From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Cherry Hill East’s Alexis Tepper and Atlantic County Tech’s Desi Stroud will be carrying the flag for South Jersey at the NCAA Division 2 Championships in Virginia Beach this weekend.

Tepper, in her first year at Bloomsburg after spending two years at UMBC, qualified as the 21^st seed in the mile with her PR and school-record 4:54.15 at Ocean Breeze last month.

She went on to win PSAC titles in the mile [4:59.73] and 3,000 [10:04.50] as well as the DMR [12:11.32] and also took 2^nd in the 800 [2:16.90].

Stroud qualified in the long jump with a 23-7 ½ at a meet in January in Bethlehem. He has a PR of 24-3 from an outdoor meet last March in Chester, Pa.

Tepper will race in the mile qualifying at 4:05 p.m. Friday. The final is scheduled for 4:50 p.m. on Saturday.

Stroud jumps at 5:10 p.m. Friday.

For South Jersey athletes competing this weekend at the Division 1 Championships click here.

For the story on Division 3 qualifiers click here.

Ocean City’s Elaina Styer, Haddonfield’s Seth Clevenger, Egg Harbor’s Ahmad Fogg and Paulsboro’s Jamile Gantt are among the top seeds heading into the NCAA Division 3 Championships this weekend in Birmingham.

Let’s take a look at the South Jersey contingent that will compete at the Birmingham Crossplex Friday and Saturday:

MEN
60-METER DASH
Rancocas Valley’s Masai Byrd, a Rowan senior, qualified with his PR 6.79 at Ocean Breeze. He’ll race in the 60 trials at 3:15 p.m. Friday, with the final scheduled for 12:10 p.m. Saturday.

200-METER DASH
Three Rowan sprints – sophomore Rajahn Dixon from Eastern, junior Eli Hendricks from Penns Grove and junior Evan Corcoran from Kingsway – will race in the 200 trials at 5:30 p.m. Friday, with the final slated for 6:25 p.m. Saturday. Dixon is the No. 2 seed with his 21.15 at the NJAC Championships at the Ott Center. Hendricks has run 21.31 and Corcoran 21.50.

400-METER DASH
Glassboro’s Dallas Hohney, a Rowan junior, ran 47.75 in Youngstown, Ohio, last month to earn the No. 12 seed. The 400 trials are 4:25 p.m. Friday, with the final following at 5:35 p.m. Saturday.

MILE RUN
West Deptford’s Jacob Cobb, an MIT senior, ran a PR 4:07.01 in Boston to earn the No. 9 seed.  The mile trials are set for 3:50 p.m. Friday with the final at 5:10 p.m. Saturday.

3,000-METER RUN
Haddonfield’s Seth Clevenger, a Rowan junior, is the No. 1 seed with his 7:54.87, 3^rd-fastest all-time in NCAA Division 3. The 3,000 is a final by time at 6:50 p.m. Saturday.

5,000-METER RUN
Clevenger is also top seeded in the 5,000 with his NCAA Division 3-record 13:32.09 in Boston. The 5,000 is a final by time at 6:05 p.m. Friday.

60-METER HURDLES
Rowan has two of the top three seeds and three hurdlers in all. Senior Jason Agyemang is No. 2 seed at 7.87 and senior Kwaku Nkrumah is No. 3 at 7.88. Both are former Division 1 national champions. Also qualifying is senior Valentin Augustin with a PR 8.11.

DISTANCE MEDLEY
Rowan is the No. 8 seed at 9:45.25. The 12 qualifiers all ran between 9:40.22 and 9:46.14. Blaik Slavinski will run the 1,200, Clearview’s Matthew Niedbalski the 400, Teddy Wilson the 800 and Clevenger the mile. The DMR final is 7:30 p.m. Friday.

HIGH JUMP
Rowan has three of the top four seeds and five jumpers in all. NCAA Division 3 freshman record holder David Brown of Edison is the top see at 7-2 ¼, Paulsboro’s Jamile Gantt and Noah Wampole from Radnor are tied as No. 3 seed at 6-10 ¾, Pleasantville’s  Isaiah Davenport is tied for No. 5 at 6-10 ¼ and Arrington Rhym from Hamilton West is tied for No. 10 at 6-9. Also, Highland’s Jayden DeLeon, a Rutgers-Camden freshman, is tied for the No. 5 seed at 6-10 ¼. The high jump is at 4:45 p.m. Saturday.

