From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Two of New Jersey’s top hurdlers squared off at the Tri-County Conference Showcase Wednesday at Delsea, with Deptford senior Kareem Brown and Williamstown senior Jasiah Gibbons both landing in the all-time Gloucester County top-10.

Brown ran a PR 14.12 in the trials with a 2.5 assisting wind, with Gibbons qualifying for the final with a 14.87 with a legal 1.0 in a separate heat.

In the final, Brown ran 14.17 and Gibbons a PR 14.22 into a 1.4 meter-per-second headwind. Their times are No. 7 and 8 in Gloucester County history.

They are now No. 1 and 2 this year in South Jersey and No. 5 and 7 state-wide.

All-Time Gloucester County 110-Meter Hurdles List
13.43 … Yashahyah Brown [Washington Twp.], 2024
13.66 … Sultan Tucker [Delsea], 1997
13.84 … Alexander Hollimon [Williamstown], 2024
13.95 … Naseem Smith [Deptford], 2019
13.96 … Devon Carter [Washington Twp.], 2010
14.01 … Arthur Ashton [Washington Twp.], 2012
14.12 … Kareem Brown [Deptford], 2026
14.22 … Jasiah Gibbons [Williamstown], 2026
14.26 … Steve Mitchell [West Deptford], 2008
14.27 … Tymir Kizee [Delsea], 2018

Hot double for Washington Township sophomore Nia’Leila Cuascut Wednesday at the Tri-County Showcase.

Cuascut won the 100-meter dash in a lifetime-best 12.05 (but with a 2.6 wind reading) and then won the 100-meter hurdles in a PR 14.34 with a legal 0.8 headwind.

Her 100 time is No. 11 in Gloucester County history and not far off the Washington Township school record of 12.02 set by Dylan Giloley at 2024 South Jersey Group 4 Sectionals at Pennsauken.

Her 14.34 is 3^rd-fastest on the all-time Gloucester County list and fastest since Lexie Fraction set the school record of 14.30 at the 2014 state Group 4 meet at South Plainfield.

Cuascut’s 100 time is No. 4 in New Jersey this year and her wind-legal 12.41 in the trials is 8^th-fastest.

She’s also No. 4 in New Jersey in the hurdles and No. 3 in South Jersey behind two other sophomores – Winslow’s Jasmine Jackson set the South Jersey record of 13.39 in Baltimore on Saturday and Atlantic County Tech’s Brianna Growalt has run a windy 13.87 and a legal 13.98 this spring.

Cuascut is the only girl on the all-time Gloucester County top-10 in both the 100 and high hurdles. Her 14.34 looks like the Gloucester County sophomore class record as well.

Kingsway sophomore Talia Griscom ran a legal 12.22 (1.7) in the trials with a windy 12.08 in the final. She also placed 2^nd in the 200 behind sophomore teammate Noemi Haller, who won the race in 25.26. Haller also won the 400 in 56.91. Cuascut also placed 3^rd in the 200 in 25.76.

11.58 … Bria Mack [Williamstown], 2017
11.81 … Denise Liles [Kingsway], 1984
11.81 … Audrey Wilson [Deptford], 2008
11.84 … Robin Taylor [Deptford], 1980
11.85 … Dana Burnett [Willamstown], 1996
11.89 … Cecelia Gerstenbacher [Delsea], 2017
11.90 … Jonnelle Lewis [Kingsway], 2024
11.98 … Kiara Lester [Deptford], 2014
11.99 … Arianna Sharpe [Clayton], 2022
12.02 … Dylan Giloley [Washington Twp.], 2024
12.05 …Nia’Leila Cuascut [Washington Twp.], 2026
12.08 … Talia Griscom [Kingsway], 2026
12.09 … Gabrielle Farquharson [Williamstown], 2011
12.10 … Jackie Dim [Washington Twp.], 2008
12.10 … Iyanla Kollock [Our Lady of Mercy], 2017
12.17 … Shardae Anderson [Paulsboro], 2004

14.05 … Jasmine Waddell [Kingsway], 2011
14.30 … Lexie Fraction [Washington Twp.], 2014
14.34 … Nia’Leila Cuascut [Washington Twp.], 2026
14.41 … Dakota Jones [Washington Twp.], 2025
14.46 … Arnita Green [Delsea], 1989
14.48 … Andrea March [Washington Twp.], 2005
14.60 … Nyla Jackman-Smith  [Clearview] 2025
14.64 … Deraire Poland [Deptford], 1999
14.67 … Autumn Demary [Kingsway], 2019
14.68 … Andrea March [Washington Twp.], 2005

Sophia Curtis had a big day at the Duke Twilight Invitational, recording a 400-meter hurdles PR and a collegiate triple jump PR.

