By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
Tai Musari began his track and field career as a sprinter, but in recent years he’s found that he’s best at the middle and longer distances.
The Bordentown Regional High School senior qualified for the indoor Meet of Champions in two events at Saturday’s Group I state meet. Musari ran 2:03.09 for fifth place in the boys 800 meters and 4:35.14 for fifth place in the boys 1,600 meters.
”For the mile, we knew he had a shot,” said Bordentown coach Dave Misselhorn. “We were surprised pleasantly about the 8.”
Musari will have his pick of what to focus on, or he could run both, at the Meet of Champions that will be held at the Bennett Center in Toms River this Saturday. Musari is the lone representative from Bordentown. His sister, Kenny, and Emily Mezsaros, Madison Peppler and Larissa Pywowariw had qualified for the state Group I meet, but instead ran a meet at Fairleigh Dickinson University after running 4:39.62 for sixth in sectionals.
”They’re a good team,” Misselhorn said. “From what they ran initially this year, it was good.”
Northern Burlington County High will be represented at the MOC by Melvin Moore, who captured fourth place in the Group II boys high jump at 6-feet. Anthony Cargill jumped 5-10 as did Preston Towns to tie for eighth place. The top six places in each event automatically qualify for the MOC. Harrison Scott was 17th and Wyatt Million was 22nd in the 3,200 meters.
It’s Musari’s first trip to a MOC, and he got there by finding the right events for him.
”When we started out, he was a sprinter for a year or two years,” Misselhorn said. “He’s fast, but he’s not sprinter fast. We saw his stride. We saw his speed. We took that chance bringing him up to distance. He can run a 3,200, but he can also run a good 8.”
If Misselhorn was forced to make a pick, he’d say that Musari is best suited for the track, though he oversaw his season of tremendous cross country success in the longer 5-kilometer courses. His breakout senior year of cross country set him up to be a headliner this winter.
”We always like to give them a little time off,” Misselhorn said. “We told him no more than a week, but he’s someone that sometimes you have to tell him to take a week. He wants to run more.”
Musari’s base from cross country has led him to a promising indoor track and field season.
”He started much better this year,” Misselhorn said. “His fastest time in previous years was a 19-something. It was low 19s. His fastest time this year in cross country was mid-16s.
”He ran a 2:00 800 meters and a 4:36 or 4:38 mile last year, so he’s significantly better,” he added. “In the 800, he could go 1:55 or 1:56. He’s much better this year. It all started from last year or the year before.”
Now Tai Musari has the chance to run in two events at the Meet of Champions. It’s the cap to a career that has seen him take off once he found his stride, and he still has a spring season to go. Misselhorn and the Scotties can’t wait to see what’s in store after a productive indoor campaign for Musari and his teammates.
”Everyone has gotten a personal best,” Misselhorn said. “They started at one time and improved by the end, which is good.”

