From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

With the Meet of Champions at Pennsauken just a couple days away, we thought it would be fun to take a look at the best marks made by South Jersey athletes at the Meet of Champions since the inception of the boys Meet of Champions in 1969 and the girls meet in 1975.

Here’s what I came up with! If you see any errors or omissions, let me know in the comment section!

These lists are going to have a ton of additions on them by the end of the day Wednesday!

Also, I’ll be posting the full all-time Meet of Champions boys and girls performance lists soon!

BOYS
100-METER DASH
10.28 … Malachi James [Burlington City], 2024
10.35 … Jamar Ervin [Camden], 2000
10.41 … Damiere Byrd [Timber Creek], 2011
10.42 … Damiere Byrd [Timber Creek], 2010
10.45 … James Townsend [Holy Cross], 2003

200-METER DASH
20.7h … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
21.08 … Malachi James [Burlington City], 2024
21.25 … Antonio Tarantino [Paul VI], 2018
21.30 … Jahmir Beasley [Sterling], 2019
21.1h … Flipper Anderson [Paulsboro], 1983

400-METER RUN
46.08 … Alexander Osayemi [ Clayton], 2025
46.62 … Lamont Smith [Willingboro], 1991
46.67 … Jamaad Muse [Timber Creek], 2013
46.5h … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1984
46.95 … Darrell Bush [Woodbury], 2011

800-METER RUN
1:48.52 … Ishmael Muhammad [Oakcrest], 2014
1:50.12 … Isaac Clark [Pleasantville], 2013
1:50.36 … Rob Novak [Bordentown], 2005
1:50.73 … Jacob Clark [Pleasantville], 2013
1:50.8h … Vance Watson [Willingboro], 1983

1,600-METER RUN
4:05.27 … Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 2024
4:08.58 … Kyle Rakitis [Kingsway], 2021
4:09.03 … Brett Johnson [Ocean City], 2008
4:09.20 … John Richardson [Ocean City], 2003
4:09.30 … Colin Baker Haddonfield], 2009

3,200-METER RUN
8:58.32 … Luke Petela [Haddon Township], 2015
8:58.71 … Murad Campbell [Overbrook], 1999
8:59.6 … Jason DiJoseph [Paul VI], 1987
9:00.30 … Jimmy Daniels [Sterling], 2013
9:06.47 … Jon Vitez [Haddonfield], 2010

110-METER HIGH HURDLES
13.51q … Yashahya Brown [Washington Township], 2024
13.59 … Gerard Reynolds [Willingboro], 1990
13.63 … Danyne Brown [Camden], 1996
13.66 … Sultan Tucker [Delsea], 1997
13.74 … Sincere Rhea [St. Augustine], 2018

400-METER INTERMEDIATE HURDLES
50.96 … Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], 2023
51.14 … Dwight Ruff [Camden], 2001
51.39 … Reuben McCoy [Winslow], 2004
51.62 … Fred Sharpe [Paulsboro], 1997
52.07 … Azim Smith [Millville], 2001

HIGH JUMP
7-2 … Robert Jordan [Millville], 1999
7-2 … Paul Klemic [Mainland], 2000
7-0 … Mike Morrison [Willingboro], 2002
7-0 … Mike Morrison [Willingboro], 2003
7-0 … Robert Jordan [Millville], 1998
7-0 … Raffael Craig [Millville], 1999
7-0 … Reggie Williams [Highland Reg.], 1997

LONG JUMP
25-0 … William Spearman [Woodrow Wilson], 1995
24- 11 ¼ … Anthony Miles [Winslow], 2002
24-8 … Isaac Samuels [Kennedy], 1983
24-3 ¼ … Anthony Miles [Winslow], 2003
24-3 … Mike Morrison [Willingboro], 2003
24-3 … Mikhail Micheaux [Eastern], 2014

TRIPLE JUMP
50-2 ½ … Floyd Whitaker [Highland Regional], 2019
49-7  … Floyd Whitaker [Highland Regional], 2021
48-10 … Dominique Irons [Haddon Heights], 2013
48-9 ½… Khaliel Burnett [Delsea], 2017
48-4 … Dominique Irons [Haddon Heights], 2011

SHOT PUT
64-10 ¼ … Jon Kalnas [Paulsboro], 1997
64-5 … Ray Wilks [Bridgeton], 1995
64-4 ½ … Chris Robinson [Penns Grove], 1990
63-10 ¼ … Ron Dayne [Overbrook], 1996
63-10 … Ron Dayne [Overbrook], 1995

62-11 ½ … Jon Kalnas [Paulsboro], 1998

DISCUS
215-3 … Ron Dayne [Overbook], 1996
201-0 … Ron Dayne [Overbrook], 1995
199-6 … Braheme Days Jr. [Bridgeton], 2013
192-9 … Braheme Days Jr. [Bridgeton], 2011
191-11 … Franklin Simms [St. Augustine], 2022

JAVELIN (new implement since 2002)
227-10 … Nick Mirabelli [Rancocas Valley], 2018
224-10 … Curtis Thompson [Florence], 2014
220-11 … Cade Antonucci [Holy Spirit], 2017
214-6 … Chris Mirabelli [Holy Cross], 2013
212-2 … Alexander Georgiou [Timber Creek], 2017

POLE VAULT
16-0 … Ryan Merlino [Oakcrest], 2024
15-6 … Ed Frey [Cinnaminson], 2025
15-6 … Dan Batdorf [West Deptford], 2008
15-4 … Jason King [Lenape], 1993
15-0 … Marco Morales [Delsea], 2019
15-0 … Dylan Altland (Kingsway], 2013

400-METER RELAY
40.75 … Burlington Township, 2025
41.29 … Rancocas Valey, 2025
41.45 … Timber Creek, 2014
41.47 … Deptford, 2018
41.50 … Timber Creek], 2013

1,600 … METER RELAY
3:10.70 … Winslow, 2003
3:11.24 … Willingboro, 2003
3:12.27 … Winslow, 2002
3:12.44 … Willingboro, 2001
3:12.57 … Camden, 2001

3,200-METER RELAY
7:41.17 … Cherokee, 2023
7:43.57 … Haddonfield, 2015
7:46.28 … Delsea, 2018
7:47.66 … Kingsway, 2011
7:47.96 … Haddonfield, 2016

GIRLS
100-METER DASH
11.25 … Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], 2025
11.30q … Sianni Wynn [Pennauken], 2025
11.56 … English Gardner [Eastern], 2010
11.60q … Bria Mack [Williamstown], 2017
11.61 … Amanda Rhett [Moorestown], 2000

200-METER DASH
23.20 … Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], 2025 [q]
23.24 … Wendy Vereen [Trenton], 1983
23.66 … Dennisha Page [Woodrow Wilson]
23.90 … Lauren Princz [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2018
23.92 … Shakirah Dancy [Winslow Twp.], 2018

400-METER RUN
53.16 … Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 2025
53.72 … Michelle Brown [Seneca], 2009
54.11 … Nijgia Snapp [Oakcrest], 2009
54.14 … Michelle Brown [Seneca], 2008
54.19 … Okechi Ogbuokiri [Willingboro], 2003

800-METER RUN
2:02.75 … Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 2025
2:07.33 … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2009
2:08.81 … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2010
2:09.84 … Rachel Stremme [Ocean City], 2014
2:10.44 … Renee Tomlin [Ocean City], 2005

1,600-METER RUN
4:45.97 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2014
4:48.05 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2015
4:49.11 … Renee Tomlin [Ocean City], 2005
4:49.3h … Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1982
4:50.09 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2016

3,200-METER RUN
10:19.31 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2009
10:20.74 … Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1983
10:22.02 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2012
10:27.90 … Chelea Ley [Kingsway], 2008
10:30.57 … Dina Iacone [Washington Twp.], 2012 [8],

100-METER HURDLES [14.00],
13.67 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2019
13.78 … Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 2006
13.77 … Nichole Hill [Oakcrest], 1997
13.84 … Lenaami Morton [Camden], 2017
13.85 … Sherese Price [Pleasantville], 1998

400-METER HURDLES [1:01.00],
59.03 … Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 1988
59.56 … Torie Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 2013
59.96 … Mandie Dulin [Shawnee], 1997
1:00.10 … Mandie Dulin [Shawnee], 1996
1:00.13 … Arianna Smith [Pennsville], 2019

HIGH JUMP
5-10 … Tierra Hooker [Timber Creek], 2017
5-10 … Tierra Hooker [Timber Creek], 2018
5-10 … Tierra Hooker [Timber Creek],2019
5-9 … Egypt Bolan [Lindenwold], 2025
5-8 … Priscilla Frederick [Paul VI], 2007
5-8 … Anna Cook [Florence], 2007
5-8 … Brooke Minor [Kingsway], 2001
5-8 … Kim Stoll [Holy Spirit], 1993
5-8 … Erin Halpin [Cherry Hill East], 1987
5-8 … Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1981
5-8 … Megan Kirschling [Weta Deptford], 2012
5-8 … Kenady Wilson [Willingboro], 2018
5-8 … Alanna Woolfolk [Clayton], 2023

LONG JUMP
20-7 ½ … Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1981
20-1 … Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1980
20-1 … Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1979
20-0 ½ … Teneacia Smith [Cherry Hill East], 1992
19-7 ½ … Tionna Tobias [Winslow Twp.], 2017

TRIPLE JUMP
42-2 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2019
40-7 ½ … Sophia Curtis [Ocean City], 2023
39-7 ¼ … Shaya Wilkerson [Lenape], 2012
39-6 … Jessica Mills [West Deptford], 2005
39-5 ½ … Liz Montague [Cherokee], 2014

