3rd. They have their sights set on the school record, and are in a great position to do so.

In the Javelin Relay, seniors Dan Caffrey, Mike Longo, and Troy Lewis placed 2nd, with a combined distance of 410’2.”

At Tozier Stadium on Tuesday, the Warriors beat Hillsborough and narrowly lost to Montgomery. The running events carried the team throughout the afternoon and there were multiple star performances across the board.

Junior Lu Goncalves ran a 57.6s in the 400m hurdles, placing 1st against both schools. Aaron Jaslove, senior, placed 2nd against Hillsborough and 3rd against Montgomery in the 110m hurdles, running a 15.5s. Senior Mike Ceaser ran a 51.6s in the 400m, beating both Montgomery and Hillsborough. The big star of the meet, without question, was senior Brad Mluzan. The senior placed 1st in both the 100m (11.2s) and the 200m (22.5s).

The long distance team was carried by Matt Piekarski, Max Brown, and Chris Negri. Matt placed 1st in to 800m (2:03), Max placed 1st in the 1600m (4:37), and Chris placed 2nd in the 3200m (10:05).

As for the jumping team, Brian Green put on an absolute show, yet again. He placed 1st in both the long jump (42’3”) and the triple jump (42’3”). Trevor Devine, senior pole vaulter, beat Hillsborough by jumping (11’6”).

Captains Tommie Loeffler and Dan Caffrey both set personal records in their respective throwing events. Caffrey posted a 172’4” in the javelin, out-throwing both Montgomery and Hillsborough, while Tommie Loeffler shattered his personal record by 3 feet by throwing a 45’ in shot put, placing 2nd against both schools. Yet, the 6’2” 225lb monster wasn’t done there. After shot put, Tommie set a new personal record in the discus ring, placing 2nd with a 123’6.” The Warrior throwing team, dominated by seniors, has a few juniors that have serious potential for both this year and next. In their first varsity meets, David Rodrigues (discus) and Nikan Ansari (shot put), proved their talent by setting personal records respectively.

In a busy week filled with personal records, the Warrior Track & Field Team had successful outings in both the County Relays and the Tri-Meet.

They started the season with a record of 2-2 and hope to shatter more records at Saturday’s meet at Ridge.