The East Brunswick High girls track team might only be advancing one girl on to the Group IV state championships, but at least Bianca Nfonoyim is going there in style.
Nfonoyim qualified for the Group IV meet in two events. She was fourth in the 800 in a time of 2:17.14. and advanced in the 1600 by setting a school record.
Nfonoyim was fifth in the 1600 in a time of 5:13.50. This broke the school mark of 5:17, set by Sharon Wolcott in 1988.
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"I coached Sharon and was there when she set the mark," East Brunswick Coach Kevin McEvoy noted. "She died in a plane crash during her sophomore year of college. That makes this one of those records that you don't want to see broken, but you want to see it broken. You don't want to see it broken, but you want to see it broken. You don't want to see it broken, but you want to see it broken. You can go on and on."
One thing McEvoy is certain of is that if someone had to break the record, the right person did it.
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"I have Sharon in my memories," McEvoy noted. "If there is a person worthy of breaking her record, it's Bianca. She's a senior heading to Harvard University."
The top six finishers in each event at the Central Jersey Group IV meet, held this weekend at Hillsborough, kept their season alive. They advance on to the Group IV championships, which will be held at Old Bridge on June 4-5.
East Brunswick had some near misses, including an eighth in the pole vault by Jessica Eker (9').
Erin Nfonoyim, Bianca Nfonoyim, Marnie Friedman and Alyssa Steinweis were 11th in the 4x400 in a time of 4:09.71.
"They ran a really fast relay time," McEvoy noted. "It just wasn't fast enough to advance."
Kelsey McDonald was 10th in the javelin (96' 5"). Mahalia Caise was 10th in the 100 (13.08) and 11th in the 200 (26.76). Sarah Frost was ninth in the 1600 (5:27.67) and 11th in the 3200 (12:11.20).
"I definitely thought we had a chance to advance more girls," McEvoy said. "As a coach, I have to believe everyone that entered had a chance. This was just really tough competition. Central Jersey Group IV is a tough section."