Curtis, a Clemson freshman from Ocean City, ran 58.67 in the 400-meter hurdles, dropping her PR from 58.77 in Gainesville last month. That 58.67 is No. 11 in the ACC and No. 16 among all NCAA Division 1 freshmen. It’s No. 13 on the all-time South Jersey alumni list.

Curtis triple jumped 41-7 ¾, surpassing her best previous jump at Clemson, a 40-7 ¾ from last month, also in Gainesville. She jumped slightly farther in a high school meet, leaping 41-9 ½ at the 2024 state Group 3 meet at Delsea with a legal 1.3 wind. Her 41-9 ½ is No. 3 all-time South Jersey.

Curtis spent last year at Virginia but did not compete in any meets.

It was a big day for the Ocean City girls with another Cape May County Championship, and it was a big day for the Red Raiders’ distance group, who scored 63 of a possible 72 points in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.

Those 63 points accounted for nearly half of Ocean City’s 141 points in team scoring, with Middle Township 2^nd with 98.

In the 800, junior Carly Godfrey won in 2:21.55, Middle Township freshman Teagan Emmer was 2^nd in a PR 2:31.19 in her 2^nd lifetime 800 and Ocean City got 3^rd and 4^th with junior Peighton Clemens 3^rd in 2:32.07 and senior Sadie Heyman 6^th in 2:41.09.

Godfrey also won the 1,600 with a 5:13.20, just ahead of sophomore Riley Tolson [5:13.35] and junior Lillian Flora [5:14.49] in a 1-2-3 Ocean City sweep.

And Ocean City went 1-2-4 in the 3,200 behind Tolson [11:24.06], senior Gabrielle Henry [12:21.34] and after Middle senior Olivia Orton placed 3^rd [12:33.35] sophomore Julianna Rearick was 4^th in 13:02.78.

Ocean City also won the 4-by-4 with Clevenger, junior Kai Linthicum, junior Sophia Pratt and junior Ella Miller running 4:10.10.

How many consecutive titles has Ocean City won? I tried to figure that out. It’s at least several. But some of the back results don’t include team scoring so I’m outta luck. If anyone knows please let me know!

Junior Ella Miller doubled the 100 and 200 for the Raiders, sprinting 12.87 and 26.26. Junior Anna Clevenger was 1^st in the 400 in 1:00.55, senior Callie Duff won the high jump at 5-0, sophomore Ava Beningo was 1^st in the triple jump with a 33-1 ½ and senior Gianna Endicott threw 82-2 for 1^st in the discus.

Other winners in the girls meet were Lower Cape May senior Jasmine Black ran 17.40 in the 100-meter hurdles, Wildwood Catholic senior Angelina Edwards won the intermediates in 1:07.96, Middle Township senior Haylie Rowlands cleared 8-6 in the pole vault, Lower Cape senior Ella Biersbach long jumped a PR 18-1 ¼ to win the long jump, Middle junior Allison Nagle threw a PR 118-0 for 1^st in the javelin.

The Ocean City boys scored 186 points to win the team title.

Senior Garrett Sampson swept the three throws [39-9, 132-6, 143-2], senior John Stamm doubled the horizontal jumps [20-1 1/2, 39-2 1/2], and senior Erik Priesner and sophomore Benjamin McCarthy  led sweeps in the 800 and 3,200. Junior Nathan Aschmann won the 1,600, senior Jude Govern swept the 100 and 200 [11.33, 23.11] and freshman Jackson Masters won the 400 in 53.31.

Big race for Amariah Arango in Baltimore at the East Coast International Showcase at Morgan State, with a PR 2:13.32 to win the 800.

Arango’s time is fastest in New Jersey this year by a sophomore, just ahead of Moorestown’s Payton Derer, who ran 2:14.44 in Yeadon, Pa., last month.

Arango’s previous PR was a 2:16.48 just last month at Lenape. Before that it was 2:19.11 when she placed 4^th at the state Group 3 meet at the Bubble in February. So she’s improved by nearly six seconds in three weeks.

Arango broke the Winslow school record of 2:15.77 set in May by Ava Millner at South Jersey Group 3 Sectionals at Delsea.

Arango ran unpressed, winning by 30 meters.

