For Cherokee, "Winter Track" continues to be a time of preparation for the Spring season. Coaches focus on base and strength training for the distance athletes, and skills and conditioning for the sprinters, jumpers and throwers. Even so, the team participates in a number of meets -- some of which are not reported here -- for both experience and a change of pace.
Olympic Conference Meet
On December 19, 2008, many members of the team opened their season by competing in an Olympic Conference Meet at the Bennett Center in Toms River, NJ. Highlights included performances by Mike Brocco in the 55m High Hurdles (8.23 for 2nd in the Olympic Division, 4th overall); and Will Rapp (6.86 for 5th in the Olympic Division, 9th overall) and Jason Curry (6.89 for 6th in the Olympic Division, 10th overall) in the 55m Dash! Also, Matt Maze cleared 11' 6" in the Pole Vault for 4th; and Ed Kramer cleared 5' 8" in the High Jump to tie for 5th. Perhaps the most startling result of the evening was the 34' 8" throw in the Shot Put by Marc Saccomanno! Some have suggested that the sleek distance runner is too uncoordinated and scrawny to have "put the shot" that far but the official record is clear. See Bennett Results, 12.19.08
SJ Track Coaches Association Meet, # 1
On December 22nd, 2008, a small contingent from the team traveled to the Bennett Athletic Center for the low-key SJ Track Coaches Association Meet, # 1. Highlights included the 1st place finish in the 55m High Hurdles by Mike Brocco (8.23); and the 4th place, 6' High Jump by Ed Kramer! Details at: Bennett Results, 12.22.08
SJ Track Coaches Association Meet, # 2
On December 29, 2008, team members from the distance and sprint/hurdle squads, again traveled to the Bennett Athletic Center for the SJ Track Coaches Association Meet, # 2. (The jumpers and weight guys were scheduled elsewhere and many at the meet expressed disappointment at not being able to see Marc "the Marlton Muscle" Saccomanno continue his assault on Cherokee's Shot Put record!)
Highlights: In the 1600m with a field of 35 runners, Kyle Miller looked good, coming in 4th; and Frank Devine followed in 11th, setting a new PR! Tyler Mishchenko also set a PR in the 200m Dash! In the Distance Medley, Steve Burkholder, Will Rapp, Matt McCarroll and Chris Applegate finished 3rd overall; and the 4 X 400 team of Matt McCarroll, Steve Burkholder, Chris Applegate and Ryan Merrigan won their heat! Further details at: Mile Split, NJ. or at Bennett Results, 12.29.08.
Special thanks to Cherokee Alums, Kevin Merrigan, Kevin "Ted" Schickling, and Matt Applegate who stopped by and cheered for their old team! Watch their exploits on the Alumni page: Alums.
Indoor sports photography by amateurs is always a risky and uncertain venture, and the pictures from this meet illustrate that thought:
Track Universe H.S. Invitational
On January 3, 2009, Cherokee ushered in the new year in New York City, not in Times Square but at the grandly named Track Universe H.S Invitational in the famous New York City Armory! This unique meet, run by the staff from various North Jersey high schools, limits the number of teams and allows young athletes to train and compete at this world-class site without the usual pressure associated with a big meet at the Armory.
Among the Sprinter/Hurdler group, Will Rapp made the best showing, crushing his heat in the 200m Dash, running the second-fastest time of the evening in the event (22.6)! Newcomer Jason Curry also won his heat and took 4th overall (23.1) in the 200m, with Jon Scott close behind in 3rd in the same heat (24.2)! Tim Brill had two nice 400m runs, the open 400m and as the anchor in the relay, both in a PR time of 55.1! Hurdler Mike Brocco looked very sharp and tied for 2nd with an 8.0 PR; and jumper Ed Kramer cleared 5' 10" in the rushed high jump competition and took 3rd (on misses).
Among the distance group, Greg Malloy, leading his heat from start to finish, clocked a 5:05.7 in the first 1600m race of his life! Steve Burkholder, Chris Applegate, and Matt McCarroll placed 4th, 6th and 7th in the 800m race; and first year runner, Tyler Somers surprised everyone, including himself, when he too won his heat in the 800m race, leading from the start to the finish! Finally, Kyle Miller and Frank Devine won their heats of the 800m, with two PR performances!
But once again, the crowd was disappointed to discover that Marc "the Marlton Muscle" Saccomanno did not compete in the Shot Put. Mike Leoniy threw over 39' and even he was looking forward to seeing the gaunt and bony distance runner throw better than that, but it was not to be. Mike Czuba, Saccomanno's personal manager, reported that "the crowd was not big enough for Saccomanno to appear in the Shot Put circle," and that Marc would wait for the Millrose Games. Stay tuned.
Here are some pictures -- such as they are -- from the meet. If there is no picture of you, it wasn't because of a lack of trying!
SJ Track Coaches Association Meet, # 3 (Relays)
On January 7, 2009, Cherokee again bussed to the Bennett Center in Toms River for another in a series of events sponsored by the SJ Track Coaches Association, the SJTCA, Meet # 3, Relays.
The 4 X 800m team of Matt McCarroll, Ryan McNair (with a PR split!), Steve Burkholder, and Chris Applegate produced the best Cherokee race of the evening, finishing 2nd overall with the 3rd fastest time by a South Jersey team this season!
Sophomore Tim Brill had the most impressive showing as he ran a fast 400m split in the 6th place Distance Medley, with Kyle Miller, Mike Palmieri, and Marc Saccomanno; a solid leg on the 5th place Shuttle Hurdles, with Mike Brocco, Darren McClusky and Mike Palmieri; and the second-fastest split (behind Will Rapp) on the 5th place 4 X 200m team with Rapp, Jason Curry and Jon Scott.
The Sprint Medley team of Will Rapp, Jason Curry, Jon Scott and Steve Burkholder finished in 3rd place, while the 4 X 400m team, made-up of distance runners Ryan McNair, Chris Applegate, Matt McCarroll and all-purpose runner, Mike Palmieri, ran well to finish 7th overall!
And once again, Marc "the Marlton Muscle" Saccomanno disappointed an overflow crowd by not participating in the Shot Put competition. Apparently the throws coach decided not to enter his athletes in the meet and, as a result, Saccomanno had no one to partner with in the "relay" event. Saccomanno was clearly let down by this decision but passed the time running an extra lap in the Distance Medley and giving one-arm push-up lessons to Will Rapp: "His leg development is OK," said Saccomanno about Rapp, "but his arms and shoulders need a lot of work."
Complete results: Mile Split, NJ.
2009 Rebel Indoor Shot Put Meet
On January 15, 2009, Coach Lynn took the team's shot putters to the 2009 Rebel Indoor Shot Put Meet at Howell High School in Farmington, NJ for an evening devoted exclusively to the shot put! Memorable performances came from Sophomore Ryan Bavas and novice thrower, Junior Justin Nykiel, both of whom threw over 40' to take 2nd and 7th in their divisions! Junior Mike Leoniy had the best 40' throw of the evening and took 6th in his division. And Mike Cashin, Mike Weil, Tyler Bothel and Joe Cress all threw PR's before the night was over! Complete results at: Mile Split, NJ.
Just Thinking . . . throwers should develop a technique that allows them to stay within the circle as they throw.
Pictures were difficult because the site was "as dark as your pocket" but here are some efforts to capture the action:
