Boys' Track Preview: Chargers Look For Fifth-Straight Division Title

For the past four years the Timber Creek boys’ track team has gone 5-0 in the Olympic Conference Patriot Division, cruising to the title each time behind a group of standout athletes. This season, the Chargers once again have a core of successful runners, jumpers and throwers. They also have something they aren’t quite accustomed to: depth.

With the combination of talent and depth, it’s no wonder that the Chargers, who have also won four straight South Jersey Group 3 titles, are eyeing a fifth-straight division title this season.  

“We are going to have added depth that we have lacked in the past,” said Timber Creek head coach Chris Grottini. “We have 65 guys out right now when normally we have 40. None of us (coaches) are used to having that many guys out. What we found out is we have kids that are going to help that we didn’t meet until this year. That’s pretty fun to know we can rest key guys for certain races, and we don’t have to go to dual meets and have guys do four events. That will pay dividends when we get to sectionals and guys are rested.”

The Chargers return three Meet of Champions participants from a year ago in Kevin Potter, Quanzell Lambert and Josh Gray. Lambert headlines a talented group of throwers that includes his football teammates Calvin Lowe and Schalor Blackshear.

“It’s no secret that your good athletes in the building are your good athletes in your building,” Grottini said. “You try to get them out now when this isn’t their primary sport, but it becomes their primary sport. We have been happy with that for four or five years where you pull out kids who do basketball in the winter or football in the fall that come out and lead by example.”

Grottini still sees question marks with his teams and by no means thinks another division title will just be handed to the Chargers. But he also knows the roster is filled with talented athletes ready to contribute.

“In years past we have known exactly who we were going to get things from,” said Grottini. “Now we know we have this group of six or seven guys who we will count on, but what we are starting to learn is that there is another group of six or seven guys right after them that are ready.”

While Timber Creek chases another title, Highland and Triton are in a bit of a rebuilding stage. The Tartans expect to remain competitive in the Tri-County Conference, but the main focus will be bringing along a talented group of underclassmen.

“The program is probably a year away,” said Highland coach Bob Wagner. “That’s not to say we can’t do some good things this year, but we are up against Delsea and Kingsway, and Timber Creek in the big meets. We
are just going to bring the young kids along and mix them with the talented older kids and just have a fun season. We are not looking for anything super. We are just going out and building and improving. It’s great when you have 30 of your kids as underclassmen.”

Below is a look at the local boys’ track teams:

Highland

Coach: Bob Wagner

Last year: 3-2

Key athletes: Neil Rizzo (sr.) pole vault; Joseph Johnson (sr.) pole vault; Jameer Roberts (sr.) 400, 800; Steve Lafferty (sr.) 1600, 3200; Cory Constantine (sr.) 800, 1600, 3200; Tim Alicea (jr.) hurdles, 400, 800; Kerron Johnson (jr.) triple jump, long jump, high jump, 400; Dan Martin (jr.) 100m, 200m, javelin; Kaelin Crawford (jr.) shot, discus; Marcellus Santana (jr.): shot, discus; Steve Maine (so.): 800, 1600, 3200.

Teams to beat: Delsea, Kingsway

Outlook: The Tartans should finish above .500 this season, but winning the division will be a tall task. Look for Highland to be competitive throughout the season and make a strong play for the County Meet, and send several athletes through to states.

Timber Creek

Last year: 5-0

Coach: Chris Grottini

Key athletes: Quanzell Lambert (sr.) thrower; Calvin Lowe (sr.) thrower: Schalor Blackshear (sr.) thrower; Kevin Potter (sr.) sprints, long jump; Josh Gray (sr.) sprints long jump, triple jump; Brandon Grayson (sr.) high jump; Corey Harrity (sr.) 200, 400; Cameron Allen (so.) 1600, 3200; Greg
Black (so.) 200, 400. 800

Outlook: Led by three returning Meet of Champions participants and plenty of depth, the Chargers look poised to make a run at a fifth-straight division title and will be the favorite in the County Meet.

Triton

Coach: George Heller

Last year: 2-3

Key athletes: Kyle Kirschner (sr) thrower; Alan Richards (sr.) sprinter, long jump, triple jump; Adrian Adams (sr.) high jump; Ruben Pagan (jr.) hurdles, sprinter; Cesar Dash (jr.) pole vault.

Team to beat: Timber Creek

Outlook: The Mustangs do not have much depth behind their top athletes, which may lead to a difficult regular season record-wise. However, athletes such as Kyle Kirschner and Alan Richards could make some noise when sectionals arrive.