Track Takes on Union County Individual Championships

On Monday, February 18 the Winter Track team once again took on the Ocean Breeze track facility. Another stellar performance ensued.

The journey to the facility itself was surely a climatic one. As we were about 20 minutes away from the track, the bus’s tire blew, leaving us on the side of the highway waiting for the rescue My limo to pick us up. It did, however by the time we arrived at the track, Sam DeMarinis and I were on the move. With DeMarinis and I both running the first events of the meet (Sam in the 55m and myself in the 1600m), we had to get off the bus and warm up as soon as possible as much as time would allow. As Rams, however, we prevailed and did not let any of these factors hinder our performance. Sam DeMarinis took third place in his heat of the 55m as he passed three other runners within the last 20 meters. Sam is truly a scary runner once at maximum velocity. I, nervous as ever, finally achieved my season goal of running a sub 5 minute 1600m, which I did running a time of 4:59 and securing third place in my heat. After both performances, the ever calm Coach Seebode told us about the day he broke his personal record in the 5000m. He did so with less than five minutes to prepare, since his team, Holy Cross Track and Field (Go Saders!), arrived late as well. 

Freshman Jack Maenpaa also nailed a personal record in the 400m, running it in 58 seconds, significantly faster than his 61 second time which he ran at the beginning of the season. 

The ever consistent sprinters Jack Stickler and Evan O’Dowd also ran personal records in the 200m. Their progress throughout the season has been remarkable. Overall, Ocean Breeze will surely continue to be Oratory Prep’s stomping grounds in track and field. Next up for indoor track will be the team’s final meet at the Bennett Athletic Center in Toms River. This will be the state individual championship meet, in which Sam Demarinins, Aidan Philbrick, and I, Thomas Coder, will all compete at.