Sports
Bellin, Walsh, Fleishner, O'Dowd Win At Lion Invitational
By Jim Hintelmann
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP - Having competed in the 400 meter run and 100 hurdles the past couple of years, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional's Melissa Bellin decided to try the 400 intermediates at the Lion Invitational Saturday.
This proved to be a good decision for Bellin since she won the event in 1:02.30. She also took the 400 in 57.80 and finished in a three-way tie for third in the 200, giving her 22 of her team's total of 34 points.
State power Southern Regional brought its whole team to the meet and rolled to an easy victory with a 116-34 romp over runner-up Brick, Rumson was fourth.
The boys meet was much closer with Neptune winning with 63-1/2 points over Southern (52). Middletown North had the best finish among the local teams by placing fifth with 34 points.
"I ran the 100 hurdles before," Bellin said, "but I just wanted to try something new. I'll still run the 100 hurdles in dual meets. I just tried to go out and run an even race and do the best I could."
Bellin was a member of Rumson's state Group II championship 4 x 400 relay team a year ago, and had just competed in the event at the Penn Relays Wednesday two days before with the team running 3:55.
Three of last year's foursome have returned, and the goal this year is to break last year's time of 3:51. The team didn't run the event Saturday.
"Sara Robinson is the only runner we lost," said Bellin. "We need a fourth runner, but we've got a nice group to pick from and we just want to go out and do better than last year."
The only other area winner in the girls events was Mater Dei junior Marie Walsh who coasted to a 5:21.40 clocking in winning the 1,600. She also was second in the 800 (2:21.40) to Southern's Jill Smith, one of the state's top distance runners.
"I'm just trying to bring my time down right now," said Walsh after winning the 1,600 "My fastest time is 5:02 and I hope to beat five minutes this season. I want to try and push myself as hard as I can."
In the boys meet ex-Colts Neck High School All-American Craig Forys (now running at Michigan) might have a worthy successor with Mike O'Dowd enjoying an outstanding freshman season in track and cross country.
O'Dowd won the 1.600 Saturday in 4:35, but doesn't want to be compared to Forys right now.
"I'm not the next coming of Craig Forys," O'Dowd pointed out. "I ran with him a little bit as an eighth grader and it inspired me watching him run. I hope one day I can be that fast.
"My fastest time in the 1,600 is 4:29 at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships last month in Maryland," O'Dowd noted. "My goal now is 4:25 or under this season."
Also winning was Holmdel's Jess Fleishner, who captured the javelin with a throw of 168-8. Although winning, Fleishner believes he can throw much further.
"My best throw is 169 feet," he noted, "but I think I can throw in the 180s or up to 190 . I think the wind was a factor today. My best throw was 165 last year.
I've been working on my technique in practice."
Although settling for second place in the high jump behind Point Pleasant Boro's Bob Stowe (6-2), Mater Dei senior Mike Amato nevertheless turned in an excellent effort, clearing six feet. This was four inches higher than his best previous height.
"Usually when I jump, I'm just coming off a running event," said Amato, who runs on Mater Dei's school record 4 x 800 and distance medley teams. "I didn't run today because I ran at the Penn Relays yesterday (Friday), so I came in fresh in the high jump.
"My best last year was 5-6," he said, "but I was injured last year when I pulled a muscle in my hip just before the state meet."
Middletown North failed to win an event, but it had three second places with Paul Muller (discus), Nick Iuele (800) and the 4 x 400 relay team (3:31.70).
North coach Ray Convey thinks the 4 x 400 relay team of Ulie Gibson, Mo Soloman, James Smythe and Iuele can go much faster.
"Our goal is to break the school record of 3:27.0," said Convey. "I think we can do it."