Her time is 10^th-fastest on the all-time Camden County list and 10^th-fastest in New Jersey this year and 4^th-fastest by a South Jersey girl, behind Natalie Dumas [2:04.00], Dylan Hosty [2:09.27] and Carly Godfrey [2:13.19].

All-Time Camden County 800 List
2:00.11 … Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 2025
2:07.33 … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2009
2:08.87 … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2001
2:09.27 … Dylan Hosty [Haddonfield], 2026
2:10.44 … Kadence Dumas [Eastern], 2023
2:11.45 … Sydney Coppolino [Sterling], 2017
2:11.80 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2016
2:12.33 … Grace Gutowski [Paul VI], 2025
2:12.85 … Greta Feldman [Haddonfield], 2008
2:13.32 … Amariah Arango [Winslow Twp.], 2026
2:13.74 … Briana Roberts [Pennsauken], 2016
2:13.34 … Holly Cosnett [Haddonfield], 2000
2:13.72 … Lindsay Colflesh [Haddonfield], 2021
2:13.74 … Brianna Roberts [Pennsauken], 2016
2:13.80 … Holly Cosnett [Haddonfield], 2000

Washington Township’s Dahlia Beasley put together a lifetime-best heptathlon at a recent meet in Gainesville, increasing her PR from 5,143 to 5,217 points in her 2^nd lifetime heptathlon.

That score is 6^th-highest in Kentucky history and 5^th-highest ever by a South Jersey woman.

Along the way, she recorded four wind-legal PRs.

Beasley opened with a 14.76 with a legal 1.6 tailwind for 874 points in the 100-meter hurdles. She ran 14.75 in Austin last month but that was aided by a 2.6 meters-per-second wind.

Next was the high jump, and Beasley cleared 5-5 ¼ for 806 points. Her PR is a 5-7 in her previous heptathlon in Austin last month.

Beasley threw 35-0 ½ in the shot for 574 points. That’s well beyond her previous PR of 30-7 from an indoor meet in Indianapolis in January.

Beasley sprinted to a 200 PR of 23.79 for a whopping 1,001 points. She’s run faster wind-aided, but this was a wind-legal PR, surpassing a 24.05 in Orlando in March.

Beasley went 18-7 ¼ with a legal 0.7 on her 1^st attempt for 750 points in the long jump. Only a few inches off her PR of 18-11 ¼ from an indoor meet in December in Nashville.

After throwing 73-1 in the javelin for 331 points, Beasley finished with an 800 PR of 2:15.87, worth 881 points.. Well below her previous PR of 2:19.00 from an indoor pentathlon in Fayetteville in January.

During her one year at Rutgers, Beasley didn’t compete in any multi-events, never hurdled, never ran an 800 and never high jumped.

She’s now No. 10 in the SEC after just her 2^nd lifetime heptathlon.

Here’s my best attempt at a South Jersey 5,000-point club:

5,870 … Nia Ali [Pleasantville], Sam Adams Combined Events, April 14, 2016, Santa Barbara, Calif.
5,640 … Tionna Tobias [Winslow Twp.], Big Ten Championships, May 12-13, 2023, Bloomington, Ind.
5,565 … Shana Williams [Bridgeton], World University Games, July 14-15, 1993, Buffalo
5,460 … Brianna Craig [Millville], Big Ten Championships, May 12-13, 2023, Bloomington, Ind.
5,217 … Dahlia Beasley [Washington Twp.], Tom Jones Memoriał, April 16-18, 2026, Gainesville, Fla.
5,050 … Elaina Styer [Ocean City], TCNJ Invite, April 9-10, 2026, Ewing

She never ran one in high school. She never ran one at Penn. She never ran one at Duke. On Sunday, Aliya Garozzo tried something she had never done. An 800.

Garozzo ran 2:07.06 in her first lifetime 800 at the Duke Twilight Invitational in Durham, N.C. Not a bad debut!

Obviously, Garozzo is world class in the 400-meter hurdles [54.90] and national class in the 400 [52.43] and she’s run as fast as 13.52 in the high hurdles. But this was a first for the Sicklerville native.

Garozzo was out fast in 60.77 and came back in 66.29. Her 2:07.06 is No. 11 on the all-time South Jersey alumni list.

Winslow’s Jasmine Jackson shattered the South Jersey record and the New Jersey sophomore record in the 100-meter hurdles Saturday in Baltimore.

Jackson ran 13.39 at an invitational at Morgan State in Baltimore, 5^th-fastest in state history and 7^th-fastest in the U.S. this year.

Jackson broke the South Jersey record of 13.65 that World Champion Nia Ali of Pleasantville ran at 2006 Greensboro Nationals and she broke the state sophomore record of 13.52 set by Taylor Cox at the 2023 USATF Under-20 Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Her time was achieved with legal wind of 1.4 meters per second. Any mark made in a straightaway race or horizontal jump with a wind reading of 2.0 or below is considered legal for record and performance list purposes.

Jackson ran 13.44 in the trials with a legal 0.8 wind.

Jackson’s previous PR was 13.73 from West Philly Nationals last June, which was No. 3 in South Jesey history and tied for 13^th on the all-time state list. She was unpressed in Baltimore, winning by nearly half a second over Aaliyah Mullings of Hydel Group of Schools in St. Catherine, Jamaica.

Jackson’s time is No. 2 on the U.S. Under-18 list and No. 9 on the world Under-18 list.

Only seven women from South Jersey have ever run faster at any point in their lives:

All-Time New Jersey Alumni 100-Meter Hurdles List
12.34 … Nia Ali [Pleasantville], Oct. 6, 2019, Doha, Qatar
13.11 … Tionna Tobias [Winslow], May 25, 2023, Bloomington, Ind.
13.19 … Arianna Smith [Pennsville], May 17, 2025, Norfolk, Va.
13.28 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow], May 15, 2015, Starkville, Miss.
13.29… Jailya Ash [Eastern], May 12, 2023, Villanova, Pa. [+0.9]
13.30 … Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], May 28, 2005, New York
13.36 … Samantha Sharper [Wilson], May 12, 2013, Houston [+0.1]
13.39 … Jasmine Jackson [Winslow Twp.], May 3, 2026, Baltimore [+1.4]
13.61 … Sherese Price [Pleasantville], May 4, 2002, Storrs, Ct. [+0.6]
13.64 … Magenta Taylor [Willingboro], March 24, 2001, Houston [+0.9]
13.65 … Aliya Garozzo [Paul VI], April 6, 2024, Philadelphia [+1.1]

All-Time New Jersey 100-Meter Hurdles List
13.18 … Taylor Cox [Union Catholic], 2025
13.20 … Dawn Bowles (Neptune), 1985
13.34 … Sydney McLaughlin (Union Catholic), 2014
13.35 … Charmaine Walker (Plainfield), 1997
13.39 … Jasmine Jackson [Winslow Twp,], 2026
13.50 … Porscha Dobson (Kent Plaeace), 2003
13.60 … Sofia Swindell [Lawrenceville School], 2025
13.65 … Nia Ali (Pleasantville), 2006
13.67 … Patricia Dziekonska (West Windsor-Plains. North), 2014
13.67 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2019
13.69 … Grace O’Shea [Ramapo], 2019
13.71 … Lanyka Brown (Metuchen), 1996
13.72 … Nichole Hill (Oakcrest), 1997
13.73 … Kim Turko (North Edison), 1997
13.77 … Amber Williams (Roxbury), 2001
13.78 … Lakeema Lewis (Plainfield), 1998
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
13.99 … Imani Gilliam (Pennsauken), 2004
13.99 … Tionna Tobias [Winslow Twp.], 2018

13.39 … Jasmine Jackson [Winslow Twp,], 2026
13.65 … Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 2006
13.72 … Nichole Hill [Oakcrest], 1997
13.73 … Jasmine Jackson [Winslow Twp,], 2025
13.80 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2019
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], 2014
13.99 … Imani Gilliam [Pennsauken], 2004
13.99 … Tionna Tobias [Winslow Twp.], 2018

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

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

13.28 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow], May 15, 2015, Starkville, Miss.

13.30 … Shameka Marshall [Oakcrest], May 28, 2005, New York

Brianna Growalt, an Atlantic Tech junior, moved into the all-time South Jersey 100-meter hurdles top-10 Monday at the Atlantic County meet.

Growalt ran a windy 13.87 [2.9] in the trials but the final was one of the few wind-legal races in the meet [1.7], and she won in 13.98, dropping her PR from 13.99 last month at the Moorestown Invitational.

That 1-100^th of a second was enough to move her from a tie for 11^th-fastest to a tie for 10^th-fastest, with Winslow’s Cidae’a Woods, who ran 13.98 at the 2014 Meet of Champions in South Plainfield.

Growalt’s 13.98 is fastest in New Jersey this year, just ahead of Winslow’s Jasmine Jackson, who ran 14.04 at Lenape last month but has a legal 13.73 from West Philly Nationals this past June.

