From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Mystery solved: Clayton’s Alex Osayemi did run on Alabama’s 1,600-meter relay team at NCAAs last weekend in Fayetteville.

Easy to miss considering there are no names listed in either the live results or the *.pdf event results – way to go NCAA and FlashResults! – and he is not listed among the Alabama runners who were scheduled to run before the race began.

According to the official start list, Mouatez Abderrazek Sikiou, Tarsis Gracious Orogot, David Thid and Samuel Ogazi were scheduled to run for Alabama.

But according to Alabama’s web site, Osayemi and not Thid ran the 3^rd leg for the Crimson Tide, who placed 2^nd in 3:03.60. The site says Sikiou and Orogot ran the first two legs, and Samuel Ogazi, the national 400 champ, anchored.

If that is correct, Osayemi split 45.90, handing off to Ogazi at 2:17.95. Ogazi anchored in 45.65.

That 3:03.60 is 4^th-fastest in Alabama history. Alabama had run 3:04.39 earlier in the indoor season at Clemson with Osayemi leading off.

Alabama ran 3:02.29 in February in the Tiger Paw Invitational at Clemson with Sikiou, Orogot, Thid and Ogazi. That time was 4^th-fastest in the world during the indoor season. The 3:03.60 was 14^th-fastest in the world this year but not eligible for the U.S. list because Sikiou is Algerian, Orogot is from Uganda and Ogazi is from Nigeria. All four would have to be from the U.S. to be eligible for the U.S. list, but Alabama used three international runners and one from Clayton.

So Osayemi becomes an All-America in his first season of collegiate track. Osayemi ran 46.80 in Albuquerque in February, which made him the 2^nd-fastest freshman in the SEC this winter. At Clayton, his indoor PR was 48.57 at last year’s Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze. Outdoors he ran 46.08 when he won broke the meet record at the Meet of Champions at Pennsauken. That time is No. 3 in state history behind Clayton Parros of Seton Hall Prep (45.71 in 2009 in Albuqurque) and Dennis Mitchell of Edgewood (46.02 in Elmhurst, Ill., in 1984).

Alabama opens its outdoor season this weekend at the Raleigh Relays.

In his first outdoor meet for Syracuse, Riverside’s Jamir Brown ran the fastest time in NCAA Division 1 on the opening weekend of outdoor track.

Brown ran 13.49 in the trials of the 110-meter high hurdles at the South Florida Alumni Invitational. The wind was 2.0 meters per second, maximum allowable for record and list purposes. Brown did not race in the final.

Brown’s previous PR over the 42-inch highs was 13.60 in the trials of the New Jersey Athletic Conference meet in Ewing last May as a Rowan freshman. That is the NCAA Division 3 record.

His 13.49 is 4^th-fastest all-time by a South Jersey hurdler and fastest in 10 years, since Willingboro’s Isaac Samuels ran 13.43 at the 2016 Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif.

Syracuse is one of the few Division 1 programs in the country that doesn’t have an all-time top-10 performance list in the records section of its web site. I went back as far as I could using TFRRS, and Brown’s time is 4th-fastest since 2010. It’s pretty much impossible to research before that, but hopefully Syracuse’s sports information office gets to work and puts some all-time lists together.

Here’s what I found since 2010, which is as far back as I can go:

13.28 … Jaheem Hayles, 2023, Austin
13.42 … Freddie Crittenden III, 2017, Coral Gables, Fla.
13.44 … Jarret Eaton, 2012, Jacksonville, Fla.
13.49 … Jamir Brown, 2026, Tampa
13.59 … Donald Pollitt II, 2015, Ithaca, N.Y.
13.72 … Andrew Goss, 2018, Coral Gables, Fla.
13.74 … Emanuel Joseph, 2025, Winston-Salem, N.C.
13.84 … Matt Moore, 2018, Coral Gables, Fla.
13.79 … Amadou Gueye, 2013, Princeton
13.92 … David Gilstrap, 2016, Jacksonville, Fla.
13.96 … Richard Floyd, 2019, Charlottesville, Va.
13.98 … Naseem Smith, 2025, Winston-Salem, N.C.

