Cherokee Track & Field Pictures, 2006, Page II






Pre-Season: Late Winter!


This page follows through the Eastern States Championships, the old Bancroft Run -- now named The Adrenaline 5K -- in Haddonfield, the St. Baldrick's Day Shearing, and various Scrimmages throughout March before the official beginning of the season.





Eastern States Championships: New York City Armory

On February 28, 2006, several of Cherokee's athletes qualified for the prestigious 69th Eastern States Championship at the New York City Armory. Sam Shapiro (6.81) Steve Iwanczuk (6.91) competed in the 55m Dash but failed to qualify for the Semi's (6.78); while Will Andes, Chris Steliga, Rich Nelson and Alex Yersak competed in the Distance Medley but they too had a disappointing race (10:57.39). According to the final results, however, Cherokee had Nelson and three sprinters (Steliga, Iwanczuk and Shapiro) in the race so they shouldn't be too disappointed!

Complete results at: Jacob Brown.

As usual, picture-taking at the Armory was difficult and even the best photographers had problems! Indeed, the first two below are so bad that they were encased in a frame to distract from the poor quality! The others, covering the DM, are another gift from photographer Toby Nygaard who, perhaps symbolically reflecting our feelings after the race, used a light setting that produced somewhat blue results.


Sam Shapiro in the 55m Dash Steve Iwanczuk in the 55m Dash Andes in good position in 1st lap of 1200m leg Andes after second lap of 1200m leg Andes passes to Steliga
Stelega after one lap in the 400m leg Nelson after one lap in the 800m leg Nelson after two laps in the 800m leg Yersak in the 1600m leg Yersak in the 1600m leg





Scrimmage: Shawnee High School

On March 13, 2006, Cherokee traveled to its sister-school Shawnee High School for the first scrimmage of the season. There the coaches took a look at the new talent and conducted a work-out for the more-experienced athletes. While it's still early, it's safe to say there were some pleasant surprises in the sprints and jumps! And, unlike many days in early March, the weather was a surprise as well: 75 degrees and no wind! Here are some pictures taken randomly throughout the meet.


Justin Turner in the LJ Major Mobley in the LJ Binah Moore in the LJ Aaron DeCaires in the LJ Demetrius Richardson in the LJ
Robin Chen in the 400IH Mike Brocco and Matt Maze in the 100m Major Mobley in the 100m Mike Schiafone in the HH Travis Ruhl in the HH
Chris Chen in the HH Dan McCusker in the Jav Kevin Pingon in the Jav Austin Dill in the Jav Ed Davis in disc
Major Mobley in the 100m Chris DeSantis in the disc Mike Guadian in the disc Glenn Pease in the disc Eric Pontello in vault
800m start Rich Nelson and Don Causey Alex Yersak in the 800m Marc Saccomano in the 800m McNair, Stone and Schellack in the 200m
Bill Hazlett in the 800m Chris Applegate and Ryan McNair in the 4 X 400m AJ Valentine in the 4 X 400m Don Causey in the 4 X 400m Joe Foley in the 4 X 400m





Scrimmage: Timber Creek and Haddon Heights High Schools

On March 16, 2006, Cherokee participated in a tri-scrimmage with Timber Creek and Haddon Heights High Schools at Timber Creek. It was cold and windy but on this day the weather was decent: low 50s and little wind. The sprinters, jumpers and weightmen participated, while the distance squad stayed home to train for a race this weekend. Here are some of the pictures taken at the track and jump areas before the sun set.


Steve Watson at the LJ Chris Steliga at the LJ Chris Chen in the 400IH Travis Ruhl in the 400IH Aaron DeCaires in the 400IH
Robin Chen in the 400IH Matt Maze in the LJ Sam Shapiro in the 100 Steve Iwanczuk in the 100 Steve Watson and Chris Steliga in the 100
Lynell Payne in the 100 AJ Valentine in the 100 Binah Moore in the 100 Tony Cotton in the 100 Mike Brocco, Shawn Godfrey, Justin Moore and Jason Younker in the 100
Chao Weng and Duong Nguyen in the 100 Joe Gentes in the 100 Eric Pontrello in the vault Eric Pontrello in the vault Matt Addezzio in the vault





The Adrenaline 5K

On March 18, 2006, members of Cherokee's Distance squad continued a tradition that started several years ago, running a 5K charity race in Haddonfield -- now called The Adrenaline 5k -- against Coach Shaklee for "bragging rights!" The results were mixed but the final conclusion is obvious! Four of the guys beat the coach to the finish line (Vin Marziano, 16:27; Rich Nelson, 16:30; Alex Yersak, 16:33; and Greg Bredeck, 16:39) but the best they scored was 8th in their age group! The coach, on the other hand, finished only 30 seconds behind the top team finisher (16:57) and he was 1st in his "over-50" age group! Case closed! Overheard at the awards ceremony: "He's been running over . . . like . . . 40 years more than we have . . . he should beat us!" Complete results at: L and M Sports.

Here are pictures of most of those who ran the race. Never did see Kevin or Joe!


Vin Marziano, Alex Yersak, Rich Nelson hidden Rich Nelson Greg Bredeck Coach Shaklee
Mike Medvec Matt Applegate Will Andes Colin Cunningham
Marc Saccomanno Steve McCarroll Chris Applegate and Ryan McNair Adam Hendrickson





St. Baldrick's Day

On March 18, 2006, only a few hours after he ran The Adrenaline 5K, Coach Shaklee participated in the annual St. Baldrick's Day head-shaving event at the Cork Restaurant in Westmont to raise money for the National Childhood Cancer Foundation. Once again, his efforts resulted in more than $2,000 going to the Foundation! For more information on this great cause see: Coach Shaklee's personal page at St. Baldrick's.


St Baldrick's, 2006 St Baldrick's, 2006 St Baldrick's, 2006 St Baldrick's, 2006
St Baldrick's, 2006 St Baldrick's, 2006 St Baldrick's, 2006 St Baldrick's, 2006





Scrimmage: Senaca and Rancocas Valley Regional High Schools

On March 29, 2006, Cherokee participated in another tri-scrimmage with Senaca and Rancocas Valley Regional High Schools at home. It was an unexpectedly nice day and the team performed admirably. Here are some of the pictures taken at the scrimmage before the sun set.


Justin Turner at the LJ Kyle Magulick at the LJ Steve Watson at the LJ Mike Guadian in the Disc Glen Pease in the Disc
Dan Farid in the Disc __ in the Disc Chris Chen in the 400IH Robin Chen in the 400IH Tony Cotton in the 100m
Binah Moore in the 100m Sam Shapiro in the 100m Demetrius Richardson in the 100m Distance squad in the 1600m Distance squad in the 1600m
Dan Radkowski clears the cross bar in the vault Joe Gentes in the 400m Major Mobley in the 400m Chao Weng in the 400m Steve Iwanczuk in the 400m
Mike Brocco in the HH Dan Costello in the HH Travis Ruhl in the HH Aaron Decaires in the HH Kyle Burch and Brandon Billman (Joe Masoero in back) in the 800m
Joe Masoero in the 800m AJ Valentine in the 800m Chris Steliga in the 800m Lynell Payne in the HJ AJ Valentine in the HJ








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