Dennehy, Pais, Pai, Lyness

lead Rockaway to 3rd win

    ROCKAWAY - John Dennehy and Michael Pais finished 1-2 in two races and Anjali Pai and Casey Lyness each won three events when the unbeaten Rockaway Borough Rams track team beat Long Valley, 320-94, in a Lakeland Junior Track & Field meet held at Morris Hills High School on Sunday, April 17, 2011.
    Dennehy won the boys 13-15 mile in a personal best time of 5:36 with Pais second with a personal best 5:42. The same pair finished 1-2 in the 800-meter run with Dennehy posting a time of 2:29 and Pais running 2:37 as the Rams improved to 3-0 on the season.
    Pai won the girls 11-12 800 in 2:59.82; cleared 13-3 to win the long jump; and won the 400 with a time of 1:13.61. Lyness, competing in the girls 9-10 division, won the100 in 13.96; the 200 in 29.17; and cleared 12-10 to win the long jump.
    Kayla Fleming had two firsts and a second in the girls 13-15 age group. She won the 400 in 1:09.57; threw 25-11 to win the shot; and finished second in the 800 with a time of 2:51.
    Noah Rathfon was another double-winner for the Rams, winning the 11-12 boys 100 in 15.27 and the 200 in 31.62. Teammate Mario Ciccotti was second in the 100 with a time of 15.75 and was also runnerup to Rathfon in the 200 with a time of 33.91.
    Anthony Castimore and Angelo Macera were also double-winners for Rockaway. Castimore won both boys 13-15 sprints, taking the 100 in 13.18 and the 200 in 28.94 and Macera did the same in the 9-10 age group, winning the 100 in 16.10 and the 200 in 34.91.
    In the boys 11-12 division, Alex Pai won the mile with a time of 6:33.84 and also finished first in the 800 in 2:52, leading a 1-2-3 Rockaway finish with Phil Pydyzewski second in 2:58.33 and Patrick Delle third in 2:58.72. Pai finished second in the shot put with a throw of 25-feet, 3-inches.
    Delle and Micheal Morena were 2-3 in the boys 11-12 mile with Delle posting a time of 6:56 and Morena running a 7:10.
    Ian McNally, James Daley and Daymon Fleming finished 1-2-3 in the boys 13-15 400 with McNally winning in 1:09.19, Daley finishing in 1:09.79, and Fleming posting a 1:12.00 for third.
    Kyle Kairys and Pydyzewski finished a very close 1-2 in the boys 11-12 400 with Kairys winning in 1:19.53 and Pydyzewski a tick behind in 1:19.54.
    In the girls 9-10 age group, Maddison Perna won the 400 in 1:23.73 and teammate Ariana Malangit was second in 1:25.93.

     Matt Morena also posted a personal best when he won the 9-10 mile with a time of 6:35.

    The next competition for the Rams is scheduled for Sunday, May 1, when they travel to Hopatcong HIgh School for a 1 p.m. meet against Hoptacong.

Field events the key

in win over Mtn. Lakes

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      DENVILLE - A strong showing in the field events proved to be difference when Rockaway Borough defeated, Mountain Lakes, 233-171, Lakeland Junior Track & Field Conference competition held at Morris Knolls High School on Sunday, April 10.
    Shaun Montalto-Rook doubled for Rockaway as he won the boys 13-15 shot put with a throw of 30-feet, 6-inches and cleared 14-3 to winj the long jump.
    Rockaway also received a first-place effort from Alex Pai, who won the 11-12  boys shot with a throw of 24-8. Phil Pydyzewski took second in the same event with a throw of  21-6.
    In the girls shot put, Kayla Fleming took first in the 13-15 age group with a throw of 26 feet; Jenna Catalano won the girls 11-12 division with a throw of 22-5; and Madison Dreiss took first in the girls 9-10 age group with a throw of 14-10.
    In the long jump, Kelly Walls cleared 8-9 to win the girls 9-10 age group; Anjal Pai jumped 13-4 to win the 11-12 division; and Casey Lyness cleared 13-10 to win the 13-15 age group.
    Angelo Macera won the boys 9-10 long jump when he cleared 12-10 feet and teammate Matt Morena finished third at 10-8 feet. In the boys 11-12 division, Mario Ciccotti finished first when he cleared 11-8 and teammate Dan Daley was second with a leap of 10-5.
     In the running events, Rockaway highlights included personal bests from Micheal Morena with a 7:14 in the 11-12 boys mile and Isabella Tenreiro with a 7:26 in the girls 11-12 mile.
    Ariana Malangit won the girls 9-10 400-meter run with a season-best 1:23.17 and teammate Mansi Shah ran a personal best of 1:39 in the same race.
    In the boys 13-15 mile, Michael Pais won with a time of 5:42 and teammate John Dennehy finished second in 5:50.
    Rockaway's Fleming also won the girls 13-15 400 meters in 1:09 and followed that race with a second-place effort of 31.49 in the 200
    Rockaway's next meet is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 17, against Long Valley at Morris Hills High School.

