Hahn takes second at indoor Meet of Champions
Boyd nearly tops pb in the 400
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer

JEFFGRANIT staff Brick Township's Ryisha Boyd gets off to a fast start during the 400 at Saturday's Meet of Champions in Toms River.

TOMS RIVER - Deanne Hahn has shown that she is driven to be the best.

The Brick Township girls indoor track and field shot put star had finished second in the Meet of Champions but seemed as crestfallen as if she had finished out of a medal on Saturday.

"I definitely could've thrown better," said the junior, who hit a throw of 44 feet 9 inches on her third and final attempt in the qualifiers. "I was a little lazy. I knew it was the same competition as in the sectionals. Maybe I'll see her [Taryn O'Connor of Hillsborough, who threw a winning 46-3] in the nationals."

Hahn will participate in those meets next Friday at the 168th Street Armory in New York and next Sunday in Maryland.

She also competed in the Easterns at the 168th Street Armory on Tuesday with shot put partner Lisa Stuto, a sophomore who did not medal with a best throw of 38-9, and junior Ryisha Boyd, who ran a 58.83 in the 400. Her time was .13 off her personal best set a year ago but still far better than the 1:01 time she ran as a freshman two years ago when she was a wild card qualifier in the MOC.

"I thought I ran OK considering that I was running on the outside lane, which is really banked," said Boyd.

Boyd also will compete in the long jump at the Easterns. Boyd rates as one of the best in the long jump in the Shore Conference heading into the outdoor season when practices begin this week. She jumped 16-10 for second place at the Seton Hall Invitational over the Christmas holidays, her only competition in that event.

"I think I'm going to run faster times [outdoors] than last year," said Boyd. "There are a lot more races [outdoors]. Everything is not a championship race."

"From what I can see, she ran a good race strategically," said coach Bill Brunner.

But Brunner, an expert on teaching fundamentals to throwers, was watching intently, as were many at the meet as Hahn, ranked No. 4 nationally, squared off against her No. 3 nationally ranked nemesis O'Connor. A year ago, Hahn was throwing for Lakewood before transferring to Brick Township and was emotionally devastated with the passing of her father as she settled for seventh place and a 38-foot throw. She bounced back outdoors to win the MOC.

"We came here to win and took second with two nationally ranked throwers, so today she took a back seat and she is disappointed," said Brunner. "She's not settling for anything but to win. But she has to realize there are plenty of days that will be like this. We have to pull up our sleeves for outdoors."

But is Brunner disappointed?

"I'm never disappointed as long as she is throwing her best," he said.

"She needs to build her confidence going to meets and to always do her best."

But the fact remains that Hahn, who played catch-up after the second throw, finished second to O'Connor for a second straight week. Hahn threw 45-10 in the Group IV meet for second place and O'Connor won it with a throw of 46-0 1/4. Just about any other girl would be thrilled to be throwing Hahn's distances, although she agreed that she uncorked her best throws early in the season.

"I know I should be throwing my best at the end of the season," agreed Hahn. "I think I pushed a little too early. I should be working harder now than I did back then. At the end of the season, you're either 'on' or you're not. Maybe I peaked a little soon. That could be."

Brunner feels it is more a case of fine-tuning the mechanics of both shot-putters.

"Mechanically, she has to get back to where she was early in the season," said Brunner of Hahn. "It's just getting her power leg under her [more]."

As for Stuto, "she was off her game today mechanically," said Brunner sternly. Stuto had finished sixth in the group meet. The good news for both is that they are underclassmen with plenty of meets and opportunities ahead.

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