Winter Track Team Preps for Upcoming Races

Jeff Koegel and Rich McGriff, the coaches of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School boys and girls winter track teams, had quite a busy Saturday.

The indoor teams had an early day, showing up at about 8 a.m. and working until 11:30 a.m. in the school's gym, hallways, and other available workout places.

Koegel worked several stop watches and McGriff supervised the jumpers and hurdlers. It was a day to pack as much activity in as possible. The teams have been working out since Nov. 30, but with SATs a week ago, this past Saturday was really the busiest of workout days.

"Rich works with the 400 meter people down, and I do anything from the 400 up,'' said Koegel, also a math teacher. "On Saturday we were working kids out, evaluating them.''

The Raiders open the season Saturday at the Gardiner Holiday Relays at Drew University in Madison. Two days later, the team will head to New York City for the Spiked Shoe Holiday Festival at the New Balance Track and Field Center. The Raiders have an interesting blend of athletes this season. They are very strong in the field events and have a good mix of sprinters and hurdlers.

"We have a lot of kids who haven't run since May,'' Koegel said.

Among the returners are junior shot putter Malonia Miles and senior shot putter Kim Wenson, senior high jumper/long jumper/hurdler Sara Canfield, junior all-purpose athlete Camille Handy and sophomore distance runner Erin Pierce. The Raiders strengths are in the field events, which sometimes suffer in the winter since few indoor facilities can handle field events, meaning the Raiders' point totals may suffer.

"We tell the kids that medals and trophies they give out (in the winter) are the same sizes as the ones they give out in the spring," Koegel said.

Among the boys who are returning is junior cross country standout Alex Parker, who is fresh off a cross country season during which he was named First Team All-Union County and Third Team All-Group III.  High jumper Lavan Powell and shot putter David Kreps also return. The shotput is an event the Raiders have owned the last few years with graduated stars Mike Alleman and Matt McQuoid winning the last three county indoor titles.

"The boys' team will be a growing process," Koegel said. The 2010 part of the indoor season gets going quickly, with the Union County Relays Jan. 9 at the Jersey City Armory. The NJSIAA Group III relays is the following Friday at the Bennett Indoor Sports Complex in Toms River and the Union County individual championships are Jan. 23 back at the Jersey City Armory. The NJSIAA group meet is Feb. 13 at Bennett with the Meet of Champions set for Feb. 20 at the Bennett Complex.