From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

With Sterling’s Marquise Young and Pitman’s Nick Razze on the first two legs, Rowan ran one of the fastest 4-by-400 relays in NCAA Division 3 history Monday night.

Young and Razze ran the first two legs and Rowan won the 4-by-4 at the Widener Final Qualifier Meet in Chester, Pa., in 3:09.31.

That’s 16th-fastest in NCAA Division 3 history and No. 2 this year, only 4-100ths of a second behind Bethel of Arden Hills, Minn., which ran 3:09.27 at its own Bethel Invitational last month.

Rowan will race at the NCAA Division 3 Championships May 23-25 at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Unfortunately, no splits are available from Widener, which is ridiculous in this day and age, but Young led off, Razze – a transfer from McDaniel College in Westminster, Md., who hasn’t run an open 400 all spring – ran 2nd, Nana Agyemang of Parsippany ran the 3rd leg and Amara Conte of Ferris High in Jersey City anchored.

If anybody out there has splits, shoot ’em over my way!

Rowan’s time ranks 48th among all U.S. 4-by-4 teams this year.

The time is Rowan’s 2nd-fastest . The Profs ran a school-record 3:08.74 for 3rd place in the NCAA Division 3 Championships last May at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, N.Y. That was with Young, Agyemang, Jah’mere Beasley of Sterling and Conte.

All-Time NCAA Division 3 1,600-Meter List
3:07.24 … Mount Union, 2023, Rochester, N.Y. [Division 3]
3:07.42 … Lincoln [Pa.], 2005, Princeton, N.J. [IC4A]
3:07.78 … Wisconsin-La Crosse, 2004, Iowa City, Iowa [Musco Twilight]
3:07.82 … Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 2023, Rochester [Division 3]
3:08.10 … Mount Union, 2018, La Crosse, Wisc. [Division 3]
3:08.21 … Wisconsin-La Crosse, 2004, Decatur, Ill. [Division 3]
3:08.26 … Wesley, 2018, La Crosse, Wisc. [Division 3]
3:08.31 … Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 2013, Des Moines, Iowa [Drake Relays]
3:08.34 … Wisconsin-La Crosse, 2023, Rock Island, Ill. [Augustana Twilight Qualifier]
3:08.55 … Lincoln [Pa.], 2006, Lisle, Ill. [Division 3]
3:08.67 … Lincoln [Pa.], 1996, ???
3:08.71 … Wisconsin-La Crosse, 2005, ???
3:08.74 … Rowan, 2023, Rochester [Division 3]
3:08.81 …..… Wisconsin-La Crosse, 2023 [Division 3]
3:09.18 … Wisconsin-La Crosse, 2007, ???
3:09.20 …….. Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 2013, La Crosse, Wisc. [Division 3]
3:09.26 …..… Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 2023, Rochester, N.Y. [Division 3]
3:09.27 … Bethel, 2024, Arden Hills, Minn. [Bethel Invitational]
3:09.31 … Rowan, 2024, Chester, Pa. [Widener Final Qualifier]
3:09.38 …….. Mount Union, 2023, Rochester, N.Y. [Division 3]
3:09.38 …….. Wisconsin-La Crosse, 2023, Rochester, N.Y. [Division 3]
3:09.44 … John Carroll, 2023, Rochester [Division 3]
3:09.44 … Mount Union, 2022, Geneva, Ohio [Division. 3]
3:09.48 … Augustana, 2013, Des Moines, iowa [Drake Relays]

Cherokee senior Bobby Poplau broke a 19-year-old meet record and ran the 4th-fastest 800 in New Jersey this year, and he did it in a solo effort with nobody within 50 meters at the finish.

Poplau won the Burlington County Open 800 at Northern Burlington in 1:53.15, breaking the meet record of 1:53.58 set at Maple Shade in 2005 by Ian Waterhouse in his highly anticipated showdown with Bordentown’s Rob Novak, who went on to win the national 800 title in Greensboro.

