Boys Track Upbeat for Winter Season

Longtime Westfield High School boys track and cross country coach Jack Martin doesn't look at the winter season as a footnote.

The Blue Devils' indoor track team will use the next few months to chase some goals. Martin, whose cross country team won this past fall's Group IV title and placed fifth in the Meet of Champions, welcomed 108 athletes to the start of the winter season.

"We take every season for what it is,'' said Martin. "It's a whole new crew in addition to the cross country kids. But we want to build momentum for the spring.''

The Blue Devils had a scrimmage with Millburn Tuesday at Kehler Stadium.

"We have been doing it for about 20 years with Millburn,'' Martin said. "It's a chance for everybody to get a meet before the holiday.''

The Blue Devils will take part in the Gardiner Relays at Drew University Dec. 19. The Morris County Coaches host a series of nine meets that run from Dec. 19 through Jan. 13. The Blue Devils will also compete in the Union County individual and relay meets at the Jersey City Armory and the group meet and the Meet of Champions at the Bennett Center in Toms River. There will also be the Varsity Classic at the Armory Track and Field Center in New York City.

"We really have to pick and choose and try to get as many kids as we can in, it can be difficult,'' Martin said. The captains for the team will be seniors Mike Kelley, Ryan Scrudato, Andrew Gates and Jhaykyse Williams. Scrudato was third in the Union County Indoor Championships last year.

"We have some serious goals we want to meet,'' said Martin. "We want to get a couple of good relay times. It's not as low key as you might think. There is some pretty intense competition.''

Martin said that the team will likely focus on the distance medley and 4x800 teams and attempt to qualify for the Eastern Indoor Championships. Kevin Ramos, Scrudato and Kevin Cusick are three runners who will be part of the 4x800 team. The Westfield 4x800 was third last year in the indoor season in the Union County Relays.