Rookie senior helps Pirates capture CJ IV race
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
The West Windsor-Plainsboro South boys’ cross country team was happy that DJ Hiller finally joined it this year.
The Pirates were especially thrilled to have the senior on their squad as he helped them secure the first Central Jersey Group IV championship in program history Saturday.
”It feels pretty good,” Hiller said. “They had Brian Leung last year and they’ve had some good runners through the years. It really came together this year and a couple of the guys stepped up.”
Nobody was a bigger surprise at Thompson Park on Saturday than Hiller. He has improved steadily all season — his first after running just track for three previous years.
”DJ Hiller saved the day for us,” said Pirates coach Kurt Wayton. “It’s his first time ever in our top five. If he doesn’t get our fifth spot, we might have lost by one. It was an amazing performance, he’s an amazing kid. I always wanted to get him out.”
Hiller finished 20th overall, ahead of teammates Max Margiotta and Nick Schmidt, who usually come in ahead of him. With a third-place finish from Sam Macaluso, a fifth from Kevin Foy, ninth from Brian Schoepfer and 15th from Jeff McKee, the Pirates topped runner-up Old Bridge, 52-66, at Thompson Park.
”I’ve been improving every week,” Hiller said. “I kind of thought I might take the five-spot today.”
As a top-five finisher at sectionals, the Pirates move on to the Group IV state meet Saturday at Holmdel Park. Montgomery High School, led by Mike Stanley in 34th, finished their season in 14th.
Advancing to the Group III meet on the boys’ side was WW-P North, which overwhelmed the CJ III field with six of the top eight finishers led by Joe Rosa, who won in 15:36. It was the second straight year winning for Rosa and for the Knights. Princeton, led by Aaron Thomas’ 14th, finished sixth, just 10 points away from advancing to the group meet.
Hiller is hoping that his progress continues at the group race. It will be his first time racing on the Holmdel course. Saturday was his first time racing at Thompson Park.
”After every race, I feel I could do better,” he said. “From the beginning of the season, it’s surprising I’ve come that far. I still think I could do better.”
Hiller credits the experience he gained throughout the season for helping him come on strong at the year’s finish. Wayton uses regular-season dual meets to help along the less experienced runners.
”I feel like I’ve gotten better every race,” Hiller said. “All the other races helped. The dual meets, I gained experience, and I could play off that the rest of the way.”
The first four Pirate finishers had been there before, and used their experience to produce their finest performance of the season.
”We had the race we probably should have had on several different occasions,” Wayton said. “It’s still not racing to 100 percent, but this was our first solid race in a month. A solid race is where you come away feeling good that it’s somewhat indicative of what kind of shape you’re in. I think we represented ourselves and our team well today.”
The veterans showed plenty of improvement as well. Macaluso was seven spots and Foy was four spots better than last year.
”Sam ran great today,” Wayton said. “He’ll be able to take those shots at the end of the race in the last two weeks.
”Kevin, we recently found out, ran himself through mononucleosis. His job was to get everyone out. He led the race for first mile plus. He’ll get better as his body continues to improve.”
Schoepfer moved up from 37th at last year’s sectionals to ninth. Jeff McKee moved from 26th to 15th.
”Brian ran great,” Wayton said. “He ran a gutsy race. He was right in the thick of it. He settled in there were several Old Bridge guys right by him and he saved a little energy and blew by the Old Bridge guys. That was great.
”Jeff McKee is probably the best example of what hard work and dedication and belief in one’s self can do for us. I don’t think in many programs he’d be close to the varsity. He believes in himself and he’s durable. The last half of this race, he was passing a lot of people and just going forward the whole time. He ran a great race.”
The biggest surprise, though, was the Pirates’ fifth finisher at sectionals. A rookie senior came through with his best performance to key WW-P South’s first sectional crown.
”I wasn’t really expecting to improve so much,” Hiller said. “It’s been surprising, but it’s been good. I think I’m going to continue the sport. I think I’m going to run in college. I really like it.”