It looks like that 13.49 is tied for 10^th all-time among New Jersey hurdlers

All-Time New Jersey 110-Meter Hurdles List
12.93 … Renaldo Nehemiah [Scotch Plains-Fanwood], Aug. 19, 1981, Zürich
12.94 … Jack Pierce [Woodbury], June 22, 1996, Atlanta
13.08 … Jeff Porter [Franklin Twp.], June 30, 2012, Eugene, Ore.
13.12 … Anwar Moore [Camden], May 5, 2007, Modesto, Calif.
13.25 … Dudley Dorival [Ewing], Aug. 9, 1995, Edmonton, Alberty [Canada]
13.35 … Devin Hill [Trenton], April 21, 2012, Charlottesville, Va.
13.36 … Todd Matthews [Notre Dame], July 12, 2012, Budapest, Hungary
13.43 … Isaac Williams [Willingboro], April 16, 2016, Walnut, Calif.
13.48 … Sincere Rhea [St. Augustine], May 12, 2023, Raleigh, N.C.
13.49 … Chris Serrao [East Brunswick], May 30, 2025, Jacksonville
13.49 … Jamir Brown [Riverside], March 20, 2026, Tampa

All-Time South Jersey 110-Meter Hurdles List
12.94 … Jack Pierce [Woodbury], June 22, 1996, Atlanta
13.12 … Anwar Moore [Camden], May 5, 2007, Modesto, Calif.
13.43 … Isaac Williams [Willingboro], April 16, 2016, Walnut, Calif.
13.48 … Sincere Rhea [St. Augustine], May 12, 2023, Raleigh, N.C.
13.49 … Jamir Brown [Riverside], March 20, 2026, Tampa
13.51 … Martin Booker [Camden], June 7, 1986, Indianapolis
13.54 … Sultan Tucker [Delsea], May 22, 2004, St-Martin, France
13.49 … Jamir Brown [Riverside], March 20, 2026, Tampa
13.77 … Jeffrey Young [Camden], May 11, 2022, Bloomington, Ind.
13.78 … Greg Foster [Lumberton], May 11, 2025,
13.81 … Anthony Acklin [Triton], May 13, 2005, Cedar Falls, Iowa

In her first outdoor college meet, Virginia freshman Hannah Byrd-Leitner cleared a lifetime-best 13-5 ¼ at the Virginia Opener in Charlottesville.

That ties the No. 4 clearance in school history and is No. 2 among freshmen, behind only Sam Romano’s 14-0 ½ in Raleigh in 2023.

Byrd-Leitner, from Moorestown, had a previous personal-best 13-3 from an indoor meet last month in a meet in Blacksburg, Va. That is No. 6 in school history indoors and No. 2 among freshmen.

On Saturday, Byrd-Leitner opened at 12-3 ½ and cleared on her 1^st attempt. She also cleared 12-9 ½ on her 1^st attempt and then 13-3 ¼ on her 2^nd to clinch the win. She had the bar moved up to 13-5 ¼ and cleared on her 1^st attempt. She also took three attempts at 13-7 ¼.

Her 13-5 ¼ is 4^th-best on the all-time South Jersey performance list. Millville’s Kaitlyn Dermen cleared 14-4 in Basking Ridge in July 2024, Stephanie Maugham of Shawnee cleared 14-0 ¾ in Fresno in April 2002 and Moorestown graduate Anna Heim cleared 13-8 in Springfield, Mass., in May 2010.

Byrd-Leitner is 11^th in NCAA Division 1 after one weekend of the outdoor season and the top freshman in the country.

The qualifying standard for USATF Under-20 Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene in June is 13-7 ¼. Byrd-Leitner would need to turn 21 after Dec. 31 to be eligible if she clears 13-7 ¼ this spring.

Junior Brandon Lamon anchored in 1:55.99 and Eastern placed 2^nd in the sprint medley at Virginia Beach Nationals Sunday with the 8^th-fastest time in South Jersey history.

Sophomore Paul Moore and junior Terry Bradley-Cook ran the 200s for the Vikings, coming through in 46.00, and senior Ashton Gage split 49.30 for 400 meters to move Eastern into 2^nd place. Lamon held that spot, and Eastern finished behind only an unknown, un-identified school that ran 3:30.95. No city or state listed in the results and no runners listed. Weak. If you’re going to call yourself a national meet you’ve got to do better than this.

Anyway, Eastern’s time is 2^nd-fastest on the all-time Camden County list behind only Pennsauken’s 3:29.31 at THE TRACK Nationals in Boston in 2023.

Williamstown won the previous heat in in 3:35.82, good enough to place 4^th overall. Their time is 4^th-fastest all-time in Gloucester County. Senior Brandon Brown and senior Jasiah Gibbons ran the 200s, junior Ian Israel Jr. the 400 and senior Dominic Burgio the 800.

All-Time South Jersey Indoor Sprint Medley List
3:26.14 … Winslow Twp., 2025
3:27.60 … Vineland, 2003
3:29.07 … Washington Twp., 2009
3:29.31 … Pennsauken, 2023
3:30.01 … Cherokee, 2002
3:30.35 … Kingsway, 2022
3:30.45 … Lenape, 2001
3:31.29 … Eastern, 2026
3:31.73 … Vineland, 2004
3:32.36 … Rancocas Valley, 2016
3:32.90 … Washington Twp., 2010
3:33.22 … Pleasantville, 2012
3:33.99 … Pleasantville, 2007
3:34.12 … Absegami, 2010
3:34.42 … Winslow Twp., 2026
3:34.52 … Pleasantville, 2002
3:34.86 … Rancocas Valley, 2017
3:34.88 … Vineland, 2002
3:34.96 … Bordentown, 2005
3:35.0h ….. Edgewood, 1986
3:35.76 … Vineland, 2013
3:35.82 … Wiliamstown, 2026
3:35.86 … Rancocas Valley, 2015

Williamstown senior Jasiah Gibbons placed 4th in the 60-meter hurdles final at Virginia Beach Nationals Sunday afternoon.

Gibbons, racing for the third day in a row after qualifying Friday and semifinals Saturday, ran 8.01 in the final. He PR’d with 7.94 in the semifinals.

Gibbons moved up to 7th-fastest in South Jersey history and 15th-fastest in state history.

All-Time New Jersey 60-Meter Hurdles List
7.63 … Cory Poole [East Orange Campus], 2017
7.64 … Sincere Rhea [St. Augustine], 2019
7.65 … Yashahya Brown [Washington Twp.], 2024
7.73 … Sultan Tucker [Delsea], 1997
7.74 … Yashahya Brown [Washington Twp.], 2024
7.79 … Nathaniel Rayan [Scotch Plains-Fanwood], 2023
7.85 … Chris Serrao [East Brunswick], 2022
7.87 … Dwight Ruff [Camden], 2002
7.88 … Yverson Alexandre [Hillside], 2025
7.90 … Corey Nelms [Neptune], 2006
7.90 … Isaac Williams [Willingboro], 2012
7.90 … Essien Plummer [Neptune], 2026
7.92 … Michael Perry [North Brunswick], 2026
7.92 … Elvin Marte Feliz [North Brunswick], 2026
7.94 … Anthony Acklin [Triton], 2001
7.94 … Ihmir Marsette [Weequahic], 2017
7.94 … Akeem Lindo [East Orange Campus], 2017
7.94 … Jasiah Gibbons [Williamstown], 2026
7.95 … Herb Reid [Lenape], 2000
7.95 … Ron Jules [Toms River East], 2003
7.96 … Danyne Brown. [Camden], 1999
7.96 … Joshua Evans [Irvington], 2009
7.96 … Andrew Aguilera [Governor Livingston], 2017
7.97 … Jason Keiser [East Brunswick], 2025
7.97 … Jermaine Collier [Trenton], 2011
7.99 … Zach Gizzone [Union Catholic], 2013
7.99 … Naseem Smith [Deptford], 2019
7.99 … Chais Hill [Highland], 2015

All-Time South Jersey 60-Meter Hurdles List
7.64 … Sincere Rhea [St. Augustine], 2019
7.65 … Yashahya Brown [Washington Twp.], 2024
7.73 … Sultan Tucker [Delsea], 1997
7.74 … Yashahya Brown [Washington Twp.], 2023
7.87 … Dwight Ruff [Camden], 2002
7.90 … Isaac Williams [Willingboro], 2012
7.94 … Anthony Acklin [Triton], 2001
7.94 … Jasiah Gibbons [Williamstown], 2026
7.95 … Herb Reid [Lenape], 2000
7.96 … Danyne Brown. [Camden], 1999
7.99 … Naseem Smith [Deptford], 2019
7.99 … Chais Hill [Highland], 2015

Cinnaminson’s Malicah Etienne, a Georgian Court junior from Cinnaminson High and Edgewater Park, started his outdoor season out with a discus win at the Stockton Invitational Saturday.

No series information available, but Etienne threw 163-2 and won by nearly 30 feet.

Etienne threw within about six feet of his PR 169-5 from a meet in April 2024 at Shippensburg.

Etienne also threw 49-10 ¾ for 2nd place in the shot put and 1st among collegiate throwers.

Etienne is 3rd in school history in the shot indoors at 53-9 ¼, 5th in the shot outdoors at 51-5 ½ and 2nd in the discus at 169-5.

Delsea’s Josh Awotunde placed 6^th in the shot put Sunday morning at the World Championships at Kujawy Pomorze in Torun, Poland.

