HHS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
By: Rudy Brandl
Tyler Szwarc does most of his best work in hurdling events, but he made a major contribution of a different kind to a historic victory in Saturday’s State Group 4 Relay Championships at Jadwin Gym.
The Hillsborough High junior matched his personal-best in the 400 with a split of 52.3 seconds on the second leg of the distance medley. Szwarc received the baton from teammate Fredy Irizzary and kept his team in first place before handing off to Mike Bitten, who stayed close enough to the leaders to give anchorman Brian Dennis a chance to win it.
Hillsborough posted a winning time of 10:36.10, just 0.22 seconds in front of perennial powerhouse CBA. The victory was the first-ever for the HHS boys in the distance medley on the Princeton University track.
"It was really crazy," Szwarc said. "I don’t run the 400 a lot, but I just went out there and ran as hard as I could."
Szwarc, who also competed on the fifth-place shuttle hurdles unit, is the Hillsborough Beacon Athlete of the Week.
"He’s having a great season," HHS head coach Rich Refi said. "He’s going to be very valuable for us this year."
Refi has enjoyed coaching both Szwarc boys, including older brother Tim, another standout hurdler who graduated last June. While Tim is now studying engineering at Cornell University, his younger brother is breaking all his family records. Tyler even broke their father Hank’s 110 high hurdles personal-best (14.8) with a 14.7 performance last spring.
Szwarc will be among the many Raiders looking to qualify for the NJSIAA Meet of Champions this weekend. He figures his best shot will be in the 55 hurdles, where he currently owns a share of the school record (7.5).
Even if he doesn’t qualify for the M of C indoors, Szwarc should be in the hunt in the spring outdoor campaign. He finished fourth in the 400 hurdles at last year’s Central Jersey Group 4 Championships but did not place at the State Group 4 meet. Szwarc also had a big day at the Somerset County meet last spring, winning the 400 hurdles and finishing second in the 110 highs.
Szwarc wasn’t yet thinking about the spring last weekend. He was still savoring Saturday’s sweet victory in the distance medley.
"Just to beat CBA is a big thing, but beating everyone in the state is even bigger," Szwarc said. "I’ll never forget it. It’s definitely going to be one of the bigger moments of my track career."
Szwarc still has plenty of time to create more highlights and memories, both indoors and outdoors.