2009 Group II Central Jersey Sections

A week after sharing the Union County track title, the Cranford High School Girls’ track team grabbed an even bigger prize when they won their first ever state section title at the Central Jersey Group II Section 2 meet at Monmouth Regional in Tinton Falls May 22-23. Double victories by junior Kelly Burke and sophomore Natalie Englese propelled the Cougars to a 66-60 victory over Delaware Valley.

The meet was decided in the final event, the 4 by 400 relay. Tied with Delaware Valley at 58 points each, the Cougars rode a sizzling 55.7 anchor leg by Englese to move from fifth to second and capture eight points. Delaware Valley wound up fifth.

“It is very exciting to win the first State Sectional Title for the Girls in school history. The girls knew they could win the meet and they went after it. Having a talented team comes around once in a while, but to have a talented team that wants to win and leave their mark in the record books is unbelievable. We don’t take it for granted for one second,” said Coach Pete Kane, who in his third year has built the Cougars into a perennial power.

Burke had a remarkable meet, winning the triple jump with a prodigious leap of 39-5, smashing her school record and eclipsing the one week old county mark set last week by rival Emily Vargas of Johnson, who was second in the sections. The two had a memorable dual at the Union County meet, where Burke first set the county mark of 38-5, only to have Vargas take it back at 38-9. There was no such drama this time around as Burke took command and would have eclipsed 40 feet but fouled.

“She wants 40 feet now and I think she can get it this weekend. She has such a strong work ethic. She just wants to be the best. It's that attitude and her athleticism that will take her places,” said Kane.

Burke also took the pole vault with a jump of 11-0, a height matched by only one other Group 2 athlete. “Kelly is ready to jump as high as she needs to this weekend,” said Kane.

Burke ran third on the relay and also added six points with a third place in the long jump. Senior Clare Humen, who led off the relay also added a fifth in the triple jump.

Before anchoring the relay, Englese took the 200 and 400 meters. Englese, who battled through hamstring problems earlier in the season, competed with a broken nose, the result of a soccer game the previous weekend. Englese was a question mark going into the weekend. She had the nose snapped back into place, splinted and stitched. Then she had the splint taken off and she ran.

“She is a very tough kid. The kids respect her for it. I couldn't have a better example of a leader that leads by example than Natalie and what she did for us last weekend,” said Kane.

Englese had one of her most competitive 400 meter races but pulled away in the final 100 to prevailing in 56.63. Englese had an easier time in the 200, taking a large lead after the turn and increasing it on the straightaway, finishing in a time of 25.43.

“Her training allows her to hold her top speed when the other girls start to tire,” said Kane.

The Cougars also got key points from sophomore Bridget Miller, who finished third in the 3200 with a time of 11L40.01, sprinting past rival Cathy Goncalves of Johnson.

“She has never beaten the girl Goncalves from Johnson and she went out there and did it. I told her before the race that we were tied and she could do something big for us in her 3200. She gave me a look like, don't worry,” aid Kane.

Senior Julianne Grandal improved her final javelin throw to 117 and moved up from fifth to fourth, picking up four more crucial points. While Englese and Burke were the headliners, it was the points from Humen, Miller and Grandal that made the difference in the tight meet.


With Burke top seeded in her two events and Englese, seeded first and third, the Cougars are one of the favorites to win the Group 2 championship Friday and Saturday May 29-30 at South Plainfield.

2009 Union County Outdoor Individual

One measly point. One place higher in any event and the Cranford Girls’ track team would have been alone as Union County champions but the Cougars were more than pleased with sharing the crown with Union at the meet conducted Friday and Saturday May 15-16 at Hub Stine Field in Plainfield. It almost came down to Cranford’s three stars; senior Julianne Grandal, junior Kelly Burke and sophomore Natalie Englese against Union’s Ugonna Ndu and Cristina Vilsaint. The Cougars’ trio accounted for 55.5 points, while Union’s had 56. The Cougars led 69-61 after finishing third in the 4 by 400 relay but Vilsaint came up with a second in the final event, the discus, to create the tie.