Growalt also won the 200 in 24.92 with an excessive 2.3 tailwind and she won the 400-meter hurdles in 1:02.99. Only a 2^nd to Mainland senior Camryn DeMorat in the long jump with a 17-9 ½ to DeMorat’s 18-3 [no wind gauge at the long jump] kept her from a quad win.

Mainland doubled up on Egg Harbor, 210-101, to win the team title.

Junior Veronika Andreev won the 100 in 12.18 [2.6] and the triple jump at 34-10 [no wind gauge] and placed 2^nd in the high jump with a 4-10 and 3^rd in the 200 [26.35] for 34 points.

And senior Emma Preissman swept th 800 [2:21.49], 1,600 [5:16.33] and 3,200 [11:57.35] for 30 points.

All-Time South Jersey 100-Meter Hurdles List
13.65 … Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 2006
13.67 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2019
13.72 … Nichole Hill [Oakcrest], 1997
13.73 … Jasmine Jackson [Winslow Twp.], 2025
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], 2014
13.98 … Brianna Growalt [Atlantic Tech], 2026

13.99 … Imani Gilliam [Pennsauken], 2004
13.99 … Tionna Tobias [Winslow Twp.], 2018

Atlantic City senior Jaylen Day, who began the day with a wind-legal PR of 11.13, ran the 11^th-fastest 100 in South Jersey history Monday at the Atlantic County Championships at Egg Harbor.

Day ran a PR 10.75 [with legal 1.7] in the prelims, behind only Oakrest’s Davon Hannah, who ran 10.74 but in a wind-aided race [4.4].

On a day where most races were wind-aided, Day got into the only qualifying heat that wasn’t. Mainland senior Chris Keena [10.86w], Egg Harbor sophomore Derreck Doughty [10.93w] and Holy Spirit junior Zaki Marcus [10.98w] also broke 11 in the prelims.

The final was legal at 1.7 and Day won it in 10.58, with Doughty [10.76] and Marcus [10.93] also sub-11.

Day’s 10.58 is 2^nd-fastest with legal wind in Atlantic County history, behind only Julian Onesti’s 10.56 [+0.8] last May at the state Parochial A meet in Galloway Township.

Day’s time is fastest in New Jersey this year. Seven of the 16-fastest times in South Jersey history have been recorded since 2022.

Day also won the high jump at 6-2 and ran a leg on Atlantic City’s 400-meter relay team, which placed 3^rd in 43.74.

10.28 … Malachi James [Burlington City], 2024 [+0.3]
10.32 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024 [-1.4]
10.41 … Damiere Byrd [Timber Creek], 2010 [+0.1]
10.45 … James Townsend [Holy Cross], 2003 [+1.2]
10.47 … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983 [+0.0]
10.55 … Todd Dutch [Washington Twp.], 2002 [-2.7]
10.55 … Donte Davis [Burlington City], 2025 [+1.3]
10.56 … Julian Onesti [St. Augustine], 2025 [+0.8]
10.57 … Jamil Benjamin [Cumberland Regional], 2006 [+1.4]
10.57 … Yashahya Brown [Washington Twp.], 2024 [+0.9]
10.58 … James Burrus [Moorestown], 2022 [-2.5]
10.58 … Anthony Miles [Winslow Twp.], 2003 [+1.4]
10.58 … Jaylen Day [Atlantic City], 2026 [1.7]
10.59 … Fabian Santiago [Oakcrest] 2012 [+1.2]
10.61 … Jonathan Taylor [Salem], 2017 [+1.5]
10.61 … Quayd Hendryx [Burlington Twp.], 2025 [+1.3]

Wind-Aided [or no wind gauge]

10.18 … Malachi James [Burlington City], 2024 [nwi]
10.21 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024 [nwi]
10.35 … Jamar Ervin [Camden], 2000 [2.0]
10.36 … Damiere Byrd [Timber Creek], 2010 [nwi]
10.46 … Julian Onesti [St. Augustine], 2025 [2.5]
10.47 … James Brown [Glassboro], 2009 [nwi]
10.48 … Donte Davis [Burlington City], 2025 [2.5]
10.49 … Jonathan Taylor [Salem], 2017 [nwi]
10.53 … Todd Dutch [Washington Twp.], 2001
10.54 … Fabian Santiago [Oakrest], 2010 [nwi]
10.55 … Evan Corcoran [Kingsway], 2022 [nwi]
10.56 … Yashahya Brown [Washington Twp.], 2024 [+0.9]
10.57 … Geof Navaro [Absegami], 2008 [nwi]
10.59 … Lloyd Shambry [Gateway], 2024 [nwi]