Poplau broke the county record indoors with his 1:53.45 at Ocean Breeze, and he lowered it to 1:52.74 at Boston Nationals.

His time is No. 9 in Burlington County outdoor history and fastest in eight years, since Moorestown’s Kevin Fox ran 1:51.60 at 2016 Haddonfield Distance Night. It’s No. 1 this year in New Jersey Group 4.

Poplau took off at the gun and ran unpressed the entire race. Teammates Ben Realley, a freshman, and Tate Midora, a junior, placed 2nd and 3rd in 2:00.31 and 2:00.43, which was a PR for Midora

All-Time County Open 800 List
1:53.15 … Bobby Poplau [Cherokee], 2024
1:53.58 … Ian Waterhouse (Rancocas Valley), 2005
1:53.4h … Clayton Baloche (Lenape), 1992
1:53.5h … Vance Watson (Willingboro), 1983
1:53.84 … Dave Sitzer (Cherokee), 2000
1:54.14 … Rob Novak (Bordentown), 2005
1:54.91 … Marvin Lewis (Willingboro), 2001
1:54.94 … Colin Merrigan (Cherokee), 2012
1:55.0y … Art Milak (Bordentown), 1975
1:55.2y ……..Milak, 1974
1:55.23 … Patrick Ditmars (Cherokee), 2023

All-Time Burlington County Outdoor 800 List
1:49.84 … Rob Novak [Bordentown], 2005
1:50.8h … Vance Watson [Willingboro], 1983
1:52.1y … Greg Honsby [Rancocas Valley], 1974
1:52.37 … Matt Poskus [Cinnaminson], 2007
1:52.60 … Kevin Fox [Moorestown], 2016
1:52.65 … Ian Waterhouse [Rancocas Valley], 2004
1:52.94 … Keith Griffin [Florence], 2009
1:53.14 … Dave Sitzer [Cherokee], 2000
1:53.15 … Bobby Poplau [Cherokee], 2024
1:53.27 … Marvin Lewis [Willingboro], 2001
1:53.35 … Ahmad Rutherford [Willingboro], 2003
1:53.40 … Daveigh Brooks [Burlington City], 2016
1:53.3y … Tavo Rivera [Pemberton], 1977
1:53.57 … Isaiah Curbelo [Rancocas Valley], 2016
1:53.4y … Bryant Walker [Pemberton], 1983
1:53.4y … Clayton Baloche [Lenape], 1992
1:53.66 … Xavier Wright [Willingboro], 2011
1:53.78 … Marvin Lewis [Willingboro], 2001
1:53.84 … Ryan Garvin [Lenape], 2009

Millville’s Leah Howard, a Texas Tech true freshman, popped a javelin PR and the No. 3 throw in Red Raider history (we think) Friday morning at the Big 12 Championships in Waco, Texas.

Howard placed 6th in a loaded field with a 164-4 on her 3rd throw. Her previous PR was a 163-1 at last year’s Woodbury Relays.

Howard’s throw is No. 7 on the all-time South Jersey alumni list. There are 12 known 160-foot throwers from South Jersey.

She is tied for 36th among U.S. women with Alianna Eucker of Rutgers and Westwood High in Washington Township, Bergen County. Eucker threw 164-4 at the Penn Relays.

For some ridiculous  reason, Texas Tech’s web site doesn’t have an all-time performers list, only a top-10 performances list, which lists the same thrower 10 times. That’s truly idiotic. They do have a year-by-year list that shows only two women ahead of Howard – Hannah Carson, the 2016 Olympic Trials runner-up, threw 200-9 in 2016 and Callie Jones 165-3 in 2002.

But that doesn’t account for the possibility of someone throwing between 164-5 and those marks. I went through the “all performances” section on TFRRS for each year Texas Tech had a woman at 164-4 or over but the best mark I found was a 164-0 by Natalie Baker in 2016, so apparently Howard is No. 3 in school history.