LONG JUMP
Three of the top 11 seeds are from South Jersey. Rowan freshman Anthony Parker from Salem is No. 3 at 25-0, Stockton junior Ahmad Fogg from Egg Harbor Township is No. 4 at 24-9 and Rowan freshman Bright John from Sterling is No. 11 at 23-11 ½. The long jump is at 12:30 p.m. Friday.

TRIPLE JUMP
Fogg is No. 2 seed in the triple at 49-9 ¼ and Rowan junior Joshua Justin from Passaic County Tech is No. 5 at 49-2 ¼, both from the NJAC meet at the Ott. The men’s triple is at noon Saturday.

WOMEN
5,000-METER RUN
Rowan junior Gabriella Pagano from Pope Paul XXIII is seeded 7^th at 16:45.30. The race starts at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday.

60-METER HURDLES
Rowan sophomore Nyla Jones from Timber Creek is seeded 11^th with her PR 8.69 from the Ott Center. Trials are 2:30 p.m. Friday, final at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

PENTATHLON
Stockton junior Elaina Styer from Ocean City is the top seed with her 3,747 points at the NJAC Championships at the Ott. Styer has PRs of 8.82, 5-5 ¼, 34-9, 18-0 ½ and 2:21.80. Pentathlon schedule Friday has the hurdles at 11:20 a.m., high jump at 12:20 a.m., shot put at 2:05 p.m., long jump at 3:35 p.m. and the 800 at 5:20 p.m.

The Pennsauken girls ran one of the 20-fastest 4-by-4’s in South Jersey history Sunday and they did it without Sianni Wynn.

Pennsauken placed 4^th in the Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze in 3:54.43 with a lineup of Sanaya Dupree, Olivia Dupree, Rai-Ana Rucker and Hope Edwards.

Wynn, who has run as fast as 52.80 – 5^th-fastest in state history – but on Sunday she was watching her fast teammates handle the 4-by-4. She’s listed in the official results but did not race.

Sanaya Dupree led off with a 58.96 split, her cousin Olivia ran 58.25, Rucker split 1:00.25 and Edwards anchored in 56.94.

Pennsauken’s time is No. 11 in Camden County history and No. 18 on the all-time South Jersey list. Pennsauken’s previous school record was 3:59.69 from the Group 3 state relays with Olivia Dupree, Ruckeer, Edwards and Wynn.

Their time is also 18^th-fastest in Meet of Champions history and the fastest 4^th-place time ever, just below Eastern’s 3:54.64 last year.

Winslow is the only South Jersey school to run faster at a Meet of Champions, with 3:45.50 this year, 3:45.89 last year and 3:51.49 in 2017.

This spring, Pennsauken will chase its outdoor school record of 3:50.21 set last April at the Penn Relays with Sianni Olivia and Sanaya Dupree, Ameenah Rodriguez and Wynn.

Pennsauken won’t contest the 4-by-4 at Boston Nationals but will load up the sprint medley with Wynn and Edwards likely handling the long legs. Edwards ran 2:13 .65 last spring as a Moorestown freshman and was the No. 2 freshman in New Jersey.

All-Time South Jersey 1,600-Meter Relay List
3:44.74 … Winslow Twp., 2025
3:45.37 … Willingboro, 2003
3:45.50 … Winslow Twp., 2026
3:47.95 … Willingboro, 2002
3:49.07 … Camden, 1995
3:49.50 … Winslow Twp., 2024
3:49.59 … Timber Creek, 2024
3:51.49 … Winslow Twp., 2017
3:52.37 … Willingboro, 2000
3:52.55 … Wilson, 2006
3:53.07 … Willingboro, 2025
3:53.61 … Willingboro, 1998
3:53.81 … Paul VI, 2020
3:53.6h … Willingboro, 1999
3:53.82 … Timber Creek, 2023
3:53.97 … Rancocas Valley, 2019
3:54.38 … Camden, 2009
3:54.43 … Pennsauken, 2026
3:54.59 … Willingboro, 2024
3:54.63 … Eastern, 2025
3:54.4h … Eastern, 2003
3:54.62 … Rancocas Valley, 2020
3:54.69 … Eastern, 2023
3:54.82 … Millville, 2008
3:54.99 … Winslow Twp., 2018

All-Time Meet of Champions 4-by-4 List
3:41.91 … Union Catholic, 2026 [1]
3:45.50 … Winslow Twp. 2026 [2]
3:45.70 … Union Catholic, 2025 [1]
3:45.89 … Winslow Twp., 2025 [2]
3:47.27 … Union Catholic, 2016 [1]