SHOT PUT,
47-1 ¼ … Jess Woodard [Cherokee], 2013
45-5 ½ … Janiece Rose [Delsea], 2011
45-3 ¾ … Nacole Moore [Bridgeton], 2001
44-9 ¾ … Najeaya Singleton [Vineland], 2017
43-7 ¼ … Ronetta Hunter [Burlington Twp.], 2015

DISCUS
161-1 … Jess Woodard [Cherokee], 2013
158-1 … Jocelyn White [Delsea], 2004
156-11 … Hannah Nuhfer [Delsea], 2025
147-1 … Jamine Moton [Delsea], 1996
145-11 … Jocelyn White [Delsea], 2003

JAVELIN (new implement since 2002)
163-8 … Brielle Smith [Oakcrest], 2018
159-4 … Leah Howard [Millville], 2023
157-0 … Brielle Smith [Oakcrest], 2019
143-9 … Maria Jimmenez [Vineland], 2012
141-2 … Brielle Smith [Oakcrest], 2017

POLE VAULT
12-6 … Ashley Preston [Delsea], 2018
12-6 … Hannah Byrd-Leitner [Moorestown], 2025
12-0 … Jessica Kloss [Moorestown], 2005
12-0 … Brittany Raffo [Seneca], 2016
12-0 … Fiona Basewitz [Collingswood], 2021

400-METER RELAY
46.71 … Willingboro, 2025
46.95 … Pennsauken, 2025
46.98 … Timber Creek, 2023
47.27 … Winslow Twp., 2013
47.27 … Delsea, 2017

1,600-METER RELAY
3:44.64 … Willingboro, 2002
3:45.87 … Winslow Twp., 2025
3:46.38 … Timber Creek, 2023
3:46.67 … Winslow Twp., 2018
3:47.01 … Willingboro, 2025

3,200-METER RELAY
9:07.71 … Ocean City, 2025
9:10.24 … Haddonfield, 2021
9:15.16 … Haddonfield, 2019
9:15.69 … Lenape, 2012
9:15.92 … Haddonfield, 2015

Ajani Dwyer continued his blazing hot spring with another wind-legal sub-10 at NCAA East Region Prelims this weekend in Lexington, Ky.

Dwyer, a Penn State sophomore from Washington Township, advanced to the NCAA Championships as the 3^rd-fastest qualifier in the East. He ran 9.99 in the regional final – the national quarterfinal – with a 0.1 meters-per-second headwind and will be the 3^rd seed at NCAAs at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., later this month.

Dwyer ran slightly faster in the first round, clocking a 9.98 with a 0.2 headwind. He’s now run sub-10 in three consecutive races and four times in all this spring.

With that 9.98, Dwyer ranks 15^th in the world and 6^th among U.S. men.

Deptford senior Johann Hernandez turned in a historic sprint double this weekend at the state Group 3 meet in Mansfield Township.

Hernandez swept the 100 and 200, winning the 100 in 10.72 with no apparent wind reading taken and then winning the 200 in 21.51 with a 0.0 wind reading.

Hernandez is the first Deptford boy ever to sweep the sprints at the state meet.

He’s the first Spartan to win a state title in the 100 in 51 years, since Bill Williams won the 100-yard dash in 1975 in 9.9 in Piscataway, and the first to win the 200 – or its predecessor – in 58 years, since won the 220 in 21.5 at the 1968 meet, also in Piscataway.

The only other Deptford boy to win two individual events at the state meet was Lathan Brown, who won the 400 and 400-meter hurdles in 2023 at Delsea.

Hernandez PR”d with a 10.51 with a legal 0.8 when he won the South Jersey Group 3 race at Delsea. That’s 3^rd-fastest in Gloucester County history and 9^th-fastest all-time in South Jersey, regardless of wind conditions.

If Hernandez’s MileSplit profile page is correct his only previous 100 or 200 in his high school track career was at sectionals. He didn’t compete at all until the middle of May, which could mean he transferred into Deptford, but I can’t find a record of him competing anywhere else last year.

In any case, that 21.51 is 5^th-fastest on the all-time Gloucester County list, behind Ajani Dwyer [20.86 in 2024] and Todd Dutch [21.40 in 2001] of Washington Township, Kingsway’s Dorian Bryant [21.41 in 2002] and Clayton’s Alexander Osayemi [21.43 last year].

So Dwyer, now ranked 15^th in the world in the 100 at 9.98, is the only Gloucester County sprinter to run faster than Hernandez in both sprints.

Hernandez is seeded 4^th in both the 100 and 200 in the Meet of Champions, scheduled for Wednesday at Pennsauken.

Heading into states, Holy Spirit junior Zaki Marcus’s entire 2026 track season consisted of one meet, and he didn’t compete indoors, which means he had participated in just one track meet in just over 12 months since finishing his sophomore year at Mainland Regional at Group 3 Sectionals.

The layoff sure didn’t hurt him because at Parochial B States this weekend in Galloway Township, Marcus won the long jump with a PR 21-9 ½, took 3^rd behind to Eustace junior Delano Mann and Newark Academy’s Wynston Ditchfield-Agboh in the 100 in 11.09 and was 2^nd to Montclair Kimberly Academy’s Samuel Akaho in the 200 with a 22.07.

In his second meet in a year.

Marcus is the first Holy Spirit boy to place in three events at states since 2019, when Sam Adams was 4^th in the shot put, 5^th in the javelin and 6^th in the discus. His 24 points are the most by a Holy Spirit boy in a state meet since Cade Antonucci scored 26 in 2016, when he won the javelin and was 2^nd in both the shot and disc.

Marcus’s 24 points were good enough to place Holy Spirit 8^th in team scoring.

Earlier tonight I posted a list of top-10 boys Meet of Champions seeds from South Jersey  and now it’s time for the girls list!

Note that these are not official seedings. The NJSIAA never seems to post those. These lists are from the MileSplit merge. As always, if you see a mistake, let me know in the comment section.

For the boys list, click here.

100-METER DASH
1. Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], 11.53
10. *Summer Schaffer [Pennsauken], 12.16

200-METER DASH
1. Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], 23.10
3. Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 24.00
6. Sanaya Dupree [Pennsauken], 24.29
8. **Jasmine Jackson [Winslow Twp.], 24.45
10. *Brianna Growalt [Atlantic Tech], 24.55

400-METER DASH
1. Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 54.91
5. *Cinniya Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 56.28
9. **Noemi Haller [Kingsway], 56.67

800-METER RUN
1. Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 2:04.19
7. ***Dylan Hosty [Haddonfield], 2:09.61
8. *Carly Godfrey [Ocean City], 2:11.81
9. **Peyton Derer [Moorestown], 2:1185

1,600-METER RUN
2. ***Dylan Hosty [Haddonfield], 4:47.58
8. Riley Fayer [Audubon], 4:55.96

3,200-METER RUN
8. **Riley Tolson [Ocean City], 10:39.70

110-METER HURDLES
1. **Jasmine Jackson [Winslow Twp.], 13.39
3. *Brianna Growalt [Atlantic Tech], 13.66
4. Olivia Dupree [Pennsauken], 14.00
5. *Trinity Brapoh [Willingboro], 14.04
6. **Nia’Leila Cuascut [Washington Twp.], 14.09

400-METER HURDLES
1. Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 58.06
2. **Hope Edwards [Pennsauken], 59.17
4. *Briana Growalt [Atlantic Tech], 1:00.55
6. **Jasmine Jackson [Winslow Twp.], 1:01.98
9. *Cinniya Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 1:02.13

400-METER RELAY
1. Pennsauken, 46.35
2. Winslow Twp., 47.12
7. Kingsway, 48.24
10. Rancocas Valley, 48.47

1,600-METER RELAY
1. Pennsauken, 3:48.98
2. Kingsway, 3:52.97
3. Winslow Twp., 3:53.57
6. Williamstown, 3:57.54

3,200-METER RELAY
3. Ocean City, 9:26.82
6. Moorestown, 9:36.38
7. Cherokee, 9:36.40

LONG JUMP
1. Angelina Brown [Rancocas Valley], 19-6
4. Leeya Joseph [Winslow Twp.], 18-6 ½
5. *Trinity Brapoh [Willingboro], 18-6
8. Ma’Syiah Brawner [Winslow Twp.], 18-2 ½

TRIPLE JUMP
2. Ma’Syiah Brawner [Winslow Twp.], 40-3 ½
4. *Timia Waters [Williamstown], 39-6
7. *Trinity Brapoh [Willingboro], 38-5 ¾

HIGH JUMP
1. Egypt Bolan [Lindenwold], 5-8
T4. Ma’Syiah Brawner [Winslow Twp.], 5-4

POLE VAULT
T4. *Nina Fisacaro [Haddonfield], 11-0
T4. *Gianna Shea [Mainland Reg.], 11-0
T9. Gianna Cianfrani [Paul VI], 10-6
T9. Brynn Greenwood [Williamstown], 10-6
T9. La’el Yates [Rancocas Valley], 10-6

SHOT PUT
1. Hannah Nuhfer [Delsea], 46-8 ½
5. Sunsarai Moore [Glassboro], 42-2
9. **Isabella Alvarez [Pleasantville], 40-0 ¼

DISCUS
1. Hannah Nuhfer [Delsea], 169-2
2. Sunsarai Moore [Glassboro], 156-0
3. *Virginia Tarasevich [Glassboro], 146-9

JAVELIN
7. *Allison Nagle [Middle Twp.], 123-0
9. **Navaeh Robinson [Schalick], 120-10
10. Cecilia Feldstein [Egg Harbor Twp.], 118-8

I put together a list of top-10 seeds from South Jersey for the boys Meet of Champions Wednesday at Pennsauken.

