(Photo by Frank Wojciechowski) PACESETTERS: Princeton High boys’ track distance stars Sean Pradhan, right, and Zaid Smart set the pace at a meet earlier this season. Last weekend at the Central Jersey Group III sectionals, Pradhan and Smart came up big to help PHS take fourth in the team standings. Pradhan took sixth in both the 1,600 and 3,200 while Smart was seventh in the 1,600 and fourth in the 3,200.

Showing Its Balance and Competitive Fire, PHS Boys’ Track Takes 4th at Sectional Meet

Bill Alden

In assessing his Princeton High boys’ track team earlier this spring, John Woodside thought it had the potential to challenge for a sectional title.

While the Little Tigers didn’t quite hit that standard last weekend as they finished fourth in the Central Jersey Group III sectional championships held at Egg Harbor High, head coach. Woodside had no qualms with the effort he got from his athletes.

“You can look at every meet and think that you could have done better,” said Woodside, who is in his 10th season guiding the Little Tigers.

“There are so many events and so many entrants; you can see where you could have gotten more points. But this is the best we have done since I have been here, 41½ points and 4th place.”

Junior hurdler Ajamu Kambon piled up some big points for PHS, taking third in the 400 hurdles and helping the Little Tiger 4x400 relay team place third.

“Ajamu has been a really big force for this team; he is a guy who is really, really competitive and has high-level ability,” said Woodside.

“The 400 hurdles on Friday was not his best race. I thought he ran better at the counties but he had a better time at the sectionals. I looked at the other Group III guys and he stands 10th so the goal is to get him to go a little faster next week (at the Group III state meet) and see if he can get into the top six and make the Meet of Champions (MOC).”

Kambon has already shown the heart of a champion in rebounding from getting hit by a car and injuring his ankle before the 2009 season.

“He missed last spring because of the mishap with the car,” said Woodside. “His ankle really bothered him; it is good to see him come back and do so well.”

It has been good for PHS to see the rapid progress made by sophomore jumper Eric Shorter, who placed second in the long jump and fifth in the high jump at the sectional meet.

“Eric is really learning quickly and growing in our sport,” said Woodside of Shorter who also stars in football and basketball.

“He has springs in his legs. He is a really good kid; he knows how to listen and learn and that is why he has gotten better.”

Shorter displayed his learning curve in the sectional meet when he produced a sensational series of jumps under the gun.

“Eric did 20’3 in preliminary and because was doing the high jump at the same time, had to do three long jumps together,” recalled Woodside.

“The first one was 20’11 and I am thinking that’s fantastic. The second was 21’5 and then before the third one he was huffing and puffing. He was tired and he was grunting as he went down the runway. He hit the board and flew over the moon and went 21’11. It was the best jump since I have been here; 22’7 is school record. Eric really had a breakout meet.”

Gerhard Gengel flew high in the pole vault, leaping 12’0 to place third.

“Gerhard has been a rock for us,” asserted Woodside. “Everyone respects and admires the way he goes about his work. He is the hardest worker on the team. He works hard everyday; he is always finding a way to get better. He made 12 feet without a miss. On his last two jumps at 12‘6, he was high enough but just brushed the bar. I think he can go 13’0, 13’6, or 14’0 next week and be right in there to be at the MOC.”

PHS got some good work in the distance events from Sean Pradhan and Zaid Smart. Pradhan took sixth in both the 1,600 and 3,200 while Smart was seventh in the 1,600 and fourth in the 3,200.

“These guys have been performing at a high level all season long,” said Woodside.

“Sean ran a personal record (PR) in the mile to take sixth and Zaid had PR in the mile to finish seventh. In the two-mile, Zaid ran a gutsy race. He didn’t settle for running in the pack; he took a risk. He wanted to go for it. He got passed for third with 200 meters to go. Next week, he will run a more controlled race. He will just be going for sixth.”

Senior Max Reid should have some good racing ahead of him after taking third in the 400.

“Max had another good race but he was disappointed,” said Woodside. “He felt he could get the Hightstown guy. He was not as fast as he was at counties. He is sitting in 10th in Group III and has a shot at making MOC.”

In the shot put, Drew Reifinger came up big as he took fifth. “Drew has been a lock all season; I was happy about the way he competed,” said Woodside. “He was in a tight battle and he got better as he went on. He moved up to fifth; he is going for 50 feet in the shot at the group meet.”

In Woodside’s view, his athletes have a shot to do some big things at the Group III state meet this weekend.

“This is the biggest group we have had going to that meet since I have been here,” said Woodside. “We are really going to have a team there.”

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