Honors Week Moves On To...Boys All State Selections

NJRunners is proud to present our Boys' All-State selections for the indoor season - 2010 - 2011.  Our selections were made by a panel of people - the same group that made the girls' and relays selection which will appear soon.  We subscribe to the Track and Field News criteria for choosing All-State, which are, in order of importance, honors won, head-to-head competition and marks. 

 

This year presented some unique challenges especially with respect to the lack of a Meet of Champions for some candidates.  We would normally consider MOC and the nationals as the ultimate honors for a New Jersey track and field athlete.  However, the weather in February resulted in a scenario where athletes could opt to compete at the Brooks PR meet in Seattle the same weekend as MOC.  So while on one hand the selection process should have been made easier by the demise of NSIC resulting in only one national meet, on the other hand we were forced to decide how to treat the Brooks meet.  To say thatthe members of our panel had differing opinions is an understatement but we finally arrived at a consensus that had us considering a strong performance as a very high honor indeed. 

 

 The following then are the NJRunners selections for the Boys' All-State First and Second teams and Honorable Mention, Boy Athlete of the Year and Boys' Coach of the Year.

(click on links throughout this article for full stats, videos, articles and pictures)

 

 

 First Team All-State

 

55/60 Meters: Damiere Byrd, Timber Creek - Senior   

Altough he raced sparingly, Damiere made his races count.  He set not one but two New Jersey state records in the final at the New Balance Indoors Nationals with a 6.70 at 60 meters and a 6.26 en route.  The fact is that given his record, a very strong case can be made for Byrd being the best short sprinter in the US this past indoor season.

 

·         Won New Balance Indoor Nationals
·         Won Brooks PR Invitational
·         Runner up at US-West Germany-Japan Trilateral Junior Indoor

 

  

 

 

 

 

 400 Meters:  Najee Glass, St. Peter's Prep - Junior 

Najee did well at 500 meters as well as 400 with his 1:02.22 at the New Balance Games which is faster than the recognized record for that distance but the mark will not be listed as a record due to lane violations.  He came back to make another try for the record at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational and although he fell short his 1:03.33 was still stellar.  Both times were well under the previous New Jersey state record.  He was under 48.00 twice and sub-49.00 another two times including an a very impressive 48.48 for the win at MOC and the venue record  on the flat floor at the Bennett Center.

 

·         2nd at New Balance Indoor Nationals (47.92)
·         Eastern States Champion (47.54 SB)
·         Won NJ Meet of Champions (48.48)
·         State Non Public "A" Group Champion
·         Ran U.S. #1 47.54
 

 

 

800 Meters:  Justin Hill, Seton Hall Prep - Senior

 

Justin waged two battles with Alan Eke of Union Catholic at Groups and MOC winning by 0.08 seconds both times.  He was under 1:55.00 three times and sub-1:56.00 twice more.    His season best is also his PR - 1:54.12, 0.66 seconds better than his outdoor best and it was run on the flat track at the bubble.  His 1:58.84 took the measure of Edward Cheserek at the NJISAA Prep Championships in mid-February.

 

·         Won NJ Meet of Champions
·         State Non-Public A Group Champion
·         2nd at Eastern States Championships
 
  
 
   
1600 Meters/Mile:  Miles Schoedler, Ocean City - Senior
 
  
 
Following in the footsteps of of former Ocean City greats John Richardson and Brett Johnson, Miles had a stellar season.  He made sub-4:20 a habit and ran 4:15.76 and 4:16.92 at Hispanic and New Balance Grand Prix in mid-January and early February.   
 
 
·         Won Hispanic Games Mile
·         Won New Balance Grand Prix Mile
·         4th at Prestigious Millrose Games
·         Sectional and Group 800/1600 Champion
·         3rd in Brooks PR Invitational Mile in state and career best 4:11.42
 
 
   
 
3200 Meters/2 Mile:  Edward Cheserek, St. Benedict's Prep - Sophomore
 
For someone who had probably not seen a before this winter, Cheserek got comfortable on them awfully quickly.  His first races were a 3:58.14 1500, a 1:56.08 800 then a 1:53.5/4:12.8 800/mile double.  His Easterns race was a 9:02.40 that he laid down after anchoring the DMR a while prior.  He also ran 9:34.30 (Essex County), 9:12.62 and 9:13.11 (all 3200s).  Cheserek's 2nd at NBIN was the classic race of the meet amongst many, as he ran the fastest 2 miles ever run by a New Jersey high school athlete. 
 
