The West Milford boys track team had tough
early-season dual-meet losses to Wayne Valley and Lakeland. So coach Scott
Copperman was looking for something to give his young team a boost
going into the Northern Hills Skyline league meet today and Saturday at
Millburn.
He may have gotten that boost when the Highlanders outpointed Wayne
Hills, 97-79, last weekend in the County Seat Invitational A Division
at the Patriots' home track.
"We were looking for something to get us going after those two losses,"
said Copperman. "We have such a young team, but we might be ahead of
schedule to try and win the conference meet. I think we're peaking at
the right time."
Sophomore Dave Heerema led the Highlanders' effort in the County Seat
with a speedy 1:59.8 winning effort in the 800, a second off the school
record and one of the fastest times in Passaic County in the past five
years.
Shot putter Matt Schur won with a toss of 49-6, and he was one of the
few seniors to score for West Milford on Saturday.
"I thought we were probably a year away, but we're hoping that maybe
we'll be able to do it this year," said Copperman. "It's tough for us
because there's no triple jump and our distance kids are so young. But
we have two good vaulters and we were missing our best 400 and 1,600
men as well as our best high jumper and long jumper. Lakeland still
should be the favorite but I like our chances."
Paul Schwartz Copyright c. 1999 All rights reserved.
