Don Fillinger broke his own school record in the mile with a 4:52.9, 15-place time in the Meet of Champions, held on June 6 at South Brunswick High School.
By:Sean Moylan
It was just one of a series of great races run by Fillinger over the past month. Fillinger also qualified for the 3200, but chose to concentrate just on the 1600.
Bordentown Regional High School’s other great track and field athlete, John Brodowski, qualified for three events (the 400 and 110 hurdles and the high jump) but only participated in the 400 hurdles where his 57.40 time placed him 16th overall.
Joey Minch (1600) and Pat Flaherty (javelin) also participated in the Meet of Champions, but did not place in the top 20. Nonetheless, they were both an integral part in the Scotties winning their first Group I state championship ever. So was Bobby Burns, who qualified for the Meet of Champions in the pole vault.
"The season went well," said Bordentown great head coach Charlie Miller. "This team was better than last year’s team."
Bordentown’s seniors (John Brodowski, Don Fillinger, Mike White and Athony Dilemme) were all self-motivators, who were capable of getting on themselves worse than Coach Miller ever could.
Even with the loss of Brodowski (the best overall track athlete ever at the school) and Don Fillinger (the best long distance runner), the Scotties should still be highly competitive.
Bordentown finished the season with a 7-3 mark, but its losses came against three powerhouses – Willingboro, Delran and Holy Cross. Next year Coach Miller thinks his team will be so deep it can win meets with second- and third-place finishes. Bordentown will have Joe Minch, Steve Dilemme, Pat Flaherty and others back to lead the way. It’s pole vaulting team, led by Bobby Burns, should be especially strong.
Charlie Miller team don’t know how to do anything but win. Next year should be no different.
On the Bordentown girls’ side, Justine Sulia ran an excellent 5:32 time in the 1600 in the Meet of Champions.