These aren’t official lists, they’re taken from the MileSplit merges. But they should include anybody who posted one of the top 10 times in each event at the various state meets.

I’ll post the girls list later today. As always, drop me a friendly note in the comment section if you notice a mistake or omission.

100-METER DASH
4. Johann Hernandez [Deptford], 10.72
T5. Jawan Brownlee [Camden], 10.76
T5. Tymir Gayle [Cherry Hill East], 10.76
T7. Quayd Hendryx [Winslow Twp.], 10.78
T7. Jaylen Day [Atlantic City], 10.78
10. *Deland Mann [Bishop Eustace], 10.85

200-METER DASH
4. Johann Hernandez [Deptford], 21.51
8. Quayd Hendryx [Winslow Twp.], 21.61

400-METER DASH
3. Prince Owusu-Twum [Winslow Twp.], 48.02
5. *John Froehlich [Overbrook], 48.39

800-METER RUN
10. Brandon Stoner [Haddonfield], 1:53.71

1,600-METER RUN
6. Peter Simpson [Haddonfield], 4:18.43

3,200-METER RUN
None

110-METER HURDLES
3. Jasiah Gibbons [Williamstown], 13.95
4. Ari Bell [Egg Harbor Twp.], 14.04
7. Kareem Brown [Deptford], 14.07

400-METER HURDLES
1. Kareem Brown [Deptford], 53.07
7. *Ryder Bozine [Haddonfield], 54.40

400-METER RELAY
1. Winslow Twp., 41.46
2. Deptford, 41.50
4. Williamstown, 41.80
7. Camden, 42.16
8. Burlington Twp., 42.41
9. Pleasantville, 42.57
10. Cherry Hill East, 42.61

1,600-METER RELAY
3. Winslow Twp., 3:19.66
6. Burlington Twp., 3:21.85
7. Deptford, 3:21.95

3,200-METER RELAY
3. Deptford, 7:59.47
5. Ocean City, 8:00.91
7. Moorestown, 8:03.28

LONG JUMP
1. Christopher Jones [Willingboro], 24-6 ¾
3. *Andrew Kratee [Winslow Twp.], 24-1 ¼
10. Zyaire Rothmiller-McIntosh [Winslow Twp.], 23-2

TRIPLE JUMP
T3. **Moses Robles [Glassboro], 47-8 ½

HIGH JUMP
T5. **Devin Perry [Timber Creek], 6-4
T5. *Andrew Kratee [Winslow Twp.], 6-4
T5. **Moses Robles [Glassboro], 6-4

POLE VAULT
1. Mason Henry [Deptford], 14-6
T2. Mason Murray [Delsea], 14-0
T5. Sawyer Schmidt [Egg Harbor Twp.], 13-6

SHOT PUT
None

DISCUS
4. Zion Josia Brockenbrough [Highland], 165-11
6. *John Wright [Middle Twp.], 164-9

JAVELIN
3. Richard Pierce [Cumberland Reg.], 184-3

Two weeks ago, Riley Tolson’s outdoor 3,200 PR was 11:15.08 from a meet at Delsea last year. Now she’s the fastest South Jersey sophomore in more than a decade.

After dropping her PR from 11:15 to 10:58.42 when she won the South Jersey Group 3 race at Delsea, Tolson ran a nearly 20-second PR of 10:39.70 at the state Group 3 meet Friday in Mansfield Township and placed 2^nd to indoor Meet of Champions winner and national 5,000 runner-up Allison Lee of West Windsor-Plainsboro North, who set a meet record of 10:14.34.

So she’s PR’d by a total of 35.38 seconds since May 15.

Tolson negative-split the race, out in 5:22.24 [2:39.61 / 2:42.64] and back in 5:17.47 [2:42.62 / 2:34.85]. She was 5^th with three laps to go but passed three girls over the last 1,200, closing in 76.62.

Tolson becomes the fastest South Jersey sophomore in 12 years, since Alyssa Aldridge of Mainland ran 10:34.78 at the 2016 Meet of Champions at Central Regional.

Her time is No. 21 in South Jersey history and No. 3 on the Cape May County list, which is also the all-time Ocean City list.

Tolson earned the No. 8 seed in the Meet of Champions Wednesday at Pennsauken. She’s the fastest qualifier from South Jersey and the 2^nd-fastest sophomore, behind top-seeded Leah Starkey of Ocean Township, the national two-mile champ at Armory Nationals this past winter.

