Bulldogs Have Shot at 4x400 Relay and 800 Meter State Championships

State champions.  Four Rumson-Fair Haven girls now sit one race away from being able to use that title after qualifying in the 4x400 meter relay at the Group 2 State Championships Saturday night in Toms River.  Shannon McCarthy also qualified for the individual 800 meter run state championship.

The relay team advanced with a speedy push from their final two runners.  As second runner Shannon McCarthy handed the baton off to Elizabeth Bellin, the Bulldogs found themselves fifth out of six in their field of runners.  Bellin made a quick advance around the track, and by the time she handed off to Emily Geiger for the final two laps, the Bulldogs were leading their field as Geiger stayed ahead of the other runners.

Once the results from all the Group 2 schools were official, the Bulldogs found themselves in sixth place with a time of 4:16.00, just good enough to qualify as the top six spots in each field advanced.  

McCarthy also cut it close on her qualifying for the 800 meter run, as she placed sixth with a time of 2:21.62.  

Head coach Tim McLoone said that it was these athletes’ dedication that made them special.  “These are the people that come out every day and don’t worry about what the weather is. It’s their willingness to put up with the environment.”

The Bulldogs also had runners in three other events, including a second in the girls 800 meter run.  Emily Geiger recorded a time of 1:02.91 in the 400 meter dash, finishing 15.  Molly Hellman participated in the 1600 meter run, finishing 14 with a time of 5:34.42.  Rachel Christ also took part in the 800 meter run, placing 12 while posting a 2:26.58 time.

On the boy’s side Sam Gottuso ran a 2:04.63 in the 800 meter, finishing 14 in the field.

Despite having some racers not qualify for the state championship, there was no worry from McLoone about spirits getting down.  “Their used to the ups and downs of the sport now, they’ve all become kind of veterans.”

Though there was some hope before the match that school records may have been set in the 800 meter, both runners came a little short on that goal.  McLoone attributed the times being down as a result of the match being postponed, something that effected runners across the board.  The match was originally scheduled for one week earlier.

Shannon McCarthy and her teammates will now have one week to prepare for the championship races, as they will next race at the girl’s NJSIAA Meet of Champions, on Saturday February 26 at 10 a.m. at the John Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex in Toms River.