“It feels great to be able to say we are county champs even if we have to share it This has been a very strong year for the county in track and it's nice to see our girls continue to work hard after being so close to winning in the relays and conferences,” added Kane.

Englese got the Cougars off to a fast start on Friday when she won the 400 by more than two seconds in 56.22, breaking her own meet record of 56.50 set last season. She came back on Saturday to edge Ndu 25.27 to 25.75. The times are pertinent because they inexplicitly ran in different heats, with each winning easily.

“It would have however been very exciting to see the two fastest girls in the county fight it out. The best runners run their fastest under toughest competition and Natalie could have run faster if she had to,” said Kane.

Englese’s outstanding meet allayed fears that she would be hampered by a sore hamstring, suffered at the Mountain Valley Conference (MVC) meet earlier in the week. Kane and his staff put Englese through an easier than normal week and she healed in time.

“She stayed off the hamstring for a few days and we worked her out during the week accordingly. Natalie is a natural competitor that will do what it takes to succeed. I'm very proud of her and her drive to be the best,” said Kane.

Englese finished up her outstanding meet by running 54.9 on her anchor leg in the 4 by 400 relay. Taking the baton in fifth place, Englese moved the team Claire Humen, Kate Evans, and Gillian Burke to third place in a season’s best 4:04.8.

Burke saved most of her heroics for late in the day on Saturday when she had to simultaneously compete in the triple jump and pole vault. In a memorable duel with Emily Vargas of Johnson, Burke broke the county and meet record with a leap of 38'5 1/4" in her first jump of finals, regaining the record she had lost to Vargas last week.
On her final jump Vargas took back the record with a 38’9 on her final jump. Burke just missed winning with a 38’10 that was ruled a foul. She then had to go to the pole vault for her starting height.

“It was not the ideal situation so we took it easy. Her step was a little off in the pole vault so her take off wasn’t working. I'm proud of her for doing what she had to do to help the team,” said Kane.
Burke won in a modest 10’0, well off her county record of 11’5. Senior Lilas Humen added two points with a fifth place finish. Burke also added six points on Friday with a third place in the long jump at 16-7.

Senior Julianne Grandal won as expected in the javelin, defending her title with a season best 116’7, but it was far from easy. Grandal’s steps were altered when the girls were forced to run on a shortened runway that backed them up to the tennis court fences. Going into the finals she was leading the field with a throw of 107', but fell to second when Emana Dent of Elizabeth unloaded personal best 113-7. In her final throw Grandal exceeded the leading throw.

“She came down the runway with a fierce look on her face and made her best throw of the season. We were proud of her ability to step up in the face of an obstacle,” said Kane.

Bridget Miller added six important points by finishing third in a strong 3200 meter field in a personal best 11:41.61.”Bridget ran awesome. She has been solid all year long and is waiting for another big breakthrough. She is in great shape and has her goals set for herself,” said Kane, who rued the loss of a few points Miller could have scored in the 1600.

“Bridget could have scored in the 1600, too, but for some reason she was put in the second heat and led the race from wire to wire. Had she been in the first heat she could have run faster.”

Although they finished well back in a strong boys meet, the Cougar boys got an individual victory of their own when senior Mike Scarfuto scored a surprise victory in the shot put, throwing a personal best 46’10.

“We are pumped about this. We knew he could do this and he deserves the win. We were excited about the Conference win and it helped him gain the confidence that he could be the best in the county. Scarf is a very hard worker and it's great to see him get the recognition he has deserved for some time now,” said Kane.

Next for the Cougar teams is the state Group II Section II section meet Friday and Saturday at Monmouth Regional High School.

