Sat, 16 May 1998 21:03:13
Date: Sat, 16 May 1998
From: "Edward J. Grant" [email protected]
Subject: t-and-f: Barber twins fly in county meet

Netters:
Twin National indoor champions Melisa (200) and Mikele (400) were figuratively and literally fyling today as New Jersey HS teams enjoyed their first weekend of warm weather in the 1998 outdoor campaign.

The setting was their home track, one of the most historic HS ovals in the nation, and the meet was the Essex County championships. The twins were due to fly later in the day (5:30) for a recruiting visit to the University of South Carolina, but they managed to putin a full day before boarding the plane.

Mikele got things started in the final of the 400, breaking the MR with a 53.53 solo spin. A litle later, Melisa ran away with the 100M in a windless 11.57. The two then battled it out in the 200 with Melisa the winner, 23.98-24.07.

The conditions were practically perfect, only a light changeable breeze, which might actually have been in their face during the 200. The air was very heavy, however.

Teammate Aleah Williams watched the meet, waiting to run in the 1600R, but Montclair scratched from that event. Reportedly, they will all be in action next weekend as the state meet opens with sectionals. Theirs is at the fast Plainfield HS track.

Columbia ran away with the meet with only a couple of notablke efforts. Dara Crocker, anchor on the Penn DMR winners the past two years, won the800 in 2:14.17 and loafed to a 1-2-3 finish in the 2600. Bridgette Ingram, all-around star, fouled a couple of 19+ jumps in Friday's LJ and failed to place, but came back to run a PR 14.31 in the 100H today. She also won the HJ at 5-4 and was 2nd to teammate Natalie Deffenbaugh in the 400H.

Montclair won a close battle with neighbor Montclair Immaculate in the boys' meet.

Ed Grant

PS: Hope to post a more complete roundup of conference and county meets later in the week when they finally end (one won't be held until May 27, thanks to the recent rains.)