 
·         2nd at New Balance Indoor Nationals running state record and #3 A-T U.S. 8:42.66 2 mile 
·         Eastern States Champion
·         NJSIAA Prep Champion
·         Ran 4:12.8 mile, 1:53.64 800m
 
 
  
   
55/60 Meter Hurdles:  Christian Boateng, Old Bridge - Junior
 

Christian started laying down wins right out of the gate:  Merli, followed by GMC, a rare loss to teammate Andre Davis at the Sectionals, Groups and MOC.  The sequence of marks was impressively progressive:  7.70, 7.57, 7.61, 7.44, 7.36 and finally 7.50 en route to 8.10 at 60 meters at NBIN.  In addition Boateng was third at Merli, second and GMC and second in the Sectionals at 55 meters.

 
 
·         Won NJ Meet of Champions
·         State Group Champion
·         Middlesex County Champion
·         Ran NJ Best and U.S. #6 7.36 for 55HH
 
 
   
 
 
High Jump: Mark Jones, Summit - Senior
 
Jones had the highest jump in every single meet he competed in except for the Easterns where the second place finisher also jumped 6-10 but Jones won on fewer misses.  That’s right from the start in mid-December through the nationals in mid March.  Along the way he cleared 7-0 twice and 6-10 three times.  He was third on the national list at 7-0.25. 
 
·         Won New Balance Indoor Nationals clearing a state record and career best 7-0.25
·         Won Eastern States Championship
·         Won NJ Meet of Champions
·         Sectional and Group Champion
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
Pole Vault:  Dylan Spadaccini, Matawan Regional - Senior
 
While “only” tied for fourth on the NJ performers list, Dylan’s wins when it mattered most set him apart.  He was first in every big meet in which he competed – Monmouth County, Shore Divisional, Shore Conference, Sectionals, Groups and Meet of Champions. 
 
·         Won NJ Meet of Champions vaulting 14-6
·         Sectional and Group Champion
·         Shore Conference Champion
·         Monmouth County Champion
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Shot Put:  Nick Vena, Morristown - Senior
 
If it is possible, Vena had an underrated season.  He was undefeated and won every important competition there was.  The average of his five best throws was 71-4.5.  He was over 71-0 six times.  He was between 70 and 71 feet five times.  His worst winning throw was more than 4 feet better than the next best throw in the state.  He has set such high standard of excellence and a record of consistency that his season drew less attention than any of ever before.  Our guess is that it will be a long time before we see another athlete dominate an event in the manner that Vena has.
 
·        Won New Balance Indoor Nationals
·        Won Eastern States Championship
·        Won NJ Meet of Champions
·        Sectional and Group Champion
·        Threw state record 71-9.5 #2 A-T U.S.  

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Coach of the Year:  Karl Torchia,  Christian Brothers Academy 
 

Torchia and his staff orchestrated a season for the ages, leading the Colts to season-long, team-wide performances that rank with the best NJ teams of all-time.

   

Following up one of the best, if not the best, XC seasons in NJ history, the Colts picked up right where they left off, garnering Monmouth County, State Relay and relay event championships at major meets, winning the Metropolitan 4X800m relay at the Millrose Games and posting a U.S. #1 10:11.0 Distance Medley Relay victory at the Varsity Classic in early February prior to the onset of the championship season.

Most teams would have been thrilled with what the Colts accomplished prior to the meaty part of the season, but CBA was just getting started. They won the Non Public A state title, which included six state group champions in the 55H, 1600, 3200, HJ, Shot Put and 4x4, and then saving the best for last, won the 4x Mile and Shuttle Hurdle Relay, and finished a very close second in one of the best Distance Medley races ever at the New Balance Indoor National Championships.  There they finished 2nd in the team scoring. 

