2009 Cranford Girls Track Preview

Nobody was happier to see the snow melt and the temperatures thaw than the Cranford High School Girls’ Track Team and their outstanding young coach Peter Kane. While they enjoyed a competitive indoor season, the typical meet did not contain events like the triple jump, pole vault and javelin, three events that the Cougars have dominated in recent years. For the Cougars’ two most accomplished athletes, junior Kelly Burke and sophomore Natalie Englese, the outdoor season provides a much different opportunity.

Englese, a sprinter, was not nearly as affected as Burke and used the indoor season to hone her skills as one of the state’s most talented 400 meter runners. Burke, who had little chance to show her pole vault and triple jump prowess, made the most of a rare opportunity at the Nationals Meet, March 14-15 in New York. In the pole vault on Saturday, Burke finished 16th setting a school and Union County Indoor record of 11'6. The height also qualifies her for the Penn Relays, one of the nation’s premier outdoor events held in April. She then came back on Sunday to triple jump 36'2 to place 14th and again qualified for the Penn Relays.

A Meet of Champions place winner as a freshman, Burke fought numerous ankle injuries last year, which curtailed her performances. Kane knows what a healthy Burke can achieve and is hopeful that she can continue to stay healthy outdoors through an arduous regimen which also includes hurdles and the high jump.

Englese burst on the scene last season in much the same way Burke had the prior year. Englese dominated Union County last season, doubling in the 200 and 400 at the county championships. She completed the same double at the state sectional meet and finished fifth in the Meet of Champions in her signature event the 400.

“Natalie's freshmen season was outstanding. She is a very talented young runner and doesn't take it for granted. She comes to practice everyday looking to get better and she works very hard,” said Kane,

Englese improved her outdoor performances this winter, including a personal best 58.01 in the 400. She also repeated as Mountain Valley conference (MVC) and Union County 400 champion.

While Burke and Englese are a devastating 1-2 punch, the Cougars also feature, the Humen twins, Clare and Lilas. The seniors were prominent members of the state championship volleyball team last fall and offer versatility and skill as well as senior leadership. Lilas Humen combined with Burke the past two years to give the Cougars a dominant pole vault relay team and has broken ten feet numerous times, with an outdoor best of 10’6. She also is a solid hurdler and can do a number of other events including the triple jump and hurdles. Clare is more of a middle distance runner, who will be an integral part of what will be a powerful 4 by 400 relay team, anchored by Englese. Clare Humen also competes in all the jumping events as the need presents itself.

“If it were possible I wouldn't let them graduate,” says Kane laughing. “Lilas has made such progress in the Pole Vault the past three years and Clare does so many things well in addition to her running.”

Senior Julianne Grandal rivals some of her teammates for versatility. A two time county javelin champion, she has also gained skill in the other weight events but is also a fine middle distance runner, excelling in the 400 and 800 and usually runs on the 4 by 400 relay, Like Burke, Grandal trained indoors to mostly prepare for the outdoor season. Despite limited opportunities, Grandal has already qualified for the Penn Relays in the javelin.

The indoor season also introduced two exciting freshmen, Kelly Burke’s sister Gillian and Rebecca Shimonov. Unlike her sister, Burke competed mostly on the track where her long stride makes her much more effective on the roomier outdoor tracks.

“She had a great debut this Indoor season and she is another girl who is dedicated to getting faster and she loves to compete with the girls on our team. She has a fierce competitive fire in her and that will prove to push her throughout her first season of Outdoor track,” said Kane.

Shimonov placed in several championship meets in the high jump and like others, is working at numerous events, trying to find where she can most help the team. The Cougars are traditionally strong in the distance events and sophomore Bridget Miller is hoping to build off excellent cross country and indoor seasons. Miller qualified through one of the state’s toughest sections, which included the state’s best runner, to make the state championships in the 3200.

“Bridget has had such a breakthrough year. She knows that she has the ability to run at a very high level this Outdoor season and she will continue to work hard to get there,” said Kane.

Adding depth is Miller’s twin sister, Veronica as well as the Hanke sisters, Joy an accomplished senior and Rebecca an exciting freshman.

Kane needs his team to maximize its performance if they are to beat the county and conference’s top team Arthur L Johnson of Clark. “They are a very solid team and cover almost every event. We like all teams have our strengths and weaknesses, but we are a very competitive team and our goal is to beat everyone,” said Kane, who paused and added rhetorically, “If that's not your goal how do you expect it to happen?”