Viking girls, Old Bridge boys claim GMC titles
Boynton, McIntyre lead girls to upset over rival Knights
BY DOUG McKENZIE
Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY MIGUEL JUAREZ staff South Brunswick's Justin Delpiano (above) and Kyle Wadiak took first and third, respectively, in the pole vault on Saturday to help lead the Vikings to a strong second-place finish at the GMCChampionships at South Plainfield High School.

Both the Old Bridge boys and girls track and field teams entered this weekend's Greater Middlesex Conference Track and Field Championships as the favorites.

That's nothing new, as the Knights teams have consistently thrived in that role over the past several years.

This year, however, the South Brunswick girls team felt it had a legitimate shot at knocking off the top-ranked Lady Knights, and went out and did just that at South Plainfield High School on Saturday.

With Yesena Boynton setting the tone with her surprising win in the 400 meters, the Vikings topped the Knights by a mere five points - 74-69. Boynton picked a perfect time to run a personal best 55.94 (a pb by over two seconds), as she beat the heavily favored Asia Washington of Piscataway.

Boynton added a second place in the 800 (2:23.83).

Stephanie McIntyre also took advantage of the GMC Championship stage, jumping 39-7 to win the triple jump, which was a new meet record, while taking second in the long jump (17-3), with teammate Indira Morton in third (17-2).

Morton won the girls javelin with a throw of 130-2, beating Spotswood's Danyelle Dell'Olio (119-03).

Among the other Lady Vikings to score points were Megan Behrend (fifth in the 3,200, 12:14.67), Stephanie Rodriguez (fourth in the 400 hurdles, 1:07.96) and Morton (fourth in the shot put, 35-2).

Old Bridge got a win from Cristine Marquez in the 800 (2:21.81), while teammate Stephanie Paturzo took third (2:24.23).

Old Bridge was the boys champion (134 and 1/2 points), followed by South Brunswick (55), East Brunswick (38), St. Joseph (36 and 1/4) and Metuchen (35).

The four-time defending champion Knights were as dominant as ever, winning five events, taking second in two others and placing in 14 of 16 events.

As expected, Bryant McCombs led the way, winning both the 200 (21.74) and 400 (47.96). But what wasn't expected was the challenge he got from his best friend and teammate, Allan Lunkenheimer, who took second in both events. While Lunkenheimer used a late kick to get close to McCombs in the 200, where he crossed the line in 21.90, he really pushed the brilliant McCombs in the 400.

With McCombs seemingly in control on the final turn, Lunkenheimer turned it on, catching the defending MOC champ, with McCombs only beating him with a lean at the line - 47.96-47.98.

With the state meets still to come, don't expect Lunkenheimer to take McCombs by surprise anymore.

Old Bridge also got wins from Jamaar Figueroa in the discus, who won the event with a mark of 170-0, Matt Ciambriello in the 1,600 (4:23.96), and Ken Cardullo in the javelin (182-8), who just beat teammate Brian Florek (179-5).

Figueroa also took second in the shot put (51-8), while teammate David Ibrahim was fifth (47-1).

The other Knight athletes to score points on Saturday were James Hauser (fourth in the 800, 2:00.06), Nick Carbone (fifth in the 800, 2:00.86), Pat Lyman (sixth in the 800 (2:01.30), Hirsha Venkataraman (sixth in the 3,200, 10:0387), Jeff St. Florant (third in the 110 hurdles, 15.12, second in the long jump, 21-5, and fourth in the triple jump, 42-6, and fourth in the high jump, 6-0), Paul Racioppi (fifth in the 400 hurdles, 57.33), John Miller (third in the discus, 143-3), Phil Payne (sixth in the javelin, 156-7), Cardullo (third in the triple jump, 42-8, and fifth in the high jump, 6-0) and the 4x400 relay team, which took fourth in 3:28.22.

South Brunswick was led by Willam Ricketts win in the high jump, were he cleared the bar at 6-2, and Justin Delpiano's win on the pole vault (14-0). Teammate Kyle Wadiak took third in the pole vault (11-6).

The Vikings also got points from John Viotto (second in the discus, 159-1, and third in the shot put, 50-0), Jeremy Guzman (fourth in the 100, 11.41), Steve Sample (fifth in the 3,200, 9:53.47), Bobby Long (fifth in the discus, 132-08) Justin Delpiano (third in the javelin, 172-02) and the 4x400 relay team, which took fifth in 3:28.89.