 

The following are CBA's relay bests from this season:

 

 

Relay       Time      Rank  
           
4x400m   03:22.78   NJ #1,     U.S. #17
           
4x55HH   30.37   NJ #1,     U.S. #1
           
4x1Mile   17:37.01   NJ #1,     U.S #1
           
DMR   10:02.99   NJ #1,     U.S. #2
           
4x800M   07:56.4   NJ #4,     U.S. #16
           
4x200M   01:33.0   NJ# 11  
                
SMR   03:40.2   NJ# 11        
 

    

 

 

A magnificent team performance, and clearly one of the best ever in New Jersey, if not nationally. Congratulations to Coach Torchia and his staff.   We all look forward to the next chapter starting at a track near you in just a couple of weeks. Stay tuned!

 
 
 
Athlete of the Year:  Edward Cheserek, St Benedict's Prep - Sophomore
 
 
 

Second Team All-State:

 
55/60 Meters: Miles Shuler-Foster, Long Branch - Senior
 
 
400 meters:  Alex Reber, Cherrry Hill East - Junior
 
 
800 Meters:  Allen Eke, Union Catholic - Junior
 
 
1600 Meters/Mile:  Erik Johnson, Ocean City - Junior
 
 
3200 Meters/2 Miles:  Matt McDonald, North Hunterdon - Senior
 
 
55/60 Meter Hurdles:  Mark Jones, Hackensack -  Sophomore
 
 
High Jump:  Andrew Athias, Cherry Hill East - Senior
 
 
Pole Vault:  John Brinkerhoff, Veritas Christian Academy- Senior
 
 
Shot Put:  Stephen Mozia, Hackensack - Senior
 
 
 
Honorable Mention All-State
 
 
 
55/60 Meters:
Kadeem Douse, Ewing - Junior
Jihaad Howard, Brick Memorial - Junior
MarkhusLacroix, Lawrenceville School - Junior
Fabian Santiago, Long Branch - Sophomore
 
 
400 Meters:
Devonte Artis,  Shabazz - Junior
Tarique Gray, Bergen Catholic - Senior
Bryan Murphy, Teaneck - Senior
Leomard Robbins, East Brunswick - Senior
 
 
800 Meters:
Kevin Byrne, Red Bank Catholic - Senior
Edward Cheserek, St. Benedict's Prep - Sophomore
Jarred Mason,  West Orange - Junior
Brad Paternostro, Ramapo - Senior
Jose Veras, Dickinson - Senior
 
 
1600 Meters/Mile:
Edward Cheserek, St. Benedict's Prep - Sophomore
Cullen Davis, North Brunswick - Senior
Jeramy Elkaim, Livingston - Senior
Ben Malone, Pascack Valley - Sophomore
Everett Price, New Providence - Junior
Joe Rosa, West Windsor Plainsboro North - Senior
 
 
 
3200 Meters/2 Miles:
Khari Bowen, Monroe - Senior
Collin Frost, Randolph - Senior
Mike Mazzaccaro, Christian Brothers Academy - Senior
James Rosa, West Windsor Plainsboro North - Senior
Paul Szulewski, Williamstown - Senior
 
 
 
55/60 Meter Hurdles:
Greg Caldwell, West Windsor Plainsboro North - Junior
Jermaine Collier, Trenton Central - Junior
Eric Kahana, Freehold Boro - Junior
Darren McCluskey, Cherokee - Senior
Steven Worsley, Long Branch - Junior
 
 
High Jump:
Justin Bailey, Trenton Central - Senior
David Benjamin, Freehold Township - Senior
Jose Veras, Dickinson - Senior
Issac Williams, Willingboro - Junior
 
 
Pole Vault:
Brian Banks, Eastern Regional - Senior
Brad Hoey, River Dell Regional - Senior
Michael Oberg, Ocean City - Senior
Christopher Steele, Pompton Lakes - Senior
 
 
Shot Put:
Patrick Cole, Hasbrouck Heights - Senior
Sam Mattis, East Brunswick - Junior
Dontaye Rivera, Pleasantville - Junior
Sam Snyder, Hopewell Valley - Senior