2005 Group III Boys Indoor Track

The Jets weren’t the only team that came agonizingly close to a big victory last weekend. Although they finished a strong third in the Group III State Championships at Princeton University’s Jadwin Gym Sunday, the Westfield Boys Track Team knows how close they came to winning the team title. Only Randolph and Morristown, which is coached by Westfield resident Paul Buccino, finished ahead of the Blue Devils’ 18 points.

Robert Broadbent finished a close fourth in the 800, all State Cross country star Jeffrey Perrella was third in the 3200 and Mike Woods was just edged out for first in the pole vault, finishing second with a jump of 13 feet.

“All three boys were in a position to win their events. They gave it their all
and came up a little short.,” said veteran coach Jack Martin.

“It's difficult for all the schools to be ready so early in the season, but that's the problem with the lack of statewide facilities ,” added Martin.

Perrella blamed a faulty strategy for his third place finish in 9:53.39.
“I know I could have won the race had I just stayed connected to the
leader (Geoff McGrane of Randolph) ,” said Perrella. McGrane won both the 3200 and 1600 to lead Randolph to the team title.

“The first and second place guys just got away from me with a
little less then a half mile to go, and I know if I had never let that gap form, I could have out kicked them.

“However, that isn't how it played out and I got third. Hopefully I'll get them come the Meet of Champions ,” said Perrella.

Broadbent will also be seeking revenge at the Meet of Champions after finishing fourth in the 800 in 2:02.84, but was just .35 out of second.. Broadbent made a huge improvement late in the cross-country season and should be one of the top 800-meter runners in the state.

Woods will join the two middle distance runners at the Meet of champions, finishing behind David McCullough of Toms River South who jumped 13 ‘ 6 to Woods’ 13 feet.

400 meter runner Scott Steinberg, 800 meter runner Kris Kagan, 1600 meter runners Jay Hoban and Ameer Rogers, sprinters Jake Brandman and Sam Kim, high jumper Tyler Maccubbin and Pole Vaulter Alex Kao also participated.

Multi-talented Sean Smith of Scotch Plains qualified in one event, the 55-meter hurdles, where he finished second to Tyrell Ross of Clearview. Smith qualified fifth in the preliminaries but improved on his time in the finals, running 8:10.

Smith also finished tenth in the high jump, clearing 5 feet 10 inches
and teammate Iceberg Bryant was tied for twentieth at 5 foot 6 inches.

1600 meter runner Adam Biner, 3200 meter runner Josh Zinman, sprinters Nehemiah Burney-Porter, Rob Ventura and James Alfano, 400 meter runner Kyle Rowbotham also competed.