Talent and speed are something the West Orange High School boy's track team will have in great supply this spring.
The Mountaineers should be one of fastest teams in the state with coach Joe Picataggio having the ability to move his versatile runners around.
The leaders look like junior Dexter Valley, who won indoor 400 group and sectional titles during the winter season. Junior 800-meter runner Jared Mason also is coming off a productive winter with titles at the group and sectional meets. Mason was the Super Essex Conference outdoor champ in the 800 last spring and was second in the 1,600.
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Both of those youngsters will be spotted in other events and will be helping a very formidable relay attack.
The sprint medley, 4x200 and 4x400 teams won indoor county titles with Valley, McNeil, junior Anfernee Larue, senior James Cham and Mason and sophomore Karl Cajuste all pitching in. Junior Khayeff Crump, junior Brian Marsh, who didn't run last year, and first-timer Beejay Buruzie, a senior, will add depth to the outdoor season.
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The boys will open the season Saturday at the Kearny Relays.
"Right now...we have a lot of guys in the mix," said Picataggio, whose team should contend for Essex County and North Jersey, Section 1 Group IV titles among others. "We have a lot of depth in the sprints. We really have eight guys who will be terrific.
"We're loaded," he added.
Standout junior football player Lance Smith and sophomore Kazari Trought, a solid soccer player, are capable in all sprints. Trought took the winter off to focus on his academics.
"They are studs," said Picataggio.
Smith, also a long jumper, went 21 feet, 6 inches last year and could reach 22 feet, the coach said. Larue will be contender in the 400 hurdles. Others in the hurdles will be junior Josh Salazar and Cajuste.
Picataggio expects Mason to lower the Mountaineer school record into the 1:51 range by spring's end. Mason ran a personal best of 1:54.50 for his speciality in the winter.
He will also run the 1,600 where he has run a 4:19.3 last May.
"He will go 4:15 outdoor," Picataggio said.
Junior Mekail Edashaw would be the top 800 runner for most schools in the state.
Picataggio believes Endashaw will run in the 1:56 range. He ran a personal best of 1:58.68 in taking fifth at the Super Essex Conference meet last May.
"We have two outstanding legs for the 4x800 team, now we're searching for the third and fourth guys," Picataggio said.
The Mountaineers have pole vaulters in junior Josh Ringel and seniro Sean Madden, who the coach is confident will place in the county meet. The weight team will feature junior Terrence Russell (discus) and senior Bayo Arowolo (discus). Senior Lance Cummings will be one of the shot putters. Senior Anthony Sugaste will throw the javelin.
"I just wish we had more depth in the distances and field events," said Picataggio. "But I think we'll be fairly good. We should place in the javelin, shot and discus. It'll be interesting. The boys side is pretty well set."
