By Rich Fisher, Contributing Editor
Ken Oliver is annoyed by blizzards as much as the next guy, but the Donovan Catholic, Toms River, track & field coach is bolstered by the warm feeling he gets from his indoor teams this winter.
“Collectively as a group, they work together,” the veteran mentor said. “Both the boys and girls teams are fun groups to coach. They work hard; they focus. It’s just a good solid group of kids that my coaching staff [and I] get to work with every day.”
The fun group is also a successful group.
On Jan. 22, the Griffins boys finished fourth in the Ocean County Championships at The Bubble in Toms River, while the girls had some strong showings. On Jan. 14 at the same venue, the girls took fourth in the NJSIAA Non-Public A Relay Championships.
The success has been achieved with some holdovers, some first-time winter track athletes who came from other sports and a big-time newcomer in Toms River North transfer Jael Hester.
The junior took first in the 55 hurdles at the Ocean County meet in a school record time of 7.69.
“Jael is arguably the top athlete in the county; he came in with a pretty good resume, and he’s made an immediate impact on our team,” Oliver said. “It wasn’t a surprise he broke the record, but to do it in the first meet is pretty cool. He’s a top athlete in the high jump, long jump, hurdles, 55 and 100 meters.”
Asked if Hester is rubbing off on his teammates, Oliver said, “I think so. Our core group is a pretty accomplished young group with no seniors.”
Juniors Gavin Oliver (the coach’s son) and Brody Kinsella are converted basketball players who are also paying immediate dividends.
Kinsella set the school shot put mark with a throw of 51-2 at the Ocean County Relays and took third in the shot putt (49-9.5) at the OC Championships. Oliver, coming off a cross country season in which he broke countless 5K school records and reached the Meet of Champions, was second in the OCC 3200 with a 10:20 clocking.
“Having Gavin on the indoor team is a big deal for us too,” Oliver said. “We have Jael as a hurdler and a jumper, now we have a distance runner that’s gonna score points.”
Junior Aidan Kelly, a mid-season transfer last year from Jackson Liberty, took second in the 55 meters in 6.69 at the OCC. Another sprinter who will provide points is Alex Staten, a premiere running back from the football team.
“The boys are a strong group and they’re gonna feed off each other with their attitudes and work ethic,” Oliver said. “Because they’re all doing different events helps us also. We had distance and throwers and sprinters last spring, adding Jael to the mix as a jumper and hurdler really solidifies us.”
The girls team is highlighted by juniors Maison Stankowitz and Keira Hibbard. Stankowitz won the OCC long jump in 16-8.25, while Hibbard had the top mark of 9-6 and combined with Stankowitz to win the pole vault at the Non-Public A meet. Hibbard, a Meet of Champions qualifier last spring, was second in the OCC with a 9-6 in pole vault.
“That’s a solid one-two punch in the pole vault,” Oliver said “Keira is developing into a good pole vaulter. This is her first indoor season, she decided it was in her best interest to compete in the winter and prepare for the spring. It’s paying off.”
Hibbard is also a good long jumper, providing a one-two punch in a second event with Stankowitz.
“Maison had a good season for us as a sophomore, she does it all,” Oliver said. “She’s a soccer player, gymnast and a very good track athlete. I’m not surprised she won the long jump at the county meet, although I think she might be surprised.
“She’s very consistent and she’s just a shade under 17 feet, which for girls is a barometer for where you’re at for a long jumper. She also pole vaults, hurdles and sprints, but the long jump may be her best event because she keeps improving.”
Other place-winners at the OCC were senior Morgan Poskay, who was third in the 400 in 1:00.25; and junior Natalie DiNallo (6th, long jump, 4-8).
“Morgan is a really solid athlete; that was her best time and she’s on the brink of breaking a couple school records,” Oliver said. “Natalie has already jumped five feet. That’s good for a junior in the indoor season. She just keeps getting stronger and better. She also had her best time in the hurdles at counties.”
Like most coaches, Oliver uses the winter season to prepare for the spring, but he won’t argue with the Griffins excellent results.
“Obviously we want success in the winter because that builds confidence and gives them a good indication that the training is working and they’re moving in the right direction,” the coach said entering the Jan. 29 Shore Conference meet. “We’re certainly pleased with performances we had in the county meet and the relay meets.”
Top photo: Natalie DiNallo gets over the bar en route to a sixth-place medal in the high jump at the Ocean County Championships. Photo by Jimmy Harris