2009 Union County Outdoor Individual

One measly point. One place higher in any event and the Cranford Girls’ track team would have been alone as Union County champions but the Cougars were more than pleased with sharing the crown with Union at the meet conducted Friday and Saturday May 15-16 at Hub Stine Field in Plainfield. It almost came down to Cranford’s three stars; senior Julianne Grandal, junior Kelly Burke and sophomore Natalie Englese against Union’s Ugonna Ndu and Cristina Vilsaint. The Cougars’ trio accounted for 55.5 points, while Union’s had 56. The Cougars led 69-61 after finishing third in the 4 by 400 relay but Vilsaint came up with a second in the final event, the discus, to create the tie.

“It feels great to be able to say we are county champs even if we have to share it This has been a very strong year for the county in track and it's nice to see our girls continue to work hard after being so close to winning in the relays and conferences,” added Kane.

Englese got the Cougars off to a fast start on Friday when she won the 400 by more than two seconds in 56.22, breaking her own meet record of 56.50 set last season. She came back on Saturday to edge Ndu 25.27 to 25.75. The times are pertinent because they inexplicitly ran in different heats, with each winning easily.

“It would have however been very exciting to see the two fastest girls in the county fight it out. The best runners run their fastest under toughest competition and Natalie could have run faster if she had to,” said Kane.

Englese’s outstanding meet allayed fears that she would be hampered by a sore hamstring, suffered at the Mountain Valley Conference (MVC) meet earlier in the week. Kane and his staff put Englese through an easier than normal week and she healed in time.

“She stayed off the hamstring for a few days and we worked her out during the week accordingly. Natalie is a natural competitor that will do what it takes to succeed. I'm very proud of her and her drive to be the best,” said Kane.

Englese finished up her outstanding meet by running 54.9 on her anchor leg in the 4 by 400 relay. Taking the baton in fifth place, Englese moved the team Claire Humen, Kate Evans, and Gillian Burke to third place in a season’s best 4:04.8.

Burke saved most of her heroics for late in the day on Saturday when she had to simultaneously compete in the triple jump and pole vault. In a memorable duel with Emily Vargas of Johnson, Burke broke the county and meet record with a leap of 38'5 1/4" in her first jump of finals, regaining the record she had lost to Vargas last week.
On her final jump Vargas took back the record with a 38’9 on her final jump. Burke just missed winning with a 38’10 that was ruled a foul. She then had to go to the pole vault for her starting height.

“It was not the ideal situation so we took it easy. Her step was a little off in the pole vault so her take off wasn’t working. I'm proud of her for doing what she had to do to help the team,” said Kane.
Burke won in a modest 10’0, well off her county record of 11’5. Senior Lilas Humen added two points with a fifth place finish. Burke also added six points on Friday with a third place in the long jump at 16-7.

Senior Julianne Grandal won as expected in the javelin, defending her title with a season best 116’7, but it was far from easy. Grandal’s steps were altered when the girls were forced to run on a shortened runway that backed them up to the tennis court fences. Going into the finals she was leading the field with a throw of 107', but fell to second when Emana Dent of Elizabeth unloaded personal best 113-7. In her final throw Grandal exceeded the leading throw.

“She came down the runway with a fierce look on her face and made her best throw of the season. We were proud of her ability to step up in the face of an obstacle,” said Kane.

Bridget Miller added six important points by finishing third in a strong 3200 meter field in a personal best 11:41.61.”Bridget ran awesome. She has been solid all year long and is waiting for another big breakthrough. She is in great shape and has her goals set for herself,” said Kane, who rued the loss of a few points Miller could have scored in the 1600.

“Bridget could have scored in the 1600, too, but for some reason she was put in the second heat and led the race from wire to wire. Had she been in the first heat she could have run faster.”

Although they finished well back in a strong boys meet, the Cougar boys got an individual victory of their own when senior Mike Scarfuto scored a surprise victory in the shot put, throwing a personal best 46’10.

“We are pumped about this. We knew he could do this and he deserves the win. We were excited about the Conference win and it helped him gain the confidence that he could be the best in the county. Scarf is a very hard worker and it's great to see him get the recognition he has deserved for some time now,” said Kane.

Next for the Cougar teams is the state Group II Section II section meet Friday and Saturday at Monmouth Regional High School.