3:48.30 … Columbia, 2013 [1]

3:49.18 … Rumson Fair-Haven, 2025 [3]

3:50.32 … Union Catholic, 2015 [1]

3:50.82 … Union Catholic, 2017 [1]

3:51.49 … Winslow, 2017 [2]

3:51.68 … Union Catholic, 2020 [1]

3:52.16 … Union Catholic, 2023 [1]

3:52.76 … Columbia, 2014 [1]

3:53.50 … Columbia, 2010 [1]

3:53.84 … Union Catholic, 2019 [1]

3:54.10 … Piscataway, 2023 [2]
3:54.30 … Ramapo, 2026 [3]
3:54.43 … Pennsauken, 2026 [4]

3:54.64 … Eastern, 2025 [4]

3:54.69 … Eastern, 2023 [3]

St. Augustine senior Marc Maccario placed 4^th in the 400 at the Meet of Champions Sunday and ran within 22-100ths of a second of the Atlantic County record.

Maccario ran an indoor PR 45.57, 3^rd-fastest in Atlantic county history behind a 48.45 from Pleasantville’s Xander Roberts-Bogin at 2022 Easterns at the Armory and a 48.48 by Egg Harbor’s Amir Brock at 2017 Easterns, also at the Armory.

His time is tied for 11^th-fastest in South Jersey history, 2-100ths of a second outside the all-time top-10. He’ll have a chance to move on those lists at Boston Nationals this weekend.

Maccario’s 48.57 is 15^th-fastest in meet history and tied for 3^rd-fastest by a South Jersey quarter-miler. Bryce Tucker of Pennsauken placed 2^nd in 47.50 in 2023, and Winslow’s Jayden Poteat was 2^nd in 48.43 last year.

His time is also 2^nd-fastest 4^th-place time in meet history behind Ryan Matulonis’s 48.26 in 2023. Clayton’s Alexander Osayemi also ran 48.57 for 4^th place last year.

Maccario first broke 50 seconds at Delsea last spring with a 49.32 and then broke 49 for the first time when he won the state Parochial A title at the Bubble in 48.63. He PR’d outdoors at 48.33 at the Meet of Champions at Pennsauken.

Maccario is the latest stud from the Buena Vista Township program that brought you sub-4-minute miler Mark Sivieri and national scholastic hurdles champion Sincere Rhea.

All-Time Meet of Champions 400 List
47.35 … Xavier Donaldson [Seton Hall Prep], 2023 [1]
47.43 … Jordaine Johnson [East Orange], 2025 [1]
47.49 … Seven Garcia [Hackensack], 2026 [1]
47.50 … Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], 2023 [2]
47.67 … Crue Brown [Manalapan], 2026 [2]
48.00 … Alexander Sadikov [Ocean Township], 2023 [3]
48.26 … Zyaire Clemes [Trenton], 2013 [1]
48.26 … Ryan Matulonis [Seton Hall Prep], 2023 [4]
48.33 … Taylor McLaughlin [Union Catholic], 2015 [1]
48.43 … Jayden Poteat [Winslow Twp.], 2025 [2]
48.46 … Carlos Venegas [St. Joe’s-Metuchen], 2026 [3]
48.48 … Najee Glass [St. Peter’s Prep], 2011 [1]
48.50 … Lance Wigfall [East Orange], 2003 [1]
48.53 … Seven Garcia [Hackensack], 2025 [3]
48.57 … Alexander Osayemi. [Clayton], 2025 [4]
48.57 … Marc Maccario [St. Augustine], 2026 [4]
48.58 … Chinedu Amonu [Ewing], 2013 [2]
48.66 … Lamont Smith [Willingboro], 1991 [1]
48.66 … Adam Gorka [South Brunswick], 2020 [1]
48.71 … Mario Heslop [Franklin Twp.], 2018 [1]
48.76 … Favour Owolabi [North Star Academy], 2025 [5]
48.77 … Nasir Haines [Freehold Twp.], 2015 [2]
48.87 … Jack Ahart [Kinnelon], 2023 [5]
48.92 … Charles Cox [Monmouth], 2007 [1]
48.96 … Lathan Brown [Deptford], 2023 [6]
48.98 … Nadale Buntin [J.P. Stevens], 2018 [2]

