BT's Stuto cops another relay title

For the third straight year, Lisa Stuto is on an indoor state champion shot put relay team.

Combining with sophomore Katie Brunner for a throw of 73-feet, one-quarter inch, the duo gave Brick Township a fourth straight state title, something that has never before been accomplished in any group in the shot put relay, said coach Bill Brunner, who also is Katie's father. Competing in Group III after being moved this school year from Group IV, the duo was a hefty six feet beyond runnerup Hamilton West, during Sunday's NJSIAA championships at the Bennett Athletic Complex Bubble in Toms River.

Stuto and DeAnne Hahn, competing at the University of Minnesota these days, dominated the state the past two years and Stuto and her new partner set the tone early, with Stuto uncorking her top throw of 41-9 on her second attempt and following it with a 41-8 on her next try. Brunner likewise hit her best throw of 31-3 1/4 on her second attempt. They led the competition throughout the rounds.

"Lisa is a little unhappy with herself," said Brunner, referring to Stuto, who is heading to Eastern Michigan University this fall. "They went 75-feet in the gym in practice during the week and Lisa was throwing 43 (feet)-plus and Katie was pushing 32-plus. Lisa was very excited because she was working on a technique problem and started coming through it on Wednesday. Then, they were waiting three hours for the competition and were confident when they came out for it but Lisa was pressing a little hard."

But the conclusion of the relay phase of competition means that they will prepare for the big meets. It starts on Sunday with the Shore Conference championships at the Bennett Bubble but Brunner said he will only enter Stuto and hold out his daughter, who is learning a new style from the glide to a more rotational approach.

"It won't show dividends now but it will," said Brunner. "By next winter, she'll be throwing 31-plus (feet)."

Stuto, meanwhile, will have a busy schedule. After the Shore Conference meet on Sunday, she'll compete in the Randolph shot put invitational which draws the top throwers in the region, and then will compete in the Ocean County championships next Thursday.

Brick Memorial girls coach Jessica Jones, meanwhile, also will rely on a shot putter for the upcoming big meets in sophomore Sofia Belaid. Her 4x200 and distance medley relays did not fare well in the state relays, although the Distance Medley Relay team of T'keya Grimes, Kendyll Stahlin, Stephanie Hansen and Kerri Pagels was sixth in the county relays in 14 minutes. Grimes and Stahlin will run shorter distances in upcoming meets along with Kelsey Moore and Pagels will run the 1,600 meters. Noelle Piccone runs sprints along with Nairee Rodriguez.

As for Brick Memorial boys team, its two relays entered in the state meet finished around the middle of the pack, said coach Al Cuthbert. "They didn't place but they both ran well," he said. "They've got to keep getting better."

The 4x800 relay ran an 8:40.45 for 15th place out of 45 teams, about a half-second faster than in the county relays the previous weekend. Nick Castellano led off with a 2:08.4, followed by Andrew Goelz (2:12.4), Neil Stocco (2:13.5) and Mike Berti (2:05.8).

The distance medley was 22nd out of 50 teams in 11:13.22. Goelz clocked a 3:25.1 in the 1,200, Russ Morretti finished :56.3 in the 400, Castellano ran a 2:04.7 800 and Berti was timed in 4:45.5 in the 1,600.

Cuthbert said all five runners will compete in the Shore Conference meet in their aforementioned distances and many other young runners from all four schools will participate in the freshman/novice meet at the Bennett Complex on Wednesday.

Brick Township boys coach Jim Calabro did not return phone messages for information for this article.