Altland's double helps Rockets place second
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Above, Raritan's Christine Altland races to the finish line to win the girls 1,600 at the CJGroup II championships in Tinton Falls on Friday. At left, Middletown South's Mark Longo maintains a slight lead over Willingboro's Brian Mitchell in the 110-meter hurdles.

Led by Christine's Altland's 1,600-3,200 double, the Raritan Rockets gave Rahway all it could handle before falling short of the team title at the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II championships.

The Rocket girls, who had four individual winners, put on a strong showing at Monmouth Regional, scoring 73.5 points, second only to Rahway's 81. The state sectional was held Friday and Saturday in Tinton Falls.

Rahway dominated the sprints and jumping events, but the Rockets stayed close thanks to its distance runners and throwers.

Altland and teammates Jennifer Curran and Chelsea Callan combined to score 50 points for the Rockets.

The point barrage began in the 1,600, where Altland won in 5:14.97, with Curran (5:16.67) and Callan (5:20.28) running third and fourth.

It was a one-two finish in the 3,200, with Altland posting an 11:53.60 and Curran clocking 11:55.43.

In the 800, Altland (2:23.48), Callan (2:23,79) and Curran (2:23.89) were third, fourth and fifth.

Raritan's dependable throwers, Ashley Gallo and Valerie Carney, pulled through with wins. Gallo won the shot put (36-6 1/4), while Carney was first in the javelin (124-0). Gallo was fifth in the javelin (110-6).

Raritan's other points came from Gina Cichorz's sixth place in the long jump (15-4) and the tied for sixth place of Camerson Lisa in the pole vault (8-6).

The Rocket boys were fourth in Group II with 48 points.

Rick Jaeger and Brian England led the way with wins in the shot put and discus, respectively. Jaeger was close to his personal best in the shot, reaching 55-2 1/4. Teammate Matt Fitzpatrick was fifth (46-11). Jaeger also took fourth in the javelin (162-4).

England whirled the platter 153-7 in taking the discus.

Mike Buccheri and John Krajunus tied for second in the high jump at 6-0. Buccheri finished third in the triple jump (41-0 3/4).

Nick VanWattingen cleared 12-6 in the pole vault and was fourth.

Matawan competed in South Plainfield in North Jersey Section II Group III.

Donna Alexander won the girls triple jump at 36-7 1/2, and Zakeyah Pitts was first in the javelin (128-1).

Alexander was also third in the 200 (25.67) and fourth in the 400 (58.52). Teammate Mackenzie Chambers was fourth in the 100 (12.69).

Matawan was second in the 4x400 relay (4:09.33). Alexander, Chambers, Peggy Lau and Jodi-Ann McCormack have been running the relay for the Huskies.

Pitts led a one-two Huskie finish in the javelin as teammate Erin Scurry was runner-up with a throw of 110-2. Pitts took fourth in the shot put (35-7 1/2).

Matawan was fifth with 59 points in the team competition that went to Ridge (74-1/3).

Matawan's boys were third with 52 points without having an individual champion.

Melvin Finley was second in the 200 (22.28) and the 400 (49.38).

Shawn Gibbs and Chris MacCutcheon also had second places for Matawan - Gibbs in the triple jump (43-10) and MacCutcheon in the javelin (167-8).

Also scoring for Matawan were: Kyle Hardy, fifth in the 100 (11.42), Steve Martinez, sixth in the 110 hurdles (15.46) and 400 intermediate hurdles (56.59), Kyle Robinson, third in the high jump (6-2), Anthony Grossoa, fourth in the shot put (49-10 1/2), Stephen Turner, fifth in the shot put (48-9 1/2) and sixth in the discus (133-8), Michael McGuinness, sixth in the pole vault (11-6) and the 4x400 relay team, fifth (3:30.82).

Holmdel's boys were sixth (30) in this group that was won by New Brunswick (79).

Adam Lampell led the Hornets with a second place in the 3,200 (9:43.98) and a third place in the 1,600 (4:26.77). Teammates Jayran Sataluri (9:43.98) and George Galasso (9:50.27) were third and sixth in the 3,200.

Al Kealy placed fourth in the javelin (158-0), and teammate Jesse Fleishner was sixth (151-0).

Mike Yetka was fifth in the triple jump (40-11) and sixth in the long jump (20-3 1/2) for the Hornets.

Holmdel's lone point-scorer for the girls was Heather Sedlacek, sixth in the triple jump (33-11).

In Central Jersey Group III, Middletown South pole vaulter Andrew Ditwiler was third (13-6), and for the girls, Arian LaFerlita was fourth in the triple jump (33-10).

The top six finishers in each event at the state sectionals qualify for this weekend's NJSIAA State Groups Championships. Groups I, II and IV will compete Friday and Saturday in Egg Harbor Township while Group III and Non-Public A and B are at South Plainfield.