Her 164-4 would also be No. 2 in Texas Tech history among freshmen, behind Carson’s 171-1 at the 2013 Clyde Littlefield Relays in Austin. Carson competed in one meet in 2012 in Tucson as a true freshman and threw 166-10.

Howard’s throw makes her No. 45 in NCAA Division 1 this year and No. 9 among freshmen. It’s not clear whether she’ll turn 20 before or after midnight Dec. 31. If she doesn’t, she’ll be eligible for U.S. Under-20 Nationals.

https://tf.tfrrs.org/lists/4515/2024_NCAA_Division_I_All_Schools_Rankings?gender=f

On Friday, Howard opened with a 146-11 and 159-1 before finishing the trials with her new PR. She finished with another 160-foot throw – 160-4 – a foul and then a 153-2.

169-9 … Kelly Yanucil [Bordentown], April 29, 2006, Philadelphia
169-3 … Lynlee Phillips [Shawnee], May 5, 2000, Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
168-6 … Brielle Smith [Oakcrest], April 20, 2019, Woodbury, N.J.
168-0 … Maria Jiminez [Vineland], May 13, 2016, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
166-6 … Danielle Steff [Rancocas Valley], April 10, 2021, Lawrenceville, N.J.
166-4 … Megan Sax Vander Weyden [Pennsville], May 11, 2018, Waco, Texas
164-4 … Leah Howard [Millville], May 11, 2024, Waco, Texas
163-5 … Heather Juhring [Kingsway], March 21, 2015, Winston Salem, N.C.
162-7 … Faith Blamon [Cinnaminson], May 6, 2017, Lawrenceville, N.J.
161-7 … Brenna Smith [Haddon Twp.], April 21, 2018, Durham, N.C.
161-1 … Katherine Johnston [Haddonfield], May 14, 2017, University Park, Pa.
160-4 … Alexa Gardner [Hammonton], May 26, 2022, Bloomington, Ind.

Jason Nwosu, a William and Mary sophomore from Delsea, won his 2nd straight conference shot put title over the weekend and placed in two other events.

Nwosu won the shot put with a 55-9 ¼, placed 3rd in the discus at 160-11 and took 5th in the hammer with a 180-2 at the Coastal Athletic Conference Championships in Elon, N.C.

In the shot, Nwosu won by three inches over Carlos Alexander of North Carolina A&T, who threw 55-6 1/4. Nwosu hit his 55-9 ¼ on his 1^st attempt. He has a PR of 57-11 ¾ from the Colonial Relays in Williamsburg, Va., last month. Nwosu won the shot at last year’s CAA meet (then the Colonial Athletic Conference) at William and Mary with a 54-6.

In the discus, Nwosu threw 160-11 on his 5th attempt and finished behind two North Carolina A&T throwers – junior Brayden Hodgest won with a 166-3, and Alexander took 2nd at 163-6. Nwosu threw his PR 163-5 at the Wake Forest Invitational last month in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Nwosu just missed his PR in the hammer with his 180-2 for 5th. He threw 181-11 at the CNU Blue & Silver Challenge at Christopher Newport in Newport News, Va., in March.

Nwosu ranks 3rd in William and Mary history in the shot, 8th in the discus and 10th in the hammer.

William and Mary placed 5th with 95 points, and Nwosu scored 18 of them.

Bryce Tucker, a true freshman from Pennsauken, won the 400-meter hurdles at the Big Ten Championships Sunday in Ann Arbor, Mich., with the 2nd-fastest time in Rutgers history.

Tucker ran a lifetime-best 50.61 and beat a loaded field that included Rutgers school record holder Jameson Woodell from Hunterdon Central and two other Burlington County runners – Rutgers freshman Lathan Brown from Deptford and senior Micah Wood from Rancocas Valley.

Tucker topped Illinois senior Robert Williams by five meters. Williams was 2nd in 51.24.

Woodell set the Rutgers school record of 49.82 at the NCAA East Prelims in Bloomington, Ind., in May 2022.