Pacheco, Gaeta, Castimore,

Fleming, Lyness spark win

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       ROCKAWAY - Arthur Pacheco, Mark Gaeta and Anthony Castimore swept the boys 13-15 sprints and Kayla Fleming and Casey Lyness each won three individual girls events to lead Rockaway Borough to a 267-120 victory over Jefferson in a Lakeland Junior Track Conference season-opening meet held at Jefferson on Sunday, April 3, 2011.
      Castimore won the 100-meter dash in 12.97 seconds; Pacheco won the 200 in 29.53; and Gaeta came in first in the 400 with a time of 1:07.32.
      Rockaway scored additional points in the sprints when Castimore (29.88) and Gaeta (30.53) ran 2-3 in the 200 in 29.88; Pacheco was second in the 100 in 13.66; and James Daley ran second in the 400 with a time of 1:13.
      Joe Hook teamed up with Pacheco, Gaeta and Castimore to win the 4x100 relay in 54.96.
     Rockaway also did well in the distance events as John Dennehy won the 800 in 2:27 and took second in the mile in 6:04 and Michael Pais won the mile in 5:54 and took second in the 800 in 2:33.
     In the field events, Pais placed third in the shot with a throw of 26-feet, 11-inches
     In the girls events, Fleming won the 13-15 800 in 2:54; captured the 400 in 1:13; and won the shot put with a throw of 27-10. She also teamed with Elizabeth Ertle, Annamarie Ciallella and Casey Lyness to win the 4x100 relay in 58.03.
     Lyness also won three individual events by placing first in the 100 in 13.25, winning the 200 in 29.37, and clearing 13-5 to win the long jump.
     Frankie Perna won the girls 13-15 mile in 6:39 and took second in the 800 in 2:55. Ertle took third in the 800 in 2:56.
      Alysha Whittle and Maddison Perna led Rockaway's 9-10 girls as each won two individual events. Whittle won the 100 in 16.27 and the 200 in 36.84 and Perna won the 800 in 3:06 and also took top shot put honors with a throw of 17-6.
      Kelly Walls was second in the 100 (16.34) and the 200 (37.49). Ariana Manlangit, Perna, Whittle and Walls teamed up to win the 4x100 relay in 1:06.97.
      Anjali Pai led Rockaway's 11-12 girls, taking first in the 800 in 2:49 and the 400 in 1:13. Pai also won the long jump with a long leap of 13-1. Jenna Catalano, Julia Catalano, Gianna Gillespie and Pai won the 4x100 relay in 1:04.56.
      Rockaway's next meet is against Mountain Lakes on Sunday, April 10,  at Morris Knolls High School at 1 p.m.

Casey Lyness (left) and Michael Pais proudly hold the second-place trophy won by Rockaway Borough at the Lakeland Junior Track & Field Conference Championships held at Randolph High School on Saturday, June 5, 2010.

