On May 21st and 22nd, certain Cherokee athletes who qualified for the South Jersey Sectional Championships competed at Egg Harbor Township High School for the right to move on to the Group Championships. On Friday, the 21st, after a one hour rain delay, Brett Wintermute (400IH), Alex Whirledge (100m and 400m), Tom Yersak, Sean McLaughlin and Matt Dolan (1600) competed in their respective events but none was able to qualify for the Group Championships. In the weight area, however, Tom Nessler threw 144' 5" and qualified in 5th place!
On Saturday, the 22nd, the competition wasn't any easier. Will Andes (1:57.98) took 6th place in the 800m while Tom Yersak (PR of 9:33.91) took 5th in the 3200m, and both moved on to Groups! Also, the 4 X 400 relay team of Alex Whirledge, Will Andes, James Maneval and Mike Candy took 6th and also qualified for Groups.
Full results are available at: Scullion
Click on the following thumbnails for larger versions:
On May 28th and 29th, a small contingent of Cherokee qualifiers appeared for action at the Group States Championships but none was able to qualify for the Meet of Champions. Tom Nessler competed in the disc, while Will Andes (800m), Tom Yersak (3200m) and the 4 X 400m Relay team of Mike Candy, James Maneval, Will Andes and Alex Whirledge competed on the track. Tom Yersak came closest to qualifying when he finished 8th in 9:29.89, a PR in the 3200m.
Full results at: Scullion
Following tradition, the 2004 Cherokee track team, their coaches and families met for one last time at the annual Awards Banquet to celebrate the accomplishments of the past season and to wish the seniors well as they move on in their lives (and onto the Alumni page of this website!). Once again, the team won the American Division of the Olympic Conference (clearly the strongest conference in the state) and one member matched the school record in the 400m run!
Pictures from the banquet:
