Dylan Fitzpatrick was the top underclass javelin thrower in South Jersey and No. 5 in the state and became the first Burlington Township boy to ever win a sectional javelin title.
Fitzpatrick’s progression is eye-opening. He threw 125-0 as a freshman in 2022 and 145-3 as a sophomore.
But in his first meet of his junior year, he threw a school-record 170-5 at the Don Danser Relays at Rancocas Valley – a quick 25-foot PR to open the season. At the Central Jersey Group 3 meet at Jackson Liberty, he improved 177-4, winning by 17 feet.
Teammate Dylan Zerillo, a senior, was 3rd with a 159-0, and junior Anthony Barber took 5th with a 151-10. Those 18 points helped Burlington Township place 4th in team scoring with 52 points.
Fitzpatrick became Burlington Township’s first thrower to win a sectional title since Jaehlan Joyner won the shot at the 2016 CJ-3 meet at Northern Burlington with a 52-5 ½ and the Falcons’ first underclassman to win a sectional title since junior Eriq Morris won the Central Jersey Group 2 800 in 2009 at Monmouth Regional in 1:58.71.
Fitzpatrick then placed 2nd at states at Delsea, less than 2 ½ feet behind senior Evan Brooks of Old Tappan. He was the No. 2 South Jersey finisher at the Meet of Champions at Pennsauken, behind only runner-up Miles Acchione of Lenape.
His 177-4 is the best throw by a Burlington County underclassman since Nick Mirabelli of Rancocas Valley threw 213-5 to win the Burlington County Open in 2017 at R.V.
Burlington County 175-Foot Javelin Club [new javelin since 2003]
227-10 … Nick Mirabelli [Rancocas Valley], 2017
224-10 … Curtis Thompson [Florence], 2014
216-6 … Chris Mirabelli [Holy Cross], 2014
204-4 … Kevin Burr Jr. [Rancocas Valley], 2023
201-1 … Sean Biehn [Burlington City], 2006
195-10 … Miles Acchione [Lenape], 2024
192-6 … Matt Rafferty [Northern Burlington], 2012
192-3 … Shane McDevitt [Cinnaminson], 2014
191-6 … Robert Marks [Rancocas Valley], 2016
187-8 … Jerry Fusco [Holy Cross], 2016
187-0 … Jeremy Wilbur [Moorestown], 2013
181-3 … Matthew Dash [Willingboro], 2011
180-1 … Justin Nykiel [Cherokee], 2010
178-5 … Shaun Schaeffer [Cinnaminson], 2011
177-9 … Matthew Gross [Cherokee], 2016
177-4 … Dylan Fitzpatrick [Burlington Twp.], 2024
177-0 … Warren Oliver [Palmyra], 2009
176-2 … Jarrett Braitwaite [Willingboro], 2014
175-8 … John Szymanek [Seneca], 2010
175-2 … Kyle McDevitt [Cinnaminson], 2011
175-2 … Adam Rotsides [Northern Burlington], 2008
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 