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.