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Photo by Joanne Sala

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Rams finish a close 2nd

in 2010 conference meet

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      ROCKAWAY - The Rockaway Borough Junior Track & Field team ended its most successful season in program history on Saturday, June 5, when the Rams finished in second place in the Division II portion of the 2010 Lakeland Junior Track & Field Conference Championships held at Randolph High School.
      Rockaway scored a total of 244 points to trail only team champion Denville, which scored 263 points to top a field of eight teams
      "It went back and forth all day and could have gone either way," said Rockaway head coach Chris Dennehy after the meet. "But Denville deserved it ... Denville coach Kathy Vita has put together a talented and deep team, particularly with her older girls.
      "The two teams have enjoyed a very competitive rivalry all season."
 Earlier in the season, the two teams met in a dual meet that finished in a 204-204 tie, the only time all season Rockaway did not win as the Rams finished with a 5-0-1 record.
      Dennehy sees the Rams dual-meet season and second-place finish in the conference meet as a springboard to future successes. Rockaway scored 50 points and finished eighth in 2007; improved to 117 points and a sixth-place finish in 2008; and scored 171 points and finished fourth in last year's meet.
      "We're attracting more athletes and we're becoming more competitive in all areas," Dennehy explains. "The boys and girls put in their time and deserved to have a good season."
      The borough's boys, led by Ian McNally and Joe Hook in the 11-12 age group, powered the team's drive to is second-place finish.
      McNally won the 100-meter dash in 14.16 seconds with Hook second in 14.38. McNally also won the 400 in 1:06.84 and cleared 14-feet, 7-inches to win the long jump. Hook won the 200 in 29.67 and threw 27-0 to place third in the shot put.
     McNally and Hook also teamed with Dajon Chappell and Daymoin Fleming to lead the Rams' 4x100 relay team to victory with a time of 57.59.
     Chappell went on to win the shot put with a throw of 28-10 and Fleming placed third in the 400 with a time of 1:11.75. Alex Pai placed fourth in the mile with a time of 6:30.
     "The 11-12 boys have formed the cornerstone of our team for the past few years," Dennehy said. "They are very competitive in all of the running, shot put and long jump events"
     In the 9-10 boys age group, Patrick Delle finished second in the mile with a season-best 6:20.56; Matt Morena was fourth in the 800 in 2:58.48; Delle and Phil Pysyszewski, Daniel Daley and Noah Rathfon finished second in the 4x100 relay with a time of 1:02.72; Kyle Kairys was second in the 400 with a season-best 1:19.82; and Ryan Munoz threw 19-11 to finish second in the shot.
     In the 13-15 boys division, Ben Tuhy was third in the 400 with a season-best 1:02.64 and finished second in the 100 with a time of 13.3.
     Casey Lyness celebrated her birthday by winning three evens in the girls 13-15 age group. She won the 100 in 13:53; took the 200 in 27.89; and cleared 15-2 to win the long jump title. Lyness also ran the anchor leg on Rockaway's winning 4x100 relay team with Nicole Segura, Denieka Ellis and Maria Zapata turning in a time of 56.39. Ellis took fourth in the shot with a throw of 23-5.
     In the 11-12 girls division, Annamarie Ciallella placed fourth in the 100 in 14.7 and ran third in the 200 with a time of 31.44; Ciallella teamed with Julia Catalano, Anjali Pai and Valerie Medina to place second in the 4x100 relay in 59.95; Frankie Perna won the mile with a personal best 6:23.71; Jenna Catalano was third in the shot with a throw of 21-11; and Anjali Pai cleared 12-8 to finish fourth in the long jump.
     In the girls 9-10 age group, Maddison Perna threw 15-11 for a fourth-place finish in the shot put.
    Notes: Roxbury finished third with 201 points followed by Madison (180 points), Mountain Lakes (115), Chester (103), Jefferson (24) and Long Valley (16) rounded out the eight-team field ... The Division II title was the first for Denville, which finished second last year after finishing thrid and second in the two previous years ... the season-ending meet, which was started in 1972, was divided into big-town and small-town divisions in 2000 ... Mendham won the Division 1 (big town) title Saturday, its third straight after Randolph had won the title the previous nine seasons.

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'Personal Best' highlight Lakeland Open meet

