By: Paul Schwartz – Record Sports
OLD TAPPAN – The most recognizable names on the Hasbrouck Heights girls track team this spring have been thrower Kassie Ketcho, sprinter Crystal Lichtenberger and jumper/hurdler Monika Lucic. And the terrific Aviator trio each scored in three events at the Red Littler Bergen County group championships this weekend, combining for Heights’ three individual winners and 70 points in the competitive girls C division.

But Rob Brady knows that the heart and soul of his team lays with seniors Ashley Quinn, Sydney Fontalvo and junior Haylle Thomas, who chipped in with 16 individual points in the Aviators’ 121-95 win over Ramsey Saturday for its second Division C title in three years.

“They’ve been the ones who took the younger kids in hand when they started and helped them to learn about the sport and that the team is more important than the individual,’’ said Brady. “And they’re all important parts of every relay we run.’’

The Aviators took a first, second and third in the three relays, with Fontalvo and Quinn leading off the winning 4-x-800 team.

And the unselfishness of his trio of leaders spread to his biggest stars.

“Kassie has always been great throwing the javelin,’’ said Brady. “But she wanted to do more and this year she’s been as good as any one in Bergen County in the shot and she’s done well in the discus too.’’ Ketcho won the C shot and javelin and was second in the discus this weekend.

“Monika’s (Lucic) favorite event is the high jump, but we needed her more in the hurdles and jumps this year, so she hasn’t jumped as much or as well as she has in the past,’’ said Brady.

But Lucic, like Ketcho a junior, took second in the 400 hurdles, fourth in  the 100 hurdles and third in the triple jump.

Lichtenberger, is a first year Aviator, having transferred from Secaucus this year. She won the 200 and took thirds in the other two sprints. Both Lucic and Lichtenberger were on the 4-x-400 team, whose second place finish clinched the title event though the pole vault was postponed until Monday at 3:30 p.m. at the Jacob Brown track at BF Middle school in Ridgewood.

 

Park Ridge took the opposite tack, with its small but potent squad, winning each of the nine races that they entered on the track, including a triple by Samantha Green and a double by Nicole Thomas individually and impressive wins in the 4-x-400 and 4-x-800 relays to hold off scrappy young Midland Park, 146-103 to win the D division.

 

FULL RESULTS OF BERGEN COUNTY MEET ON FRAULO TIMING WEBSITE:

http://www.lfracing.com/outdoor-track/2017-season/2017-gene-red-littler-bergen-county-championships-5-1213/