This is Awotunde’s 4^th top-8 finish in five trips to Worlds. In 2022 indoor Worlds in Belgrade, Serbia, he placed 5^th with a throw of 71-2 ¼ and then outdoors that spring in Eugene he placed 3^rdwith a 73-1 ½. In 2023 in Budapest, Hungary, he placed 11^th at 65-6 ½. Then last year outdoors in Tokyo he placed 7^th in the final with a 69-4 ¼.

Awotunde opened with a 67-1 ½, then threw 67-11 ¾ on his 2^nd before hitting 68-9 on both his 3^rd and 4^th throws, moving up to 6^th place. He fouled on his 5^th attempt and finished with a 67-1 ¼.

Awotunde qualified for Worlds by placing 3^rd at the U.S. Championships at Ocean Breeeze earlier this month with a season-best 69-1.

He threw his PR 73-8 ½ when he won the 2025 U.S. Championship at Oregon’s Hayward Field. That’s No. 17 in world history and No. 10 in U.S. history.

Tom Walsh of New Zealand won the competition by an inch with a 71-0 ¾ on his 5th attempt, bumping American Jordan Geist out of the lead. Geist wound up 2nd with a 70-11 ¾. The other American, Roger Steen, placed 3rd with a 70-6 on his final attempt.

Running unchallenged in the 800, Natalie Dumas raced to her 6^th national title Saturday night at Virginia Beach Nationals. It was her final indoor race competing for Eastern.

Dumas set a meet-record 2:06.75 running away from the field and winning by 25 meters over Stella Blanchard of the Wilberforce School in Plainsboro.

The previous meet record was 2:08.92 by Kate Putnam of North Syracuse High in Cicero, N.Y., in 2023.

Dumas went out in 29.73 and came through 400 in 60.74 and already had a 15-meter lead. With an insurmountable lead, she cruised home with 32.56 and 33.47 final 200s.

Dumas still ran within 1 ½ seconds of her indoor PR and South Jersey record of 2:05.30, which she ran at Armory Nationals last weekend.

Last winter, Dumas won the 400 at Virginia Beach Nationals in 53.66 and then outdoorst she won national titles in the 400, 800 and 400-meter hurdles at West Philly Nationals. She won her 5^th U.S. title Saturday night when she anchored Eastern’s mixed 1,600-meter relay.

Delaware junior Kadence Dumas from Eastern, Villanova freshman Maeve Smith from Ocean City and La Salle sophomore Gillian Lovett Mainland Regional all ran 1,500 PRs, finishing a couple seconds from each other in the Penn Challenge Saturday at Franklin Field. Smith doubled back and PR’d in the 800 as well.

Dumas placed 3rd in the 1,500 in 4:30.50, Smith ran 4th in 4:32.65 and Lovett was 6th in 4:33.52.

Dumas’s previous 1,500 PR was a 4:39.95 in Richmond a year ago this week. She ran a 4:56.28 mile across the railroad tracks at the Ott Center in January. Her 1,500 Saturday is 7th-fastest in Delaware history and converts to a 4:52.14 full mile.

Smith’s 1,500 converts to a 4:54.46 full mile, which is well below her college mile best of 4:59.59 also from the Ott Center in January in the same race Dumas ran her 4:56.28. She ran a 4:53.27 outdoors at West Philly Nationals this past June.

Lovett’s 4:33.52 drops her PR from 4:33.69 in Chester this past April. She ran her full mile PR 4:55.59 in that same January race at the Ott. This 1,500 converts to 4:55.40.

Smith’s 2:17.06 is a giant PR. At Ocean City her fastest 800 was a 2:21.18 in the 2023 Cape-Atlantic meet at Bridgeton, and this was her first collegiate 800.

Dumas doubled back to run a leg on Delaware’s winning 4-by-4, which ran 3:47.07. The results don’t list who ran which leg, so can’t tell you her split.

Stockton freshman Josephine Buxton opened her collegiate career with the best javelin throw by an Osprey woman in 12 years.

Buxton, an Absegami graduate, threw 132-7 to win the javelin at the season-opening Stockton Invitational in Galloway Township.

That’s the best throw by a Stockton woman since Emily Higbee of Holy Spirit hit 135-0 in a meet in Lakewood in May 2014.

Buxton’s lifetime best is a 138-8 from her win at the state Group 3 meet this past May at South Plainfield.

No field series in the results, but Delsea graduate Ava Reardon of Rowan, a transfer from Georgian Court, threw 129-8 for 2^nd place. She threw 139-2 last year and won the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference meet in Lakewood.

Rowan senior Diamond Eaddy from Salem placed 4^th with a 125-5, just five feet off her PR 130-7 from last spring in Chester, Pa.