In a track and field program, the more depth one has, often the better the results.
Yet, any program can find ways to maximize its efforts without large numbers, as is the case with South Hunterdon.
The Eagles currently have 23 boys and eight girls in their program, but head coach Scott Ward has remained optimistic, despite the lingering effects of the 2020 canceled COVID season.
“We are a small school, and we always have had around 30 boys in the program the past few years,” said Ward. “Before COVID hit, we had a good number of girls. But we got hit hard, and a number of girls didn’t return.”
Ward does have high expectations for sophomore runners Sophie Hinman and Olivia Nemeth, who are both expected to advance deep into the postseason.
Hinman hit her personal record (PR) when she clocked a 5:28 in the 1,600 and a 10:58 in the 3,200 earlier this season. This year, she has been reducing her times significantly in both events. Ward believes she can eclipse the school records of 5:08.01 in the 1.600 and 11:25.50, both set by Kelly Shaffer in 2013 and 2015 respectively.
“As a freshman, she went from groups to sectionals,” said Ward. “She was really running well at the end of the season. She is on pace to possibly break the school record in both events.
“We expect her to have a big year.”
Ward also envisions Nemeth hitting her stride. She will compete in the 1,600 and should see time in the 400 and 800. Nemeth’s PR in the 1,600 was 6:50.
“Olivia is working hard, and she should improve this year,” stated Ward. “She has been running hard, and she is dropping time. We expect her to be effective in the 400 and 800, too.”
On the boys side, senior Brayden Hinman – the older sibling – could be a contender late this season to break the 400 and 800 school record. Hinman has run the 400 between 52 and 54 seconds, and he has been in the range of 209 for the 800. The school marks are 50.41 in the 400 by Jordan Chaussepied in 2017, and Ryan Barrett hit 205.07 in the 800 as the high mark in 2019.
“He is close in the 800, and he has some work to do in the 400,” noted Ward about Hinman. “But he has the best chance in this year’s group.”
Ward also has been impressed with senior exchange student Luis Pineiro, who has been running the 100 and 200. Ironically, Pineiro has been housed by the same family who accommodated his mother as an exchange student at the school several years ago.
In the field events, senior Trevor Sirak already has broken his own school record in the pole vault with a mark of 12 feet, breaking the old one of 11-6. He also set a new school record in the high jump with a leap of 6-2.
Fellow seniors Ryan Rampel and Garrett Swayhoover should both be regular finishers near the top in the javelin, discus and shot put.
In the near future, Ward plans to begin a middle school program to help open a steady pipeline of contributions.
For South Hunterdon, it is about size and numbers.
“We meant to do it a few years, but then COVID hit, and my wife and I had two children,” said Ward. “The number of athletes out for sports across the state is down 37% since COVID.
“We have some athletes who will do well this year, but we need to keep strengthening the program.”
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