NEPTUNE- Michael Peavey toed the line during the prelims of the 100 meters ready to blast something good. He got out of the blocks and safely down the straightaway running 10.75, just off the meet record set 1 year ago (10.72). Peavey was easily the clear favorite heading into the finals. The only question was will the meet record go down for the third consecutive year. At the start of the 100 meter finals the wind was calm. Perfect territory for a meet record. The gun shot off and Peavey was out. Much to the delight of the home crowd Peavey's teammate Tyquan Brown was right behind him. They would finish 1-2 and it looked FAST! The crowd and all 8 finalists look up to the clock. 10.59!!!, a new Shore Conference record for Peavey, breaking 10.66 the record held by Henry Vaden of Asbury Park since 1985. Peavey's time is also tops on New Jersey this season. When the crowd heard the news the was a big eruption. Neptune was out to an early lead for the team title with 18 points in the 100m, and another 18 in the 200m.
Neptune would relinquish the team title lead to Freehold Twp and they wouldn't look back. From the 400 hurdles, where Freehold Twp scored 24 (placing 1-2-3) with Bobby Searby running a personal best 55.26, Jeff Kole was right behind him in 56.48 and Ramier Wright rounded out the top three for Freehold Twp. Freehold Twp then picked up valuable points in the boys 400m with Ryan Spadola and Bobby Searby placing 1,2 in 49.49 and 49.58 respectively. To put Freehold Twp way out they need some big points in the 800m. Abe Hamami was up to the challange as he held off a big push from Kingsley Prophete of Manalapan to win in 1:58.58. Freehold Twp also took 3rd and 5th for another 18 points just in the 800m. After winning the 4x400m relay going away, the team title came down to the long jump, where Matawan had the top three jumpers. If Matawan gets 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, Matawan would have the team title. The results came in as Coach Briggs and his team held their breathe. Matawan could only manage a 1st and 6th and Freehold would come out victorious for the 2nd consecutive year.
Other highlights on the boys side include Alex Smith of Rumson-Fair Haven taking the high jump title in 6-4 as well as the triple jump in a new personal best 46-8.75. Alex is already one of the states best high jumpers and his triple jump now puts him 3rd in the state.
The girls team title was a battle the entire way, with the victor coming out in the last event as did in the boys title. Neptune led the way for the majority of the afternoon. Scoring wins in the 800m by Freshman phenom Ajee Wilson (5:02.43), also the 800m by Wilson (2:14.26), the 100m hurdles by Ashley Porterfield (15.86) and the 4x400m relay. Neptune scored an outstanding 80 points on the track, but couldn't manage any in the field, where Marlboro had some of the state's best throwers and jumpers. All Marlboro needed was a win in the triple jump to secure the team title. O yeah their triple jumpers name is one you've heard of. Ada Unachukwu, the Michigan bound senior who carried her team on her back to the 2009 team title. Unachukwu was dominate on the track winning the 100m, 200m and 400m and then to secure the team title she won the triple jump, her speciality in 38-0.5
(photo of Marlboro courtesy of Joe Mirault)