The No. 5 and 6 freshmen in NCAA Division 1 are now Tucker and his Pennsauken teammate Premier Wynn of Norfolk State, who ran 50.72 last weekend in the MEAC Championships.

Tucker’s previous lifetime-best was 50.96 from this past June in South Plainfield, when he won his 3rd consecutive Meet of Champions title.

His time is fastest by a South Jersey runner since Winslow graduate Reuben McCoy ran 50.07 at the Clermont (Fla.) Star Athletics Sprint Meet on June 7, 2014.

On the World Athletics Under-20 world list, Tucker drops to No. 5 in the world and No. 2 American, behind Xavier Branker, who ran 50.41 in Atlanta on Saturday. Wynn should be No. 8 and No. 3 American but is not currently listed. Both Tucker and Wynn are eligible for U.S. Under-20 Championships in Eugene next month.

Tucker broke the University of Michigan Track and Field Stadium record of 51.36 set in 2019 by Taylor McLaughlin from Scotch Plains, N.J., older brother of Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin.

He’s the first Rutgers runner ever to win the Big Ten intermediates.

All-Time South Jersey Alumni 400-Meter Hurdles List
48.37 … Reuben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], June 28, 2008, Eugene, Ore.
48.86 … Fred Sharpe [Paulsboro], May 18, 2003, Knoxville, Tenn.
49.50 … Dwight Ruff [Camden], June 12, 2003, Sacramento
50.04 … Mike Brown [Lenape], June 12, 2002, Holmdel, N.J.
50.52 … Martin Booker [Camden], May 12, 1984, Philadelphia
50.61 … Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], May 12, 2024, Ann Arbor, Mich.
50.65 … Aaron Younger [Delsea], May 28, 2010, Greensboro, N.C.
50.69 … Danyne Brown [Camden], May 30, 2003, Fairfax, Va.
50.72 … Premier Wynn [Pennsauken], May 8, 2024, Norfolk, Va.
50.84 … Nick Brown [Bridgeton], July 16, 2005, New York

A day after running a PR of 2:07.91, Shelby Whetstone ran two seconds faster.

Whetstone, a Rutgers senior from Lenape, placed 5th at the Big Ten Championships Sunday in Ann Arbor, Mich., in 2:05.58.

Her PR for two years had been 2:08.02 from a meet in Palo Alto, Calif., in April 2022, but she trimmed it to 2:07.91 in the Big Ten trials on Saturday and then had a huge breakthrough Sunday in her final conference meet.

Whetstone’s 2:05.58 is 2nd-fastest in Rutgers history, behind Kassidy Johnson’s 2:02.35 at the 2023 Tom Jones in April 2023 in Gainesville.

Her time is 7th-fastest all-time by a South Jersey native and fastest since Rancocas Valley graduate Kimarra McDonald ran 2:02.76 on July 12, 2017, at the Lignano Sabbiadoro Meeting International Sport Solidarieta at Guido Teghil Stadium in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy.

1:59.85 … Michelle DiMuro [Shawnee], June 17, 1996, Atlanta
1:59.99 … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], July 13, 2010, Liège, Belgium
2:02.20 … Kimarra McDonald [Rancocas Valley], June 2, 2012, Nashville
2:02.49 … Krista Ferrara [Vineland], June 25, 2006, Indianapolis
2:03.34 … Greta Feldman [Haddonfield], June 15, 2013, Indianapolis
2:03.88 … Nijgia Snapp [Oakcrest], May 13, 2012, Baton Rouge, La.
2:05.06 … Renee Tomlin [Ocean City], May 31, 2013, West Chester, Pa.
2:05.58 … Shelby Whetstone [Lenape], May 12, 2024, Ann Arboro, Mich.
2:06.15 … Sydney Coppolino [Sterling], May 13, 2022, Durham, N.C.
2:07.18 … Kristen Neidrach [Shawnee], Kortrijk, Belgium, July 10, 2021

Jamir Brown on Saturday became the first Riverside athlete to double at the Burlington County Open in 54 years, and he did it with a meet record in one event and a big PR in another.

Brown won the high hurdles in 13.75, breaking the meet record of 13.76 set in 2012 by Willingboro’s Isaac Williams, and he won the long jump with a 23-0 ½, nearly a foot beyond his PR of 22-1 ¼ from last week at the South Jersey Elite at Delsea.

Brown is only the second Riverside boy in meet history to win two events the same year and the first since Dean Van Ness won the shot put at 56-7 ½ and the discus at 136-5 in the 1970 meet at Bordentown.

He’s the first Riverside boy to win any event at a County meet since Michael Ramos won the intermediate hurdles in 2015.

Brown won the intermediates as a Delran sophomore in the spring of 2022 and didn’t compete last year. He’s the first Riverside boy to win either the high hurdles or long jump in County Open history.

Brown PR’d in the high hurdles earlier this month at the South Jersey Elite at Delsea with a 13.67 – No. 13 in state history, No. 6 in South Jersey history and No. 2 in New Jersey this year behind Washington Township’s Yashahya Brown, who ran 13.50 at South Jersey Elite with Jamir Brown chasing him. He’s No. 10 nationally with his 13.67 according to the MileSplit national database.

He’s also No. 1 in state history among Group 1 hurdlers, his 13.67 breaking the record of 13.95 set by Haddon Heights’ Kevin White at 1992 states at South Plainfield.

Brown’s 23-foot long jump was the best at the County Open in 16 years, since Cherokee’s Chris Steliga went 23-3 ½ at the 2008 meet at Maple Shade. It’s 10th on the all-time Open performance list. Brown is now 5th in New Jersey in the long jump and No. 2 in South Jersey behind Moorestown’s Rece Englehart, who jumped 23-11 ½ at South Jersey Elite.

All-Time Burlington County Open Long Jump List
24-1 ½ … Gerard Reynolds [Willingboro], 1989
23-7 ½ … Matt Rose [Bordentown], 1984
23-7 ……. Jerry Mathis [Kennedy], 1984
23-5 ………… Reynolds, 1990
23-4 ¾ ………Mathis, 1985
23-3 ½… Isaac Samuels [Kennedy], 1982
23-3 ½ … Chris Steliga [Cherokee], 2008
23-1 ¾… Marv Forchion [Willingboro], 1986
23-0 ½ ………. Samuels, 1983
23-0 ½ … Jamie Brown [Riverside], 2024
23-0 ……. Louis Smith [Burlington Twp], 1997

All-Time Riverside County Open Champions
[since meet was revived in 1967]
1970….. Dean Van Ness (Riverside), Discus [136-5]
1970….. Dean Van Ness (Riverside), Shot Put [56-7 ½]
1975….. Steve Ogorzalek (Riverside), Shot Put [51-2]
1982 ….. Dan Dmochoski (Riverside), 400-Meter Hurdles [52.2q]
1984 ….. Tom Williams (Riverside), Pole Vault [12-6]
1991 ….. Ron Brock (Riverside), 1,600-Meter Run [4:23.6]
2003 ….. Marcin Pawelek (Riverside), Triple Jump [41-11 ½]
2015……Michael Ramos (Riverside), 400-Meter Hurdles [56.00]

All-Time New Jersey 110-Meter Hurdles List
13.40 … Nathaniel Rayan [Scotch Plains-Fanwood], 2023
13.43 … Danyne Brown [Camden], 1999
13.46 … Cory Poole [East Orange], 2017
13.50 … Yashahya Brown [Washington Twp.], 2023
13.51 … Sincere Rhea [St. Augustine], 2019
13.52 … Todd Matthews [Notre Dame], 1998
13.55 … Jaheem Hayles [Roselle], 2019
13.59 … Gerard Reynolds [Willingboro], 1990
13.62 … Chris Stephens [Plainfield], 2001
13.66 … Sultan Tucker [Delsea], 1997
13.66 … Emmanuel Daux [Linden], 2001
13.67 … Jermaine Collier [Trenton], 2012
13.67 … Jamir Brown [Riverside], 2024

Pennsauken senior Jayden Farmer, who hit 50 feet in the shot for the first time just three weeks ago, is the newest member of the 60-foot club.

Farmer bombed a massive shot put PR of 61-3 Saturday at the Camden County Championships at Haddon Township, making him No. 4 in New Jersey this year.

It’s been quite a few weeks for Farmer, who played basketball for Pennsauken and never competed in indoor track. Farmer had a PR of 33-2 ½ as a freshman, 41-2 as a sophomore and 48-7 as a junior. His first 50-foot throw in a major meet just came at the Woodbury Relays, when he placed 5th at 53-0 ¾. He extended his PR to 55-10 ½ at the South Jersey Elite at Delsea earlier this month before chucking a PR of 5 ½ feet Saturday.

Farmer’s throw is No. 15 in South Jersey history and the best throw by a Camden County shot putter in 28 years, since future NFL 1st-round pick Ron Dayne of Overbrook threw 64-6 ¼ to win the 1996 state Group 4 title at South Plainfield.

Farmer opened with throws of 52-1 ½, 52-6 ½ and 53-0 before popping the 61-3 on his 4th and final attempt.

Pennsauken’s previous school record was 58-11 ½ by Howard Clark at the 1998 Meet of Champions, also at South Plainfield. Clark played football at Miami and was in training camp with the Eagles.

South Jersey now has three 60-footers this year. Hammonton junior Anthony Liakhnovich set an Atlantic County record of 62-10 at the South Jersey Open at Delsea earlier this month, and Delsea’s Jonathan Harris threw 60-9 1/2 at the Woodbury Relays.

All-Time South Jersey Shot Put List
68-8 ½ … Braheme Days Jr. [Bridgeton] 2012
64-10 ½ … Jon Kalnas [Paulsboro], 1997
64-6 ¼ … Ron Dayne [Overbook], 1996
64-5 … Ray Wilks [Bridgeton], 1995
64-4 ¼ … Chris Robinson [Penns Grove], 1990
63-2 ½ … Jason Nwosu [Delsea], 2022
63-0 … Lou Gordon [Bridgeton], 1995
62-10 ¼ … Nick Pulli [West Deptford], 2014
62-10 … Anthony Liakhnovich [Hammonton], 2024
61-11 ¾ … Kamron Kobolak [Cinnaminson], 2018
61-10 ½ … Harry Dilks [Pitman], 1971
61-6 … Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 2013
61-4 ½ … Bubba Green [Millville], 1976
61-4 … Kofi Yamoah [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
61-3 … Jayden Farmer [Pennsauken], 2024
61-2 ½ … Matthew Huckabee, [Timber Creek], 2010
60-11 ½ … Ryan Knight [Delsea], 1996
60-11 ……. Lucciano Pizarro [Cherokee], 2019
60-9 ½ … Jonathan Harris [Delsea], 2024
60-7 ½ … Ell Ash [Willingboro], 2004
60-6 ½ … Tati White [Willingboro], 1994
60-5 ¼ … Chris Bolden [Edgewood], 1990
60-3 … Dontaye Rivera [Pleasantville], 2012
60-1 … Bill Banks [Wilson], 1973
60-1 … Damere Lassiter [Glassboro], 2023