All-Time South Jersey 3,200-Meter Run 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 … Liliah 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
10:29.53 … Julia Flanagan [Holy Cross], 2026
10:30.57 … Dina Iacone (Washington Twp.], 2012
10:32.54 … Maeve Smith [Ocean City], 2025
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
10:39.70 … Riley Tolson [Ocean City], 2026

It was a huge weekend for Willingboro junior Trinity Brapoh, who became only the second girl in the long, storied history of Willingboro track to win three individual events at a state championship meet.

In the Group 2 meet at Northern Burlington in Mansfield Township, Brapoh won the 100-meter hurdles with a PR of 14.04, No. 2 in Burlington County history and No. 15 on the all-time New Jersey list, she won the long jump at 18-5 and was 1^st in the triple jump with a PR 38-5 ¾.

Brapoh was one of only four girls state-wide in all six state meets to win three individual events. In Group 4, Natalie Dumas won the 400, 800 and intermediates, in Group 3 Jasmine Jackson won the 200 and both hurdles and in the Parochial B meet Stella Blanchard of the Wilberforce School in Plainsboro won the 400, 800 and 1,600.

The only other Willingboro girl to triple is Brapoh’s former teammate, Nester Wea, who won the 100, 200 and 400 in Group 2 in both 2023 and 2025.

Brapoh goes into the Meet of Champions Wednesday as the No. 5 seed in the hurdles, No. 5 in the long jump and No. 7 in the triple jump.

In all, South Jersey has produced 33 individual triple winners. This is only the third time three girls have done it in the same year. In 1984, Dana Roberts of Holy Cross, Denise Liles of Kingsway and Lillian Rivera of Pemberton had triples, and in 2015 Deptford’s Kiera Lester, Haddonfield’s Briana Gess and Winslow Township’s Gabrielle Bennett did it.

Here’s a look at all the South Jersey triples since the inception of the girls state meet in 1973:

**Jasmine Jackson [Winslow Twp.], 2026 Group 3 [200, HH, IH]
Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 2026 Group 4 [400, 800, IH]
*Trinity Brapoh [Willingboro], 2026 Group 2 [HH, LJ, TJ]
Nester Wea [Willingboro] 2025 Group 2 [100, 200, 400]
*Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 2025 Group 4 [400, 800, IH]
**Sianni Wynn [Pennsauken], 2024 Group 4 [100, 200, 400]
**Nester Wea [Willingboro], 2023 Group 2 [100, 200, 400]
*Sophia Curtis [Ocean City], 2023 Group 3 [400, 400IH, TJ]
Arianna Sharpe [Clayton], 2022 Group 1 [100, 200, 400]
Dennisha Page [Wilson], 2019 Group 3 [100, 200, 400]
**Shakirah Dancy [Winslow Twp.], 2016 Group 3 [100, 200, 400]
*Kiera Lester [Deptford], 2015 Group 2 [100, 200, 400]
**Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2015 Group 2 [800, 1,600, 3,200]
Gabrielle Bennett [Winslow Twp.], 2015 Group 3 [100HH, HJ, LJ]
*Torie Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 2013 Group 3 [100, 200, 100HH, 400IH]
**Torie Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 2012 Group 3 [100, 200, 100HH, 400IH]
Tacquaya Tobias [Our Lady of Mercy], 2011 Parochial B [100, 200, LJ]
Rajeana Marigna [Palmyra], 2008 Group 1 [100, 200, 400]
*Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2005 Group 4 [200, 400, 100HH, 400IH]
Shameka Speed [Bridgeton], 2003 Group 2 [100, 200, 400, LJ]
*Shameka Speed [Bridgeton], 2002 Group 2 [100, 200, 400, LJ]
***Shameka Speed [Bridgeton], 2000 Group 2 [200, 400, LJ]
*Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2000 Group 2 [800, 1,600, 3,200, Jav]
**Erin Donohue [Haddonfield],1999 Group 2 [800, 1,600, 3,200, Jav]
***Erin Donohue [Haddonfield],1999 Group 2 [800, 1,600, 3,200]
Candyce DeLoatch [Schalick], 1996 Group 1 [100, 200, 400]
Dana Burnett [Williamstown], 1996 Group 3 [100, 200, 400]
Tamika Nelson [Buena], 1993 Group 2 [100, 200, 400]
Ivy Foster [Haddon Heights], 1991 Group 1 [100, 200, 400]
Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 1987 Group 3 [100HH, 400IH, LJ, HJ]
Kelli James [Bishop Eustace], 1987 Parochial B [100HH, HJ, LJ]
Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro], 1986 Group 1 [800, 1,600, 3,200]
Dana Roberts [Holy Cross], 1984 Parochial A [100, 200, LJ]
Denise Liles [Kingsway], 1984 Group 1 [100, 200, 100HH]
Lillian Rivera [Pemberton], 1984 Group 4 [SP, Di, Jav]
*Denise Liles [Kingsway], 1983 Group 1 [100, 200, 100HH]
Tina Walls [Williamstown], 1982 [100HH, 400IH, LJ]
Kathy Rankins [Haddon Heights], 1980 [100, 200, LJ]
Lori Lewis [Woodbury], 1978 [100, 200, 400]

Atlantic County Tech junior Brianna Growalt ran one of the fastest wind-legal hurdles races in New Jersey history at the state Group 4 meet and also recorded a couple very fast times in two other events.

