Track nationals

Schalick’s Simonini makes adidas Nationals jav finals, finishes ninth; Longo fourth in pole vault flight

By Riverview Sports News

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Gary Simonini has had better throws, but he certainly won’t sneeze at a top 10 finish at the nationals.

The Schalick junior made it to the finals of the boys javelin in the Adidas Track Nationals at North Carolina A&T Saturday and finished ninth in the standings, just missing out on All-America honors. He earned the last spot in the finals with a throw of 160 feet on his last throw of qualifying – one inch from eighth – and it stood as his high mark.

“It was very interesting throwing on a rubber track for the first time in a while and it was my first time throwing the new steel-tip jav,” Simonini said. “But, honestly, I had a great time. I made it to the final, met a lot of cool people – I’ve been talking to kids from all states, everyone was just so nice, so friendly. They made it a great overall experience.

“I was extremely frustrated with my mark. Top eight gets All-American, I got ninth. That kind of bummed me out, but it just leaves a lot to work towards.”

The way the day started he didn’t think he was even going to advance. He opened the competition with his lowest mark of the year (133-10), but found his rhythm and threw 150-10 and 160-0 to make the top nine. His best mark in the finals was 159-1.

“I couldn’t get over the hump; I was just stuck at 48 (meters),” he said. “At first I was very upset about it, then I really came to terms with it. Last year I’d be over the world to be in the 140s and now I’m angry about being in the 160s. In the grand scheme of things, there’s really nothing to be mad about.”

Schalick senior Sal Longo wrapped up a tough senior season by finishing fourth in his flight of the National Elite Boys Pole Vault. A hamstring injury he suffered at the indoor Meet of Champions kept him off the track until the sectionals, which he promptly won upon his return.

He jumped 12 feet, 9.5 inches Saturday, hitting the mark on his third attempt. None of the seven vaulters who advanced from the height cleared 13-3.5.

“I’m pretty happy with it with how my season went,” he said. “Getting to nationals was the main goal, but placing as high as I did in my flight was something I’m grateful for.”

A third Schalick athlete, Ethan McLean, finished 64th in the National Elite Boys Shot Put (44-2.75), one spot and less than an inch ahead of Penns Grove sophomore Ja’Kai Ingram (44-2).

Woodstown high jumper Kami Casiano competed in the New Balance Nationals at Franklin Field Saturday. She missed three attempts at her entry height of 5-3. Woodstown senior Josh Crawford runs in the Boys 800 Sunday.

Top photo: Schalick had three athletes compete Saturday in adidas Track Nationals. (From left) Gary Simonini (javelin), Sal Longo (pole vault) and Ethan McLean (shot put).