      ROCKAWAY - The Rockaway Borough Junior Track and Field team competed in the Lakeland Conference Junior Track & Field Open Meet on Sunday, May 30, at Montville High School.
      The Rams will also compete in a second post-season event - the Lakeland Conference Junior Championships - on Saturday, June 5, at Randolph High School starting at 9 a.m.
      In the Open Meet, Rockaway competed against teams from Montville, Rockaway Township, Denville, Parsippany, Madison, Randolph and Mountain Lakes. No team scores were kept but several Rockaway athletes won ribbons and/or established personal bests in the almost day-long meet.
      Rockaway's results, by age groups:
      Boys 13-15 Age Group: James Daley ran personal bests of 14.89 in the 100 meters and 31.17 in the 200 meters. Daley completed his day with season-best long jump  of 12-8 feet ... D.J Farrelly had a personal best in the long jump when he cleared 10-4 and also ran a 17.92 in the 100-meter dash ... Vincent Far was timed in 17.71 in the 100.
      Girls 13-15 Age Group: Regina Lyons ran a 7:50.10 and Makenzie Schaefer was timed in 8:04 in the mile ... Annie Slusser set a personal mark of 14.67, Melanie Marotta was timed in 15.25 and Christina Yanas ran a 16.88  in the 100-meter dash ... In the 800-meter run, Regina Lyons ran a 3:04.5 ... the 4x100 foursome of Lyons, Schaefer, Christina Yanas and Slusser finished third in 1:06.89 ... Marotta threw a personal best 22-6 and Yanas had a 20-2 in the shot put ... Lyons cleared a personal best 11-8 and Slusser had a 9-5 in the long jump ... Marotta and Slusser each ran a 33.87 in the 200 and Yanas finished in 37.62 in the same race.
      Boys 11-12 Age Group: Alex Jones set a personal best of 15.26 in the 100-meter dash and ran the mile in 6:56 ... also in the 100, Tanner Dykstra ran 15.67, Rahil Pastel ran 16.45, Matthew Graner had a 17.62 and Thomas Haynes and Nicolas Bova were each timed in 18.79 ... Dykstra ran a personal-best 35.58 in the 200 and ran the 100 in 15.67 ... Rockaway's 4x100 A-team of Steven Manno, Michael Morena, Dykstra, and Jones finished second in 1:07.99 and the B-team of Haynes, Graner, Bova and Miguel Plaza finished in 1:13.67 ... Manno ran a 3:08.50 and Morena had a 3:14.60 in the 800 ... Manno ran a 7:06.10 mile ... Morena was timed in 1:26.83 in the 400 ... in the 200, Jones ran a 34.91, Dykstra ran a 35.58, Plaza was timed in 37.2 and Graner had a time of 39.00 ... in the long jump, Manno cleared 10-1 and Morena cleared 9-7.
      Girls 11-12 Age Group: Katherine Pelky was timed in 3:17.30 in the 800.
      Boys 9-10 Age Group: Daniel Rivera cleared 10-0.75 in the long jump for a personal best. Dylan McBride ran a 3:31.51 800 and Mark McCafferty finished in 4:08.95 in the same race ... Thomas Haynes threw a personal best 27-5 and Ian Pelkey had an 18-7 in the shot put ... Rivera, McBride, Robert Chappell and Pelkey finished in 1:11.72 in the 4x100 ... in the 100-meter dash, Daniel Rivera was timed in 16.45, Chappell in 17.77, Alex Pais in 18.37, and McCafferty ran a 21.08 ... Pekley ran a 1:25.01 400-meter run while Rivera had a 1:26.50 and McBride a 1:31.66 in the same race ... Chappell ran a 39.51 and Pais had a 42.03 in the 400.
     Girls 9-10 Age Group: Sonia Casiano was timed in a personal best 17.61 for the 100-meter dash and also turned in a time of 39.10 in the 200 ... Mansi Shah was timed in 3:50.10 in the 800.

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Rams close out 4-0-1 season with win over Long Valley