Growalt ran 13.66 with a legal 2.0 wind – the maximum allowable – and placed 2^nd in the 100-meter hurdles behind Hackensack sophomore Kaleah Montgomery, who won the Group 4 race in 13.63, 6^th-fastest wind-legal time in state history.

Growalt’s time is No. 8 in state history with legal wind and No. 10 in all conditions. It’s 3^rd-fastest in South Jersey history, behind Jasmine Jackson, who has run 13.39 twice, and 2019 World Champion Nia Ali of Pleasantville and just 1-100ths of a second off Ali’s Atlantic County record, which she ran 13.65 at 2006 Greensboro Nationals.

Growalt’s previous PR was a windy 13.87 in the prelims of the Atlantic County Championships earlier this month at Egg Harbor Township. Her legal PR was 13.98 with a 1.8 in the final that same day. She ran a windy 13.66 in the trials Saturday before matching that with legal wind later in the day.

Growalt at states also PR’d in the 400-meter hurdles with a 1:00.55 for 3^rd behind Natalie Dumas and Hope Edwards – that’s No. 15 in South Jersey history – and was 5^th in the 200 in 24.55. She was just 29-100ths of a second off the Atlantic County 400IH record of 1:00.26 set by Buena’s Helena Leyrer at the 2012 Meet of Champions at Old Bridge.

At the Meet of Champions Wednesday at Pennsauken, Jackson will be the No. 1 seed in the high hurdles, Montgomery No. 2 and Growalt No. 3.

The next three seeds are also from South Jersey.

 Pennauken senior Olivia Dupree placed 3^rd in Group 4 with a PR 14.00 with a legal 2.0 wind behind Montgomery and Growalt – that’s No. 14 in South Jersey history and 1-100^th of a second off the school record of 13.99 set by Imani Gilliam at the 2004 state Group 4 meet at Egg Harbor. Dupree dropped her PR from 14.26 at the Camden County Championships at Haddon Township.

 Group 2 winner Trinity Brapoh of Willingboro is the No. 5 seed with her PR 14.04 with a legal 1.7 wind, No. 2 in Burlington County history behind Olympian Carol Lewis’s 13.85 in 1980 and No. 14 on the all-time New Jersey list. Brapoh, who also won the Group 2 long jump at 18-5 and triple jump at 38-5 ¾ as part of a tremendous triple, dropped her hurdles PR from 14.35 at sectionals.

 Washington Township sophomore Nia’Leila Cuascut earned the No. 6 seed in the Meet of Champions with her 14.09 for 4^thin the Group 4 race, held with a legal 2.0 wind. That’s No. 19 in South Jersey history and No. 2 all-time Gloucester County, just 4-100ths of a second off the county record of 14.05 set by Kingsway’s Jasmine Waddell  when she won the 2011 state Group 3 meet in South Plainfield.

All-Time New Jersey 100-Meter Hurdles List
13.18 … Taylor Cox [Union Catholic], 2025 [+1.4]
13.20 … Dawn Bowles [Neptune], 1985 [nwi]
13.34 … Sydney McLaughlin [Union Catholic], 2014 [+0.5]
13.35 … Charmaine Walker [Plainfield], 1997 [nwi]
13.39 … Jasmine Jackson [Winslow Twp,], 2026 [+1.7]
13.49 … Sofia Swindell [Lawrenceville School], 2025 [+0.3]
13.50 … Porscha Dobson [Kent Plaeace], 2003 [+1.3]
13.63 … Kaleah Montgomery [Hackensack], 2026 [+2.0]
13.65 … Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 2006 [-0.1]
13.66 … Brianna Growalt [Atlantic County Tech], 2026 [+2.0]
13.67 … Patricia Dziekonska [West Windsor-Plains. North], 2014 [+0.8]
13.67 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2019 [nwi]
13.69 … Grace O’Shea [Ramapo], 2019 [+1.3]
13.71 … Lanyka Brown [Metuchen], 1996 [+0.8]
13.72 … Nichole Hill [Oakcrest], 1997 [+0.0]
13.73 … Kim Turko [North Edison], 1997 [+0.0]
13.77 … Amber Williams [Roxbury], 2001
13.78 … Lakeema Lewis [Plainfield], 1998
13.79 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow], 2012 [nwi]
13.80 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2019 [+1.1]
13.82 … Trier Young [Neptune], 2005
13.84 … Lenaami Morton [Camden], 2017
13.85 … Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1980
13.85 … Danielle Delgado [Franklin Twp.], 2013
13.85 … Sherese Price [Pleasantville], 1998
13.86 … Amaya Chadwick [Union Catholic], 2017
13.88 … Zonya Cross [Edgewood], 1983
13.88 … Amber Williams [Roxbury], 2001
13.89 … Dashona Ransome [Irvington], 2012
13.90 … Kim Henry [Old Bridge], 2003
13.91 … Kayann Richards [Columbia], 2010
13.91 … Samantha Jensen [Central Regional], 2012
13.91 … Ajanae Thompson [Union Catholic], 2022
13.95 … Selena Lewis [Elizabeth], 1998
13.95 … Morgan Harvey [North Hunterdon], 2013
13.96 … Ashley Adams [Plainfield], 2006
13.98 … Tramaine Shaw [Piscataway], 2004
13.98 … Cidae’a Woods [Winslow Twp.], 2014
13.98 … Kayla Ewing [Morristown], 2026
13.99 … Imani Gilliam [Pennsauken], 2004
13.99 … Tionna Tobias [Winslow Twp.], 2018

