South Brunswick TC (NJ)

Team Website / NTN Profile

Top Athletes: Jamie Thompson (hurdles), Mariah Browne (jumps), Sophia Ginez (distances), Rachel Johnson (sprints), Alicia Osley (sprints), Ginelle Walker (throws), Amber Brown (throws) and Amanda Smilgis (pole vault).

Team Strengths: Mariah Browne is the reigning New Jersey state champion in the long jump, pushing the 20-foot barrier, which means big points for South Brunswick.  In addition, Jamie Thompson leads the charge in the sprint/hurdle events, and could place very well in the 100m hurdles.  This team has depth across the board, which will help in the NTN “every athlete counts in a big way” format.

Key to Success: While teammates Browne and Thompson should score well in their events, Sophia Ginez is one athlete that can really help her team.  Ginez’ 1,600m and 800m ranked performances are 5:01.06 and 2:14.64.  A second or two PR in either event will help South Brunswick in a big way.  With strong competition in the distance events, Ginez’ opportunity to improve her best marks are good, which means South Brunswick’s opportunities to push for a top three finish are even better.

Q&A with Coach Stefan Moorhead

NTN: Coming from New Jersey, you've seen a tremendous amount of track and field talent this season.  How has seeing the top team from NJ helped your team grow and reach this level of success (a trip to compete at NTN)?

Stefan Moorhead (SM): By the "top team from NJ," I assume you mean Columbia. They are obviously an incredibly talented team with star athletes that allowed them to be very successful in relays and at our state championship meet. Seeing what they and other schools were doing week in and week out, especially during the relay circuit in April, kept our performances in perspective and motivated our girls to work harder to try and reach that level. Having so many great teams in New Jersey no doubt pushed us to the successes we achieved this season, which is culminating with this unbelievable opportunity to compete at NTN. 

On a related note, I do want to point out that in a head-to-head dual meet, I think we would be much closer to Columbia. I think we could possibly beat them based on our depth, which is not represented in a state championship format where a handful of stars can carry a team. 

NTN: Mariah Browne seems to be the leader on the track, so-to-speak.  What's it been like having such a great athlete as Mariah lead the squad this season?

SM: Mariah did have a great season, and the points she scored were no doubt a key to our success. She is a pleasure to coach. Her outstanding work ethic and positive attitude helps set the tone for our team. The success she had motivates her teammates to achieve great things for themselves. We do have a lot of individuals who could be considered leaders, by word and deed, so she is not alone in the leadership category. 

NTN: Your South Brunswick team is very well rounded, having strong athlete performances on both the track and in the field events.  How do you as a coach help build up strengths across a variety of disciplines in order to create a well-rounded track and field team?

SM: We definitely pride ourselves on being a well-rounded team that covers all events. As the head coach I rely a great deal on my assistants to help us build a well-rounded team. It would be impossible for me to coach every event, so I am grateful that I have knowledgeable assistants helping me out. Track & Field is a team sport and that is very evident by the coaching structure we have.

My assistants understand the importance of what their athletes can contribute to the team effort. I look at my assistants as head coaches in their event group, and they really take ownership of their athletes' training. We also emphasize to the kids that each event is equally important, as you can obviously score the same amount of points for winning the 100 as you can for winning the discus.

My assistants are Chris Ruskie (throws), Bobby Januska (throws), Ohlaysha Hicks (hurdles and high jump), Kara Horner (distance), and Adam Nalven (pole vault). 

NTN: Heading in the July 2 event, what are your team’s goals for Nike Track Nationals?

SM: We are very excited about the opportunity compete in the first-ever outdoor NTN. We are looking forward to the many great experiences we will have in Oregon. The competition will obviously be very tough, but if we compete like we are capable of, I think being in the top-half of the team standings would be a nice accomplishment.

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