By:Sean Moylan
Since the pole vaulters on the Bordentown Regional High School varsity track and field team win with greater or equal frequency than the Harlem Globetrotters, there is a natural tendency to take the kids for granted.
But after a 1-2-4 finish in NJSIAA Group I State track and field championship held at Egg Harbor last Friday, all of New Jersey know the names of Jimmy Snelling, Justin Selmon and Brad Colbeck — pole vaulters supreme.
Finishing in first place was Snelling with a 13-0 vault. Selmon, who also posted a 13-0, came in second. Colbeck vaulted the same 12-6 that third-place finisher Greg Buttitta did, but his mark came on more tries.
“They (the Bordentown vaulters) really haven’t lost this year. They only really beat each other,” said Bordentown head coach Charlie Miller, whose team placed in fifth in the competition with 29 points. Considering the top team, New Providence, only recorded 39 points, Bordentown would have, most likely, won it all if it had its superstar John Brodowski, who has been sidelined with an injury.
As it is, the Scotties were scheduled to have sent five boys to Wednesday’s Meet of Champions at South Brunswick.
Facing an extremely competitive field in the 1,600 on Saturday, Bordentown’s Don Fillinger took third with a personal best 4:28.10 time. Fillinger also competed in the 3,200 on Friday.
Bordentown’s Joey Minch barely missed qualifying for the Meet of Champions with his 10:25 seventh-place finish in the 3200. Minch also ran a fine 2:05 time in the 800. Bordentown senior Antoine Patterson continues to amaze all Scotties’ fans with his times in the 100. According to coach Miller, Patterson ran an incredible time of 11.0 in the trials. Then in the finals, Patterson’s 11.33 mark gave him sixth place and a ticket to compete in the Meet of Champions. Bordentown junior Kevin Kennedy has slowly but surely been improving in the discus. His 126-3 toss in the event on Friday gave him 11th place overall. Bordentown’s 4X400 relay team also finished eleventh in the competition. In the 400 hurdles, Jimmy Snelling took 15th (59.91).
Still, it was the Scotties’ pole vaulters who made the most lasting impression in the Group I meet.
“It definitely helps when you have another teammate who jumps as well as you,” said coach Miller, who is very happy with the accomplishments of his three senior vaulters.
Bordentown should do well at the Meet of Champions. As for the Group I tourney, coach Miller wants a bigger prize next year. “Next year we want to win states,” said coach Miller.
Bordentown and coach Miller can do it because all his teams do is win.