      ROCKAWAY - The Rockaway Borough Junior Track & Field team closed out its unbeaten dual meet season in the Lakeland Junior Track & Field Conference with a 326-82 victory over Long Valley at West Morris Central High School on Sunday, May 23.
     The Rams finished their dual-meet portion of the schedule with a 4-0-1 record and will now compete in two post-season championships - an Open Meet on Sunday, May 30, at Montville High School at 1 p.m, and the conference meet at Randolph High School on Saturday, June 5, starting at 9 a.m.
      "We're looking forward to the conference championships," said Rockaway head coach Chris Dennehy. "Our athletes have worked hard all season and we feel we're peaking at the right time."
      As for the Long Valley meet, Ben Tuhy had another good day as he won the 13-15 boys 100-meter dash in 13.22 second and also won the 800-meter run in 2:38.52 with teammate Michael Pais second in 2:44.47. Pais also won the mile in 6:01.36.
      Conor McClain won the 13-15 shot with a throw of 34-feet, 0-inches and the 4x100 relay team of Mark Gaeta, Kevin Pratt, Pais and Tuhy won with a time of 58.32 seconds.
     In the girls 13-15 events, Casey Lyness won the 100 in 13.86, the 200 in 28.69, the long jump in 13-1 and anchored the winning 4x100 team of Maria Zapata, Denieka Ellis and Nicole Segura.
      Ellis also won the 400 in 1:15.59 and placed second in the 100 in 14.76 and finished third in the shot with a throw of 21-3. Zapata took third in the 200 with a time of 32.20.
      Colleen McFarland won the shot with a throw of 21-10 and finished third in the 200 in 32.20.
      Regina Lyons was another double winner for Rockaway, taking the 800 in 3:10.25 and the mile in 7:33.90.
      Noah Rathfon was a double-winner in the 9-10 boys division sprints, taking the 100 in 15.24 and the 200 in 31.46.
      Phil Pydyszewski won the 800 in 2:59, the 400 in 1:19.97 and threw 18-7 in the shot to tie teammate Ian Pelkey. Pelkey had a third-place finish in the 400 in 1:24.57.
      Patrick Delle won the boys 9-10 mile in 7:05. Dan Daley placed second in the 100 in 16.69 and was also runnerup in the 200 with a time of 32.87.
      Angelo Macera cleared 10-11 to win the long jump; Rathfon, Pydyszewski, Delle and Daley won the 4x100 in 1:11; and Matt Morena finished second in the 800 in 3:10.
      Anjali Pai was a triple-winner in the girls 11-12 division, placing first in the 800 in 2:59.39, winning the 400 in 1:15.82 and clearing 12-1 to win the long jump.
      Annamarie Ciallella won the 100 in 14.70 and teamed with Pai, Valerie Medina and Julia Catalano to win the 4x100 in 1:02.36.
      Catalano also placed third in the long jump with a leap of 9-4.5 and her sister Jenna placed second in the shot with a season-best throw of 20-1. Cecelia Casiano ran second in the 400 with a time of 1:23.78.
      Alex Pai, Owen O'Toole and Colin Martin finished 1-2-3 in the 11-12 boys mile with Pai finishing in 6:30.80, O'Toole turning in a 6:34.4 clocking and Martin hitting line in 7:09.70.
      Joe Hook was second in the 800 in 2:42 with teammate Daymon Fleming third in 2:45.61.
      Ian McNally won the 400 with a season-best 1:08.36 and Fleming was third in 1:12.50.
      McNally was a double-winner in the 11-12 division when he cleared 13-9 to win the long jump.
      Rockaway finished 1-2-3 in the 100 with Dajon Chappell winning in 15.32, Alex Jones finishing second in 16.11, and Andrew Lugo placing third in 16.43.
     In the girls 9-10 competition, Kelly Walls won the 200 in 36.16 and was part of a 1-2-3 Rockaway sweep in the 100 when Alysha Whittle won in 17.05, Walls ran second in 17.46, and Gianna Gillespie finished third in 17.58.

