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Clearview's Dolan sets 1,600 mark

First, Bill Dolan of Clearview was chasing Luke Wiley of Williamstown. Then, Dolan was chasing Noah Culbreath of Kingsway. "I felt like I spent the whole race chasing people," Dolan said.

Clearview's Bill Dolan wins the boys Group 4 1600 meter final. (Elizabeth Robertson/Staff Photographer)
Clearview's Bill Dolan wins the boys Group 4 1600 meter final. (Elizabeth Robertson/Staff Photographer)Read more

First, Bill Dolan of Clearview was chasing Luke Wiley of Williamstown.

Then, Dolan was chasing Noah Culbreath of Kingsway.

"I felt like I spent the whole race chasing people," Dolan said.

In the end, everybody was chasing Dolan.

A Notre Dame recruit, Dolan set a meet record in winning the 1,600 meters in 4 minutes, 12.43 seconds at the South Jersey Group 4 track and field championships Friday at Egg Harbor Township.

"No way did I think that was happening," Dolan said of his time. "I just wanted to win the race. That's crazy."

In the Group 1 100 meters, Haddon Heights senior Kashif Miller slowed over the final 10 meters and still won in a blazing time of 10.67 seconds.

"I was saving a little," Miller said, with his sights set on Saturday's 200 meters as well as the 100 in the Group 1 state meet and Meet of Champions. "This is big for me, because I never won sectionals before. I always was hurt and wasn't as strong as I am now."

Miller, a Syracuse recruit, said he was nursing some "soreness" in his knee over the final 10 meters.

"I know I can run fast," Miller said.

St. Joseph junior Rocco Ordille won the 100 in Non-Public B in 10.82 seconds.

"I got off to a good start and led all the way," Ordille said. "I felt pretty comfortable."

Julia DeSpirito of Shawnee set a school record in winning the 1,600 in Group 4 in 5:00.18.

"That was my goal this year," DeSpirito said.

Penns Grove's Courtney Smith took the Group 1 400-meter hurdles for the fourth year in a row. Smith's time was 1:03.73.

"It reminded me," said Smith, an Army recruit. "I didn't remember that I had won this as a freshman."

Clearview's Dolan, who was sixth in the mile against a national field at the Penn Relays, lowered his personal-best time by nearly four seconds. He said he was pulled along by Wiley, who went out fast, and Culbreath, who led the race for most of the second and third laps.

Dolan made his move with about 250 meters to go. He passed Culbreath, pulled away, and raced home to loud cheers as the crowd sensed his chances of posting a memorable time.

"It was a tough race, going out as fast as we did," Dolan said. "I wanted it to be over. I wanted to get to the finish line as fast as I could."

ONLINE EXTRA

See and hear from Clearview's Billy Dolan, who won a 1,600-meter title.

inquirer.com/rallynj

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