All-Time South Jersey 100-Meter Hurdles List
13.39 … Jasmine Jackson [Winslow Twp,], 2026
13.65 … Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 2006
13.66 … Brianna Growalt [Atlantic County Tech], 2026
13.67 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2019
13.72 … Nichole Hill [Oakcrest], 1997
13.79 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow], 2012
13.84 … Lenaami Morton [Camden], 2017
13.85 … Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1980
13.85 … Sherese Price [Pleasantville], 1998
13.88 … Zonya Cross [Edgewood], 1983
13.98 … Cidae’a Woods [Winslow Twp.], 2014
13.99 … Imani Gilliam [Pennsauken], 2004
13.99 … Tionna Tobias [Winslow Twp.], 2018
14.00 … Olivia Dupree [Pennsauken], 2026
14.02 … Jailya Ash [Eastern], 2021
14.04 … Jasmine Staten [Lenape], 2016
14.04 … Trinity Brapoh [Willingboro], 2026
14.05 … Jasmine Waddell [Kingsway], 2011
14.09 … Nichole Belcher [Wilson], 1992
14.09 … Nia’Leila Cuascut [Washington Twp.], 2026
14.15 … Aliya Garozzo [Paul VI], 2019
14.17 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow], 2006
14.17 … Samantha Sharper [Wilson], 2008
14.17 … Andrea Olsen [Buena], 2013
14.20 … Sarah Jones [Bishop Eustace], 2018
14.20 … Alethia Jenkins [Pennsauken], 1999
14.23 … Yvette Murray [Edgewood], 1999
14.25 … Kris Keegan [Haddonfield], 2003
14.25 … Joshonda Johnson [Absegami], 2017
14.26 … Malea Broome [Millville], 2019
14.27 … Gabrielle Bennett [Winslow], 2015
14.29 … Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], 2001
14.29 … Torie Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 2013
14.30 … Lexie Fraction [Washington Twp.], 2014

It’s hard to imagine running this fast and not advancing.

Iowa junior Jailya Ash ran a big PR 13.08 with legal wind Saturday at the NCAA West Region Prelims – 3^rd-fastest in Iowa history – but missed advancing to Eugene for the NCAA Championships by the slimmest of margins.

The top 12 finishers in each of two regions advance to the NCAA Championships next month at Hayward Field, and Ash fell 1-100^th of a second short.

Ash did lower her PR from 13.19, which she ran at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, last month.

Her time is 5^th-fastest ever run by a New Jersey woman and 2^nd-fastest by a South Jersey woman, behind only World Champion Nia Ali of Pleasantville, who ran 12.34 when she won Worlds in October 2019 in Doha, Qatar.

Ash is well below the B standard of 13.25 for the U.S. Championships in New York in July.  The A standard is 12.80

Here’s the updated all-time New Jersey alumni list:

12.30 … Nia Ali [Pleasantville], July 21, 2023, Monaco

12.65 … Sydney McLaughlin [Union Catholic], May 9, 2021, Walnut, Calif.

12.74 … Dawn Bowles [Neptune], June 15, 1997, Indianapolis [+0.0]

12.81 … Taylor Cox [Union Catholic], May 16, 2026, Auburn, Ala. [+0.4]
13.09 … Jailya Ash [Eastern], May 30, 2026, Fayetteville, Ark. [+2.0]

13.11 … Tionna Tobias [Winslow], May 25, 2023, Bloomington, Ind.

13.13 … Charmaine Walker [Plainfield], June 2, 2000, Durham, N.C.

13.15 … Amaya Chadwick [Union Catholic], May 27, 2021, Jacksonville, Fla.

13.18 … Amber Williams [Roxbury], June 6, 2007, Sacramento, Calif.
13.19 … Arianna Smith [Pennsville], May 15, 2025, Norfolk, Va.