Woodbridge boys team is a work in progress
BY MIKE McDONALD
Staff Writer

The Woodbridge High School boys track and field team may not rank up there with the elite teams in the Greater Middlesex Conference, but it has enjoyed a successful spring nonetheless.

The Barrons, who finished 18th at Saturday’s GMC championships at South Plainfield and won only one dual meet this season, have been concentrating on improving as individuals, and have succeeded in that respect.

"We’ve been improving technique and our times have been getting better," said assistant coach Gus Ballos. "We’ve had a successful season with good outputs. We have had key athletes go down with injuries, which hurt us in the long run. Despite the injuries we still had some success."

The team, which is coached by Sean Daly, will move down from the highly competitive and upper tier Red Division to the White Division next year, where Woodbridge will be expected to have more success in the years that follow.

"The Red Division gave our athletes a chance to compete and rate their success against the very best Middlesex County has to offer, but the White Division is more suitable for where we are right now as a track program," explained Ballos.

On May 11, Woodbridge lost to Old Bridge High School, 103-28. Mike Donlon had the impressive time of 2:01.9 in the 800, while hurdler DJ Pryor posted the winning time of 1:05.4 in the 400 hurdles. All other events however were won by Old Bridge High School athletes.

There is a good reason to go out and watch the Woodbridge track and field team as it closes out this season — senior Mike Donlon. Donlon is close to a school record and placed fifth in the Greater Middlesex Conference championships in the 800.

Donlon, Garnick Mazolick, DJ Pryor and Chris Krashkowski already set a new school record when they finished sixth in the 4x100 relay at the Greater Middlesex Conference Relays.

Next year, the team will be returning Mazolick, who is only a freshman, along with freshman Derrick Lockett and Josh Rock. Also returning will be distance runners Matt Barany and Piajo Rodrigues.

"For next year, we need to get more students to come out and try out for the track and field team," Ballos said. "Woodbridge has a large number of athletes, but our pool of selecting players is small because many gifted athletes choose other sports. It is our objective to interest some of these athletes in track and field."