Sitting in third place and unhappy with the pace after the second turn of the final lap of NJSIAA Meet of Champions 1,600 meter race, Colt Neck’s Hunter Celkupa took matters into his own hands Wednesday.
Celkupa completed an indoor-outdoor MOC sweep at Pennsauken High School when he went unchallenged over the final 50 meters, winning the race in 4:12.10.
After the indoor season, Celkupa was diagnosed with capsulitis or an inflamed ligament in his foot. Doctors told him he would be out two months. However, a committed rehabilitation program had him back in three to four weeks.
Hunter Celkupa of Colts Neck starts the celebration as he crosses the finish line to win the boys 1600 meter run at the 2025 NJSIAA Meet of Champions, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in Pennsauken, N.J. Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media
“I am just blessed to be standing here on the track,” said a fired-up Celkupa. “Winning the double was my goal, but I wasn’t sure I would even be able to compete. Even if I came back, I thought I’d only be a fraction of what I was.”
“Not only did I win it, but I did it in a pretty good time.”
Joe Barrett from Christian Brothers was second in 4:12.86 followed by Kennan Byers of Randolph 4:13 and Dillon Devine (14:13.81) from Voorhees.
Celkupa, who was third in the outdoor MOC last spring, bided his time until the final lap.
“With about 300 (meters) to go, I thought the pace was a little slow,” Celkupa said. “I decided to go for it right there.”
Barrett was on his heels down the backstretch, but Celkupa opened up breathing room after the fourth turn. He gave a Quick Look behind him with 50 meters to go.
“I expected to see someone right on my tail just like in the indoor race,” Celkupa explained.
“I saved a little bit so I had an extra gear late in the race.”