All-Time South Jersey Combined Shot Put List
70-8 … Braheme Days Jr. [Bridgeton] 2012 [i[
64-10 ½ … Jon Kalnas [Paulsboro], 1997 [o]
64-6 ¼ … Ron Dayne [Overbook], 1996 [o]
64-5 … Ray Wilks [Bridgeton], 1995 [o]
64-4 ¼ … Chris Robinson [Penns Grove], 1990 [o]
63-2 ½ … Jason Nwosu [Delsea], 2022 [o]
63-1 ¾ … Nick Pulli [West Deptford], 2014 [i]
63-0 … Lou Gordon [Bridgeton], 1995 [o]
62-10 … Anthony Liakhnovich [Hammonton], 2024 [o]
62-7 ¾ … Kamron Kobolak [Cinnaminson], 2018 [i]
61-10 ½ … Harry Dilts [Pitman], 1971 [o]
61-6 … Josh Awotunde [Delsea], 2013 [o]
61-4 ½ … Bubba Green [Millville], 1976 [o]
61-4 … Kofi Yamoah [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013 [o]
61-3 … Jayden Farmer [Pennsauken], 2024
61-2 ¼ … Matthew Huckabee, Timber Creek [2010] [o]
60-11 ……. Lucciano Pizarro [Cherokee], 2019 [o]
60-10 ¾ … John Purvis [Winslow Twp.], 2020 [i]
60-3 … Donate Rivera, Pleasantville [2012] [o]
60-1 … Damere Lassiter [Glassboro], 2023
60-0 ½ … Ell Ash, Willingboro [2004] [i]

This is a rarity: The three-fastest intermediate hurdlers in South Jersey are from Group 1 schools.

Glassboro senior Cartrell Moore ran 54.11 at the South Jersey Elite at Delsea earlier this month, Gloucester senior Jaden Garris ran 54.35 in the same race and Palmyra senior Abdulazeez Iyiola ran 54.32 Saturday at the Burlington County Open to give South Jersey three Group 1 hurdlers under 54.40 for the first time ever.

There have only been two years – 1997 and 2007 – where two broke 55. That was Fred Sharpe of Paulsboro and Woodbury’s Andy Carson in 1997 and Schalick teammates Jeremy Simkins and Matt Kates in 2007.

The only other intermediate hurdler from South Jersey who’s gone sub-55 this year is Cherry Hill East junior Ashraf Maklache, who ran 54.74 at the South Jersey Elite.

Moore, Abdulazeez and Garris now own the 7th-fastest, 10th-fastest and 11th-fastest Group 1 times in South Jersey history. The intermediate hurdles have been contested at 400 meters in New Jersey since 1980.

These three hurdles are also ranked No. 1, 2 and 3 among all New Jersey Group 1 hurdlers, and the 4th-ranked Group 1 hurdler is actually Salem junior Anthony Parker, who ran 56.09 last week at the Salem County Championships.

Overall, it looks like Moore is 3rd in New Jersey, Abdulazeez is 5th and Garris is 6th, although MileSplit hasn’t updated its database yet with all Saturday meets.

Abdulazeez is defending state Group 1 champion with a 54.53 last year in Somerset. Moore was 2nd in that race at 54.60 and Garris placed 6th in 57.17.

51.62 … Fred Sharpe [Paulsboro], 1997
53.50 … Chris Mesiano [Schalick], 2015
53.71 … Will Brown [Palmyra], 2006
53.82 … Stephon Bell [Penns Grove], 2010
53.84 … Andy Carson [Woodbury], 1997
53.87 … Jeremy Simkins [Schalick], 2007
54.11 … Cartrell Moore [Glassboro], 2024
54.15 … Matt Kates [Schalick], 2007
54.15 … Jason Stefanski [Penns Grove], 2016
54.32 … Abdulazeez Iyiola [Palmyra], 2024
54.35 … Jaden Garris [Gloucester City], 2024
54.35 … Bryan Smith [Burlington City], 2001
54.38 … Gerrit Kemps [Haddonfield], 1993
53.5h … Don Dmochowski [Riverside], 1982
54.50 … Shane Stranahan [Penns Grove], 2011
54.61 … Joe Kidd [Paulsboro], 1988
54.71 … Nate Harley [Pleasantville], 1994
54.91 … William Barnes [Salem], 2004
54.9h … Bob Howard [Palmyra], 1981

Lilliah Gordon ran one of the fastest 3,200s in state history Friday night at the Glenn Loucks Invitational at White Plains High in West Chester County, New York

Gordon placed 3rd in a loaded field in 10:22.20, which is 4th-fastest in South Jersey history and No. 22 in state history and 2nd-fastest in New Jersey this year, behind only Paul VI’s Shaelan McNally, who ran 10:18.93 at Cherokee Night of Races last month.

