Green Dragons indoor track squad set to race

By Wayne witkowski
Staff Writer

Brick Township’s cross country runners, coming off a superb fall season in which they were ranked among the state’s elite, hope to strengthen the school’s indoor track team in the long distance running events.

"We have some strong points and some glaringly weak ones," said veteran coach William Brunner, who will look to cross country standouts Sarah Costey, who was co-captain during the cross country season; junior Christine Mancini; and sophomore Erin Redden, who finished ninth in the Ocean County cross country championships.

Redden ran very well in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter events during the outdoor season.

Brunner feels his team is "fairly strong" in sprinting events, especially the relays where senior captain Christine Linton and sophomores Robin Daniels, Amy Marino and Alison Sweeney could be the regulars.

Individually, Linton was third in the Ocean County indoor championships in the 400 meters last winter, and Daniels was sixth in the 400 outdoors, finishing ahead of Linton.

Daniels also is one of the high jumpers along with Tiffany Rosal, who was injured for much of the outdoor season, and sophomore Holly Lund.

Christine Gray, a two-time county champion for Toms River North, is a new assistant coach who will work with the hurdlers and high jumpers.

Brunner said that the team’s performance in field events needs the most attention, especially the shot put where freshman Christine Centano, one of the better shot putters in Brick’s middle school program last year, and sophomore Nicole Quinn appear to be the leaders.

In fact, youth will have a profound influence on the entire team’s fortunes for this season.

"We have glaring weak areas because of our inexperience, but we’re not lacking in talent," said Brunner.

Sophomore Nicole Alvarez, who comes off an outstanding softball team, is out for track for the first time and is projected as a high jumper, hurdler and even a sprinter, where two other freshmen — Kelly Wargo and Shannon Dempsey — could step in for this season.

Despite the team’s youth, Brunner talks enthusiastically about the excitement the newcomers can generate in the upcoming weeks, which always makes for interesting results.