2005 Westfield Boys Outdoor Track Preview

With a staggering total of 143 athletes competing for spots, veteran Westfield track coach Jack Martin is excited about the prospects for the 2005 edition of the Blue Devil track team.

“This is a young team with a lot of potential,” said Martin, who has coached track for 30 years and been the head coach at Westfield since 1994.

“It is great to have so many kids on the team,” said Martin.

With such a large team, Martin is hoping for the weather to improve so he can better sort out his small army of athletes.
“The weather has not affected us too much. because we have been doing early season base work ,” said Martin.

Martin can again count on strength from his distance runners and pole-vaulters although each group is currently missing a key component.

First team all state cross country star Jeffrey Perrella leads the deep distance corps but
the Blue Devils continue to miss senior Rob Broadbent , who had had leg problems since the indoor season. Broadbent was a top 800 runner last spring and figured to build on a great cross country season, which culminated with a twenty fifth place finish in the Meet of Champions.

“The team has great potential, but the story of this year has been injuries. A lot of guys have had injuries and it will make piecing together a relay team very difficult ,” said Perrella.

Fortunately, the Blue Devils have four excellent juniors, who along with Perrella should make Westfield one of the top cross-country teams in the state next fall. Kris Kagan is the top returnee and has excelled in both the 1600 and 3200. Ameer Rogers, Jay Hoban and
Raymond Chen excel in the distance events while senior Scott Steinberg is more of an 800 specialist.

Perrella is hoping to run under two minutes in the 800, 4:20 in the 1600 and 9:20 in the 3200.

“I am feeling good ,” said Perrella.
“My health is great. I have begun my morning workouts again and am lifting weights everyday to try and improve my speed.”

While senior Mike Woods is one of the top pole-vaulters in the state, Martin is hoping for the return of his other top pole-vaulter, senior Mike Gorski, who is currently injured. Both Woods and Gorski cleared 13 feet last year and Woods place fourth in the indoor meet of champions. The Blue Devils are fortunate to also have junior Alex Kao who would be the top pole-vaulter on many teams but will need a healthy Gorski to win the pole vault relay at the biggest meets.

Although the pole vault is clearly the strongest field event, Martin is counting on senior javelin thrower Jeff Pazdro to score in most meets and senior Tom White leads the shot put and discus.

In other events Senior Jake Brandman is the top returning sprinter and
Senior Tyler MacCubbin and Kao are the leading hurdlers while MacCubbin, Kao and Richie Scvialabba pace the jumpers

“We need to get experience as the vast majority of our runners are freshmen and
sophomores,” said Martin.

The Blue Devils hope to be at full strength for later in the year when they will battle such strong teams as Union, Plainfield, Cranford, Elizabeth and Scotch Plains for the county title.

“The county is getting very strong again. To compete we need to get healthy,” said Martin.

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