By: Sean Moylan
"It’s just a beginning," said Bordentown Regional High School varsity indoor track and field coach Charlie Miller in an almost giddy tone after his boys’ sprint medley relay squad smashed the state record at the NJSIAA Group I Relay Championships at Princeton’s Jadwin Gym this past Saturday.
A team consisting of Freddie Mendenhall (a 52.8 second split time in the 400), Marvin Carter (a 25.2 second split in the 200), Dan Millian (a 24.6 second time in the 200) and Rob "Super" Novak (800 meters) combined to run a 3:39.43 time in the SMR, which easily topped Haddonfield’s previous record of 3:41.38.
Of course, when "Super" Novak, the anchor runner, only has to catch up to one runner to win, bet on him every time.
"In the sprint medley I only had to pass one guy from Shore Regional," said Novak, who was proud of the position his teammates were able to put him in.
While Miller was also extremely pleased with Mendenhall’s 52.8 second split in the 200, he marveled at Novak’s ability to come through in the clutch time and time again.
"Rob Novak ran a 1:56.5 split time after running a 4:22 mile," said Miller, in astonishment.
Novak’s 4:22 mile time enabled Bordentown’s distance medley relay team to take 2nd place overall with a 10:57.81 time.
"That’s the best we’ve ever run indoors," said Miller.
Ironically, Novak had woken up Saturday morning thinking he might struggle in the meet.
"We had a hard week, so we took Friday off. When I woke up in the morning on Saturday, my legs didn’t feel 100 percent but I was hoping I’d do good," said Novak.
"I came through the first 800 meters (of the mile) running a 2:10. I felt good so I tried to do it again."
While others’ times suffered far worse times in their second 800 meters, Novak ran at about the same pace (2:12.9).
"This guy from Roselle Catholic he was ahead by 90 meters and I caught up and lost by just 5 meters," said Novak. As always, Novak thanked his family for their undying support.
Chris "Never Quit" Phipps started Bordentown off with a fine 3:32 plus time in the 1200.
Then Dan Millian ran the 400 in a solid 56.1 seconds.
But, Mendenhall’s fine 2:05.5 split time in the 800 had put Novak in position to make his big move in the mile. It was huge.
Mendenhall, Carter, Millian and Novak also won the 4×400 relay with a 3:37.2 time.
Mendenhall was the big hero in that one. His 53.1-second opening leg time put Bordentown in first place and gave the Scotties a tremendous psychological advantage in that race. Bordentown lost the lead momentarily but Millian and Novak (52.1) were able to re-establish it with solid runs.
With 28 points, Bordentown placed second overall in the state behind Shore Regional. The meet left Miller wishing he had brought a few more relay teams and throwers along for the trip to Jadwin Gym.
"We only entered three races so winning . . . it wasn’t even a consideration," said Miller. "But we almost won.’
On the girls’ side, the Scotties’ DMR team took 18th place overall, Meagan Davis ran a 4:35 1200 meter race, Marie Minch ran a 70 second time in the 400, Tina Della Fave ran a 2:54 time in the 800 and Amanda Pone posted a 6:16 time in the mile.
"For her (Pone) . . . that’s awesome," added Miller.
Della Fave (a 70 second 400), Davis (a 32 second 200), Minch (a 34.5 second 200) and Pone (a 2:58 800) also competed in the sprint medley relay.
On January 12th, Bordentown competed at another huge indoor event at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Running in his first 600 meter race ever Novak posted a 1:25.1 first-place time.
"I thought he’d (Novak) run even faster," said Miller. "He’s ranked sixth in the 600 (in NJ). In the 800, he’s ranked fifth in the country indoors."
Mendenhall, Millian, Carter and Novak won the 4×400 relay easily with a time of 3:39.
"I’d like to see them at 3:20 in the spring time," Miller said.
Individually, Novak won the mile with a 4:45 time. Mendenhall, Millian, Carter and Mike Brown all competed in the 200. Phipps ran a 5:21 mile but in practices he is consistently around five minutes flat. Mike Brown (a 2:36 time) and Kevin O’Connor (a 2:40 time) each competed in the 800 for Bordentown.
On the girls’ side, Bordentown’s 4×400 relay team (Jazmine Paden, Della Fave, Pone and Minch) placed third at the FDU meet. Individually, Davis and Minch competed in the 80 while Paden competed in the 200 and Della Fave competed in the 55-meter hurdles.
"When we go to these meets we’re always the only small school there," said Miler, who thanked Tony Hanneman for his help with the sprinters. However, Bordentown is often one of the more successful schools at these meets too.
Bordentown was scheduled to have competed in a meet yesterday (Wednesday).
This Saturday, Bordentown is scheduled to compete in the New Balance Games at the NYC Armory.
Bordentown could send athletes to the Penn Relays and the nationals in the coming months. Coach Miller is just waiting to find out who is going where. Novak, for one, is getting invited to more meets than he can possibly attend. It’s good to be king.

