Nicole Pompei, Chrissy Finkel (PA) 12-0

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http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... /802090349

Finkel, Pompei golden
BY BRENDAN KUTY
DAILY RECORD
Saturday, February 9, 2008

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TOMS RIVER -- Every Sunday, Hanover Park's Nicole Pompei and Chrissy Finkel of Montville endure an hour-long trek to Vertical Assault in Pennsylvania to train with some of the nation's best pole vault instructors.
On Friday night, the friends put on a clinic of their own.

Pompei and Finkel each hit 12-feet at the Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex in Toms River. The mark was good enough to award Pompei with gold in North 2, Group II and Finkel with a first-place finish in North 1, Group II.

Finkel, last year's indoor state champion, was at the top of her game. The junior entered at 10-6 and didn't miss an attempt until 12-0, where she nailed the height on her second try, establishing a new indoor personal best.

"I've been trying to get 12 for a really long time," said Finkel, whose previous best mark was the 11-10 she jumped at the State Relay Championships.

Pompei, also a junior, was equally impressive. She persevered through two misses at 12-feet to finally nail the mark on her final attempt.

Hornets head coach Ryan MacNaughton noted her switch to a bigger pole as the key ingredient to Pompei's success.

"She's fast and strong," he said. "It helps to get on a bigger pole. If you can get on bigger poles, you'll jump higher."

After securing their individual titles, the girls decided to attempt 12-4. And even though neither could clear the mark, both Finkel and Pompei said they enjoyed competing alongside one another in a pressure-free environment.

"It's good to jump with Chrissy," Pompei said. "We both work really hard. We don't want to rip out each other's throats or anything."

Despite having an off day, Melissa Meggiolaro of Whippany Park won the North 2, Group I competition. The senior stuck 10-feet, a foot and a half below the personal best she reached at the Morris County Championships. Her freshman sister, Michelle Meggiolaro, also placed, clearing 7-6. Andrew Brennan, a junior, took fourth with an 11-foot jump.

Butler sophomore Monica Loranger placed with a 7-6.

Bianca Reo took second in behind Finkel. The Parsippany senior, who's only other pole vault action this season came on Jan. 4 at the Iron Hills Conference Championships, soared 10-6 on her second try. Reo missed three weeks due to a strained left foot before being medically cleared on Wednesday.

Morris Hills' senior duo of Sasha Killeen and Kevin Southward notched unusual sub-par performances. Southward hit 11-feet for fifth place while Killeen, who's routinely cleared 12-feet, couldn't stick his opening height.

"I usually come in at 12," Killeen said. "I thought I'd come in at 11-6 today, just to get used to the track. That obviously didn't work out very well."

Multi-eventer David Cariello of Morristown earned fourth place in North 1, Group III. The junior matched his season best by nailing 12-6 on his second attempt. Roxbury's Kyle Chowhan landed fifth with a 12-6 jump, also matching his season high.

Randolph sophomore Ali Hashemi earned silver in North 1, Group III with an 11-foot leap while classmate Sean Pham took fourth (10-0).

The Colonials' Erin Krieg nailed North 1, Group III silver, hitting a personal best 8-6.

All scoring jumpers qualified for Group championships.

The results of the North 1, Group II competition have yet to be confirmed due to eligibility problems with two Northern Valley vaulters.

The event was originally scheduled to take place during the state sectional championships at the Jersey City Armory. However, it was switched because of the Armory's unwillingness to allow the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association to store its pole vault equipment at the facility.