Gordon’s previous PR was a 10:26.49 in March at the indoor Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze, where she placed 2nd to Rosemary Shay of Middletown South, who ran 10:26.44.

She missed the Burlington County record by only 18-100ths of a second. It’s 10:22.02 and was set by Cherokee’s Megan Lacy when she placed 3rd at the 2012 Meet of Champions at Old Bridge.

Gordon came through 3,000 meters in an official 9:45.19, which breaks her PR of 9:45.66 from the Penn Relays last month. That’s No. 3 in South Jersey history – behind Olympian Marielle Hall of Haddonfield at the 2010 Penn Relays [9:40.23] and Lacy at the 2012 Penn Relays [9:44.72]. It’s No. 14 in state history.

Gordon came through the first 800 in 2:34.04 and then split 2:37.00, 2:37.99 and 2:33.21 for her last three 800s.

On Saturday at the Burlington County Open, she won the 800 in a PR 2:17.65 and anchored Northern’s winning 3,200-meter relay team, which set a school record of 9:42.68 [and also included Zoe Chou, Kayla Leonhardt and Emma Price]. She’s the first girl from Northern ever to win the 800 at a County Open, and Northern’s 4-by-8 win was its first ever at the Open as well.

ALL-TIME N.J. 3,200 LIST
9:53.29 … Angelina Perez [Lakeland Regional], 2022
9:59.34 … Charlotte Bednar [The Lawrenceville School], 2021
10:10.24 … Abby Loveys [Randolph], 2019
10:12.73 … Dana Giordano [Bernards], 2012
10:12.8h … Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1983
10:13.44 … Ashley Higginson [Colts Neck], 2007
10:15.02 … Sarah Disanza [High Point Reg.], 2013
10:15.82 … Alexa Westley [Warren Hills], 2019
10:16.46 … Molly Malague [Metuchen], 2022
10:17.18 … Melanie Thompson [Voorhees], 2008
10:17.28 … Katie McCafferty [Oak Knoll], 2008
10:18.08 … Tilly O’Connor [St. Rose], 2023
10:18.0h … Jodie Bilotta [North Hunterdon], 1987
10:18.24 … Mackenzie Barry [Mendham], 2012
10:18.34 … Lily Shapiro [Colts Neck], 2021
10:18.93 … Shaelan McNally [Paul VI], 2024
10:18.7h … Janet Smith [North Edison], 1983
10:19.31 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2008
10:19.37 … Julia Trethaway [West Morris Central], 2019
10:21.46 … Grace Dwyer [Nottingham], 2015
10:22.02 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2012
10:22.20 … Lilliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 2024
10:22.87 … Courtney Thompson [St. John Vianney], 2014

ALL-TIME S.J. 3,200 LIST
10:12.8h ….. Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1983
10:18.93 … Shaelan McNally [Paul VI], 2024
10:19.31 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2009
10:22.02 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2012
10:22.20 … Lilliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 2024
10:27.44 … Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.], 2017
10:28.6h….. Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2001
10:29.28 … Rachel Vick [Kingsway], 2017
10:30.57 … Dina Iacone [Washington Twp.], 2012
10:32.4h….. Mindy Rowand [Sterling], 1985
10:33.22 … Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace], 2012
10:33.25 … Megan Venables [Highland], 2011
10:33.85 … Sarah Naticchia [Haddonfield], 2021
10:34.79 … Theresa Cattuna [Cherry Hill East], 2007
10:35.59 … Amanda Goetschius [Delsea], 2007
10:37.47 … Meghan McGlinchey [West Depford], 2009
10:37.53 … Vanessa Wright [Haddonfield], 2005
10:39.15 … Devon Grisbaum [Ocean City], 2015