All-Time South Jersey Indoor 400 List
47.50 … Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], 2023
47.90 … Brandon Outlaw [Moorestown], 2017
48.27 … Jade Smith [Camden], 2002
48.36 … Mohammad Kanu [Lenape], 2000
48.43 … Jayden Poteat [Winslow Twp.], 2025
48.45 … Xander Roberts-Bogin [Pleasantville], 2022
48.45 … Premier Wynn [Pennsauken], 2023
48.48 … Amir Brock [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2017
48.50 … Alex Reber [Cherry Hill East], 2013
48.55 … Royce Reed [Bridgeton], 1995
48.57 … Alexander Osayemi [Clayton], 2025
48.57 … Marc Maccario [St. Augustine], 2026
48.64 … Keith Griffith [Florence], 2010
48.68 … Lamont Smith [Willingboro], 1991
48.72 … Michael Mazero [Paul VI], 2022
48.74 … John Morris [Camden], 2001
48.75 … Luke Colehower [Haddonfield], 2017
48.79 … Gabriel Moronta [Pleasantville], 2020
48.7h … Curt Mcintyre [Bridgeton], 1992
48.91 … Marlin Gross [Bridgeton], 2001
48.91 … Rob Gary [Lenape], 1998
48.96 … Lathan Brown [Deptford], 2023

Audubon senior Riley Fayer ran the fastest 1,600 by a Group 1 girl in 12 years Sunday at the Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze.

Fayer ran 4:55.66, 12^th-fastest in South Jersey history and fastest by any Group 1 girl since Julia Guerra of Indian Hills ran 4:54.63 at 2014 states at the Bubble.

Fayer ran 5:13.29 as a freshman, 5:18.23 as a sophomore and 5:07.46 as a junior before PRing this past spring with a 5:01.25 at the outdoor Meet of Champions at Pennsauken. She ran an indoor PR 5:02.97 in winning the stat Group 1 race at the Bubble last month before her breakthrough on Sunday.

Fayer was out in 71.17, then ran her next two 400s in 75.88 and 75.07 before closing in 73.58, with her final lap in 36.56.

She ran the fastest 7^th-place time in Meet of Champions history, breaking the mark of 4:56.87 set last year by Macy Huber of nearby Paul VI.

The only faster Group 1 runner from South Jersey is Erin Donohue. Haddonfield flip-flopped from Group 1 to 2 while Donohue was there, but indoors she ran 4:51.15 as a Group 1 runner at 2001 Prince Georges County (Md.) Nationals.

All-Time Meet of Champions Performance List
4:35.71 … Paige Sheppard [Union Catholic], 2026 [1]
4:37.60 … Sophia Thompson [Union Catholic], 2026 [2]
4:45.38 …….. Sheppard, 2025 [1]

4:47.83 … Sophia Thompson [Union Catholic], 2025 [2]
4:48.23 … Jill Smith [Southern Regional], 2009 [1]

4:48.5h … Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1983 [1]

4:49.53 … Emma Zawatski [Freehold Twp.], 2023 [1]

4:50.85 … Christina Rancan [West Windsor-Plainsboro South], 2016 [1]

4:51.18 … Ciara Roche [Freehold Twp.], 2016 [2]
4:51.58 … Dylan Hosty [Haddonfield], 2026 [3]

4:51.60 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2016 [3]

4;51.71 … Lilly Shapiro [Colts Neck], 2022 [1]
4:52.10 … Jennifer Friedman [Ridge], 2026 [4]

4:52.96 … Julia Scrudato [Montgomery], 2023 [2]

4:53.17 … Kylene Cochrane [West Morris Central], 2014 [1]

4:53.36 … Lindsey Kane [Washington Twp.], 2014 [2]

4:53.39 … Christina Allen [River Dell], 2022 [2]

4:53.84 … Jessica Abbott [Manalapan], 2025 [3]

4;53.83 … Cate DeSousa [Red Bank Catholic], 2022 [3]
4:53.96 … Keira Monagle [Columbia], 2026 [5]

4:53.98 …….. Smith, 2007 [1]

4:54.15 … Marin Warner [Holmdel], 2014 [3]

4:54.41 … Molly McNamara [Red Bank Catholic], 2011 [1]

4:54.58 … Celine Mazzi [Delsea], 2014 [4]

4:54.85 … Ivy Slavinski [Point Pleasant Borough], 2025 [4]

4:55.21 … Amanda Marino [Jackson], 2006 [1]

4:55.33 … Katherine Keating [Ridgewood], 2025 [5]