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RAMS ALSO COMPETE IN RELAY MEET

Rockaway defeats Chester
to remain unbeaten at 3-0-1
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     ROCKAWAY - Rockaway remained unbeaten in Lakeland Junior Track & Field Conference competition when it defeated Chester, 303-105, in a dual meet held at Morris Knolls High School on Sunday, May 16.

     The Rams are 3-0-1 in dual-meet competition this spring with one dual-meet left on the schedule before competing in post-season meets.
     Rockaway's 9-10 girls Cristina Coiro and Mansi Shah lifted their team's spirits early in the meet when they finished 2-3 in the 800-meter run in spite of the fact they had never before run at that distance.
     Coiro was timed in 3:33 and Shah finished in 3:47 in their first competitive 800.
     Coiro and Shah also competed in the more-familiar 400 and finished 1-2 with Coiro winning in 1:36.20) and Shah placing second in 1:43.24.
      Maddison Perna was a double-winner for the Lady Rams, showing her versatility by taking the mile in 7:10.65 and the 200-meter dash in 35.89. 
      In the boys 11-12 division, Daymon Fleming won the 800 meters in a season- best 2:45.01 with teammates Steven Manno second in 3:08.15 and Michael Morena third with a time of 3:11.18. Fleming came back later and finished second in the 400 in 1:11.34.
      Ian McNally was a triple-winner, taking the 400 in 1:10.30; the 100-meter dash in 13.78; and clearing 14-0 to win the long jump.
      Joe Hook won the 200 in 30.44 and took second in the 100 behind McNally in 13.97. Dajon Chappell won the shot put with a top throw of 29-6.
      Alex Jones ran second in the 200 meters with a season-best 32.89. Alex Pai won the mile with a personal best of 6:36. Michael Morena ran to a third-place finish in the 800 with a personal best of 3:12.
      Annamarie Ciallella led Rockway's 11-12 girls, winning the 100 in 14.70 and the 200 in 31.83. Frankie Perna won the mile in 6:26.81 and also captured the 800 in 2:57.02. Cecelia Casiano won the 400 meters with a personal-best 1:23.89 with teammate Julia Catalano placing second in the same race in 1:26.56.
      In the boys 9-10, Noah Rathfon doubled in the sprints when he won the 100 in 14.72 and the 200 in 31.47.
      Phil Pydyszewski, Ian Pelkey and Matt Morena gave Rockaway a 1-2-3 finish in the 800 with Pydyszewski finishing in 3:01.48, Pelkey finishing in 3:10, and Morena running third in 3:12.
      Rockaway's 4x100 relay team of Pydyszewski, Patrick Delle, Daniel Daley and Rathfon won their race in 1:03.23. Kyle Kairys ran second in the 400 meters in 1:24.15 with Daniel Rivera in third place with a 1:28.13. Delle won the mile in 6:36.
      Denieka Ellis' season best of 1:12. 45 in the 400 meters led Rockaway's 13-15 girls. Nicole Segura ran second in 1:16.59.
     Colleen McFarland, Ellis and Christina Yanas finished 1-2-3 in the shot with McFarland throwing 23-0, Ellis right behind her at 22-11 and Yanas finishing third with a throw of 21-4.
     Ben Tuhy continued to lead the 13-15 boys, clearing 16-6 to win the long jump while also winning the 400 in 1:07.34 and the 100-meter dash in 12.99.
      In the 200 meters, Mark Gaeta ran second in 29.38 and Chris Williams took third in 30.06. Michael Pais won the 800 in 2:43.84 and took third in the mile with a season-best 6:00.34.
      Rockaway is scheduled to conclude its regular dual-meet season on Sunday, May 23, with a 1 p.m. dual meet against Long Valley at West Morris High School.
      The team will then compete in two post-season track & field championships - an Open Meet on Sunday, May 30, at Montville High School at 1 p.m.
       The conference’s 2010 spring season finale - The Lakeland Junior Track & Field Conference Championship Meet - will be held on at Randolph High School on Saturday, June 5, starting at 9 a.m.
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Chappel-Hook wins shot-put relay
     ROCKAWAY - Dajon Chappell and Joe Hook each threw personal bests to win the two-man shot put relay when Rockaway Borough competed in the Lakeland Junior Track & Field Conference Relays at Hopatcong High School on Friday, May 14.
      Chappell threw 31-feet, 1-inch to exceed his previous-best by three feet and Hook added a personal-best 27-0 for a combined winning mark of 58-1.
     The meet consisted of age-group competition (9-10, 11-12 and 13-15) in four relays - 4x100, spring medley, distance medley and two-man shot put. The teams in the conference were split into two divisions, Division 1 for the larger teams and Division 2 for the smaller teams.
     Competing with Rockaway in Division 2 were Denville, Madison, Mountain Lakes, Roxbury, Chester, Long Valley and Jefferson. The Division 1 teams competing were Mendham, Randolph, Montville, Rockaway Township, Hopatcong, Mount Olive and Parsippany.
     "There is no team champion crowned at this meet and both divisions compete together," said Rockaway coach Chris Dennehy. "Our relay teams had a great night and finished strongly in most events.
      "We were usually leading Division 2 teams and in many instances we went neck and neck with the deeper Division 1 squads."
     Hook and Chappell also teamed with Ian McNally and Daymon Fleming to lead Rockaway to a third-place finish in the 4x100 with a time of 57.4 seconds. The same foursome also placed fourth in the sprint medley with a time of 2:10.9.
     In the boys 9-10 group, Rockaway's Phil Pydyszewski, Patrick Delle, Daniel Daley and Noah Rathfon finished third in the 4x100 in 1:01.9, trailing Denville and Mendham. The same group also took second place in the sprint medley in 2:19.6 and also placed third in the distance medley in 11:34.5
     Rockaway's 11-12 girls team of Valerie Medina, Frankie Perna, Anjali Pai and Annamarie Ciallella took fourth place in the 4x100 relay in 1:00.2.
     The 9-10 girls team of Alysha Whittle, Cristina Coiro, Kelly Walls, and Maddison Perna placed fourth in sprint medley in 2:33.8.
      In the 13-15 boys division, the Rockaway team of Marc Gaeta, Michael Pais, Chris Williams and Ben Tuhy placed seventh in the 4x100 in a season-best 55.5 seconds.

Rockaway and Denville

battle to a 204-204 tie

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     ROCKAWAY - Chris Dennehy called it "... an absolute barn-burner of a meet" -- and he wasn't talking about the 90-degree heat on the Morris Knolls High School track this past Sunday, May 2.
      Dennehy was describing the Lakeland Junior Track & Field Conference meet between his Rockaway Borough team and Denville that had just ended in a 204-204 tie, the final result not made official until an hour after the meet ended as officials and coaches from both teams went over and over the results.
      It was the first time in three meets this spring that Dennehy's Rockaway team had not won, but the Rockaway head coach was looking at more than just records and victories when talking about this meet. The tie was also marked the first time in 20 years that Denville did not win the meet between the two neighboring towns.
      "Denville has always had an excellent program ... they came in second in the conference meet the last two seasons," Dennehy explained. "Our program almost disbanded three years ago when we were down to 18 kids ... we now have 90 and the feeling here is we can compete with any team in the league.
      "This is an outstanding accomplishment for our team," Dennehy added. "We're thrilled to have gone toe-to-toe with a team of Denville's calibre.
      "It was a great meet against great competition and, after watching the kids from both teams compete, the tie is the fairest thing that could have happened out there ... it would have been a shame to have either team lose such a hotly-contested contest."
       Leading the way for Rockaway was Ben Tuhy, who competed in the 13-15 boys division. Tuhy finished first and set personal record in the 100-meter dash (13.13), 400 (1:03.40) and long jump (16-feet, 0-inches). He also anchored Rockaway's winning 4x100 relay, running with Mark Gaeta, Chris Williams and Michael Pais.
        Rockaway also received key performances from the Perna sisters, Frankie and Maddison. Frankie, competing in the 11-12 age group, won the 800 in 2:54.10 and he mile in 6:38.57. Maddison won the 800 in 3:11.57, the 400 in 1:28.33, the shot put with a throw of 16-0, and anchored the winning 4x100 team with Kelly Walls, Alysha Whittle and Gianna Gillespie in the 9-10 age group.
        In the boys 9-10 mile, Rockaway's Patrick Delle and Ryan Munoz finished 1-2. Delle's winning time was 6:55.21 and Munoz turned in a 7:16.15 clocking in his first attempt at the mile run. Kevin McNally and Dylan McBride also took their first crack at the mile and McNally finished in 8:05.45 and McBride was times in 8:56.65.
        Munoz also won the shot put with a throw of 19-10.
        The 11-12 boys 4x100 relay team of Daymon Fleming, Dajon Chappell, Ian McNally and Joe Hook finished first in a personal best time of 58.57.
        Fleming also won the 800 in 2:50.10, placed first in the 400 in 1:16.45, and cleared 11-11 in the long jump to finish third.
        McNally won the long jump with a personal-best 14-0 and also won the 100 in 14.17.
        Hook won the 200 in 30.37, finished second in the 100 with a time of 14.49, and placed second in the shot with a throw of 26-11.
        Chappell took first place in the shot put with a throw of 28-3.
        Casey Lyness was a four-event winner as she won the 100 in 13.58, took the 200 in 29.27, and cleared 12-3 to win the long jump. She also anchored the winning 4x100 team when Maria Zapata, Nicole Segura, Zoe Casiano and Lyness turned in a time of 58.65.
        Rockaway also received clutch performances in the field events as Christina Yanas won the 13-15 girls shot with a throw of 21-10 and Madison Dreiss placed second in the 9-10 girls shot with a throw of 15-5.
        Rockaway's next meet is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, May 16, against Chester at Morris Knolls High School.

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(For a photo album of this meet, please point to the 'Rock. Jr. Track' button in the menu bar at left and click on 'RB Album 3' when the sub menu appears)

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Relay teams lead way in victory over Roxbury

      ROCKAWAY - The Rockaway Borough Junior Track Team made "difficult" look "easy" when it defeated Roxbury, 242-151, in a Lakeland Junior Track & Field dual meet held at Jefferson High School on Sunday, April 18.
    "Difficult" in that Rockaway swept all six of the 4x100-meter relay races -- winning all three of the boys and girls age group events.
     "The coaching staff was ecstatic with the performance of our relay teams," said head coach Chris Dennehy after the meet. "In youth track, the relays are one of the most difficult races to practice ... there are a lot of moving parts, with getting handoffs down pat one part of the race that takes a lot of work."
    The boys 9-10 boys 4x100 team of Phil Pydyszewski, Patrick Delle, Daniel Daley and Noah Rathfon won their age group race with a time of 1:05.62 to start the streak of six Rockaway relay victories.
    The 9-10 girls team of Rachel Weidanz, Alysha Whittle, Gianna Gillespie, and Maddison Perna followed with its own victory in 1:10.87. 
     In the 11-12 relays, the boys team of Daymon Fleming, Dajon Chappell, Ian McNally and Joe Hook won in 59.41 seconds and Julia Catalano, Val Medina, Anjali Pai and newcomer Anna Marie Ciallella combined for a 1:01.91 to win the girls race.
 .   Rockaway's hot streak continued in the 13-15 age division with Mark Gaeta, Chris Williams, Michael Pais and Ben Tuhy winning the boys race in 57.75 and  Zoe Casiano, Denieka Ellis, Maria Zapata and Casey Lyness completing the 4x100 sweep with a win in the girls race in 59.66.
     The Rockaway 9-10 and 11-12 boys shot put teams were also in on "sweeps" week as Pydyszewski, Rathon and Robert Chappell finished 1-2-3 in the 9-10 shot put competition and Dajon Chappell, Joe Hook and Thomas Haynes had a 1-2-3 sweep of the 11-12 age group.
     In the 13-15 boys shot, Conor McClain finished second and David Willis was third.
    The girls 9-10 throwers also swept as Maddison Perna won with a top throw of 15-feet, 1-inch with teammates Elizabeth Vicente second and Sonia Casiano third. 
    In the 11-12 girls shot, Ciallella won with a top throw of 20-3 with teammates Jenna Catalano and Erika Curran also scoring points for Rockaway.
    In the 11-12 long jump, McNally cleared 12-8 to win the event. BenTuhy was second with a 13-10 in the 13-15 age group.
 Rockaway also scored in the boys 9-10 long jump when Dan Daley cleared 9-5 feet to win the event with teammate Angelo Macera finishing second with a 9-1 effort.
      Rockaway's triumph was a team effort, as the squad received a number of personal-best performances across the boys and girls age groups, such as:
 Alex Jones' time of 16.22 in the 11-12 100 meters; Cristina Coiro's time of 17.62 in the 9-10 100; Annie Slusser time of 15.91 in the 13-15 100; and Alex Lugo's 35.56 in the 11-12 200-meter run.
      Rockaway will go for its third straight team victory on Sunday, April 25, when the borough team plays host to Mountain Lakes in a 1 p.m. meet at Morris Hills High School.