4:55.39 …….. Allen, 2023 [3]
4:55.55 … Kayla Devine [Union Catholic], 2026 [6]
4:55.66 … Riley Fayer [Audubon], 2026 [7]

4:55.7h …….. Rowen, 1982 [1]

4:56.08 … Jenn Ennis [Roxbury], 2006 [2]

4:56.0h … Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro], 1985 [1]

4:56.32 …….. Zawatski, 2022 [4]

4:56.32 … Kayla Devine [Union Catholic], 2025 [6]

4:56.87 … Macy Huber [Paul VI], 2025 [7]

4:56.96 … Madison Brand [Middletown South], 2018 [1]

4:57.12 … Megan Quimby [Lenape], 2016 [4]
4:57.12 … Addison Hansen [Bergen County Tech], 2026 [8]

4:57.13 … Caroline Schleif [Metuchen], 2022 [5]

4:57.15 … Katie Hamilton [Westfield], 2020 [1]

4:57.90 … Danielle Tauro [Southern Regional], 2005 [1]

4:57.95 … Lily Oliver [Toms River South], 2022 [6]

4:57.8h … Karen Ahearn [Bernards], 1985 [2]

4:58.07 … Remy Dubac [Clifton], 2023 [4]

4:58.26 …….. Ahearn, 1986 [1]

4:58.23 … Katie Watson [Summit], 2011 [2]

4:58.38 … Liana Marzano [Red Bank Catholic], 2012 [1]

4:58.42 … Leah Brogan [Monsignor Donovan], 2005 [2]

4:58.46 … Jillian Turner [New Providence], 2016 [5]

4:58.47 … Haley Mahn [Hopewell Valley], 2014 [5]

4:58.53 … Ajee’ Wilson [Neptune], 2010 [1]
4:58.72 … Nora Eberle [Toms River North], 2026 [9]

4:58.79 … McNamara [Red Bank Catholic], 2009 [2]

4:58.81 … Kelsey Ramsey, [Ramapo], 2007

4:58.88 …….. Rancan, 2015 [1]

4:59.04 …….. Gess, 2017 [1]

4:59.05 … Elena DiMarcello [North Hunterdon], 2017 [2]

4:59.06 …….. Shapiro, 2020 [2]

4:59.07 … Claudia DiSomma [Sparta], 2010 [2]

4:59.15 …….. Lockbaum, 1986 [2]

4:59.22 … Liz Wellman [Randolph], 2014 [6]

4:59.26 … Jerika Lufrano [Union Catholic], 2019 [1]
4:59.35 … Addison Weiss [Cherry Hill East], 2026 [10]

4:59.42 … Emma McGill [Voorhees], 2020 [3]

4:59.46 … Sadie Honig [Manalapan], 2025 [8]

4:59.59 … Jacqueline Gottuso [Rumson-Fair Haven], 2014 [7]

4:59.60 … Paige Boyce [North Hunterdon], 2023 [5]

4:59.67 … Julia Guerra [Indian Hills], 2014 [8]

4:59.73 … Camryn Wennersten [Ridgewood], 2019 [2]

4:59.74 … Abby Loveys [Randolph], 2018 [2]
4:59.74 … Kaylee Finnegan [Ramey], 2026 [11]

4:59.82 … Sara Khiri [Dickinson], 2023 [6]

All-Time South Jersey 1,600 List
4:41.52y … Michelle Rowen [Wash. Twp.], 1983
4:49.46y … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2001
4:50.44y … Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 2025
4:51.58 … Dylan Hosty [Haddonfield], 2026

4:51.60 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2016
4:52.34 … Rachel Vick [Kingsway], 2017
4:52.90 … Shaelan McNally [Paul VI], 2024
4:53.36 … Lindsey Kane [Washington Twp.], 2014
4:53.85 … Nicole Clifford [Cherokee], 2022
4:54.58 … Celine Mazzi [Delsea], 2014
4:55.04y … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2010
4:55.66 … Riley Fayer [Audubon], 2026 [7]

4:56.1h,y … Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro], 1985
4:56.87 … Macy Huber [Paul VI], 2025
4:57.12 … Megan Quimby [Lenape], 2015
4:57.72 … Caitlin Orr [Lenape], 2010
4:57.77y … Aubrey Pierontoni [Kingsway], 2022
4:58.48 … Natalia Ocasio [Lenape], 2010
4:58.54 … Kerry O’Day [Cherokee], 2024
4:59.28 … Grace Wassell [Highland], 2022
4:59.29 … Julia Despirito [Shawnee], 2014
4:59.39 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2012

The Winslow girls ran the 8^th-fastest 4-by-4 in state history Sunday at the Meet of Champions and were less than a second off their South Jersey record.