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(For a photo album of this meet, please point to the 'Rock. Jr. Track' button in the menu bar at left and click on 'RB Album 2' when the sub menu appears)

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Bantam Boys help Rockaway open with a win

    ROCKAWAY - The Rockaway Borough youth track & field team opened its 2010 Lakeland Junior Track & Field Conference season by defeating first-year team Jefferson, 308-39, in a dual meet held at Morris Hills High School on Sunday, April 11.
    Rockaway's bantam (ages 9-10) boys Phil Pydyszewski, Noah Rathfon and Patrick Delle each won multiple events to lead the way.
    Pydyszewski won the 800 meters in 2:58.60; the 400 in 1:23.08; and the shot put with a throw of 17-feet, 7-inches.
    Rathfon won the 100 in 15.39; the 200 in 32.59 and placed second in the shot.
    Delle, a first-year competitor for Rockaway, won the mile in 6:30.47.
    Also scoring points for Rockaway's bantams were Matt Morena, who took second in the 200 in 3:09, and Angelo Macera, who won  the long jump (10-04).
    "I was very pleased with our young boys ... they ran with a lot determination," said Rockaway head coach Chris Dennehy after the meet. "Pydyszewski and Rathfon always bring their A-game and Delle's 6:20.47 in the mile was an astonishing time for his first meet."
    Rockaway's older boys also contributed to the victory.
    In the youth (13-15) division, Ben Tuhy set personal records by finishing first in the 100 meters (13.07) and 400 meters (1:09.59). Michael Pais won the 800 meters in 2:43.44 and took second in the mile (6:14.97). John Dennehy won the mile in 6:13.47 and took second in the 800 (2:47.40).
    In the midget (11-12) division, Rockaway was led by Ian McNally, who won the 100 meters with a personal best 14.54. McNally also finished second in the 400 in 1:17.22 and won the long jump 12-7. Daymon Fleming won the 400 meters in 1:16.47.
    Leading Rockaway girls was Casey Lyness in the 13-15 division. Lyness won the 100 in 14.01 and the 200 in 29.73, both personal bests. Lyness also won the long jump with a 11-6.
    Rockaway's Colleen McFarland (25-1), Denieka Ellis (21-9), and Melanie Marotta (21-2) took the top three spots in the shot put.
    In the midget (11-12) division, Rockaway's Anna Marie Ciallella and Valerie Medina finished in a deat head in the 100 with a 14.93 and Ciallella (32.34) just edged Medina (32.39) in the 200.
    Frankie Perna won the 800 meters in 2:58.59 and Jenna Catalano won the shot with a throw of 18-7 feet.
    In the girls 9-10 division, newcomer Kelly Walls ran 16.55 in the 100 to finish second and Maddison Perna won the 400 in 1:27.53 and won the shot with a throw of 14-8.
     Rockaway's next conference meet is at Roxbury on Sunday, April 18, at a time and site to be determined.

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(For a photo album of this meet, please point to the 'Rock. Jr. Track' button in the menu bar at left and click on 'RB Album 1' when the sub menu appears)