Olivia Okaro, Cinniya Robinson, Nylah Lovelace-Crump and Leeya Joseph ran 3:45.50 at the Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze, placing 2^nd to Union Transfer. Both UT and Winslow ran under the previous meet record of 3:45.70 set by the Scotch Plains-based all-star program last year.

Winslow set the South Jersey record 3:44.74 at last year’s Boston Nationals with Robinson joined by Skyhe Seamon, Amariah Arango and Jasmine Jackson.

Okaro led off in 56.41, Robinson split 55.55, Lovelace-Crump ran 57.14 and Joseph, who earier broke the meet record in the long jump, anchored in 56.40.

Winslow’s time is No. 7 in the U.S. this year, according to the MileSplit national database.  UC is No. 1 nationally with its 3:41.91 on Sunday.

Union Catholic and Winslow are responsible for 10 of the 13-fastest times in meet history. Winslow has run the three-fastest times by South Jersey schools in meet history.

All-Time Meet of Champions 4-by-4 List
3:41.90 … Union Catholic, 2026 [1]
3:45.50 … Winslow Twp. 2026 [2]
3:45.70 … Union Catholic, 2025 [1]
3:45.89 … Winslow Twp., 2025 [2]
3:47.27 … Union Catholic, 2016 [1]
3:48.30 … Columbia, 2013 [1]
3:49.18 … Rumson Fair-Haven, 2025 [3]
3:50.32 … Union Catholic, 2015 [1]
3:50.82 … Union Catholic, 2017 [1]
3:51.49 … Winslow, 2017 [2]
3:51.68 … Union Catholic, 2020 [1]
3:52.16 … Union Catholic, 2023 [1]

All-Time New Jersey 4-by-4 List
3:40.28 … Union Catholic, 2016
3:41.19 … Union Catholic, 2025
3:41.90 … Union Catholic, 2026
3:42.03 … Columbia, 2013
3:43.38 … Union Catholic, 2025
3:44.74 … Winslow Twp., 2025
3:45.37 … Willingboro, 2003
3:45.50 … Winslow Twp., 2026
3:46.06 … Winslow Twp., 2026
3:46.42 … Columbia, 2014
3:47.03 … Union Catholic, 2015
3:47.31 … Union Catholic, 2019
3:47.59 … Union Catholic, 2024
3:47.95 … Willingboro, 2002
3:48.9h … Plainfield, 1980
3:49.07 … Camden, 1995
3:49.18 … Rumson-Fair Haven, 2025
3:49.50 … East Orange, 2006
3:49.50 … Winslow Twp., 2024
3:49.59 … Timber Creek, 2024

Haddonfield’s Dylan Hosty lowered her own South Jersey freshman record with a 3^rd-place finish in the 1,600 at the Meet of Champions Sunday at Ocean Breeze.

Hosty ran 4:51.58, dropping her PR from 4:51.97 converted from a 4:53.67 full mile at Ocean Breeze in January.

Her time is fastest by a South Jersey runner at the meet of Champions in 43 years and 4^th-fastest all-time by a South Jersey girl. It’s 9th-fastest in Meet of Champions history.

Hosty’s time is fastest by a South Jersey girl at the M-of-C since Michelle Rowen of Washington Township won the 1983 race at Princeton’s Jadwin Gym in a hand-timed 4:48.5.

She ran within two seconds of the hallowed Camden County record of 4:49.46 set by Olympian Erin Donohue – now a Haddonfield coach – converted from a 4:51.15 full mile at the 2001 Prince Georges County Nationals in Landover, Md.

Rowan set the South Jersey record of 4:41.52 convered from a 4:43.16 full mile at 1983 Easterns at Harvard’s Gordon Track in Cambridge, Mass.

Hosty came through 800 in 2:26.73, then ran her next 400 in 74.89 and closed in 69.98, with her final lap in 33.68.

She’s the fastest 3rd-place finisher in meet history. Another Haddonfield girl, Brianna Gess, ran 4:51.60 in 2016.

Her time is No. 2 among U.S. freshmen, according to the MileSplit national database. Eliza Schwass of Ludington (Mich.) ran 4:46.87 in a meet in December in Allendale Charter Township, Mich.

In the same race, Audubon senior Riley Fayer placed 7th in 4:55.66, 12th-fastest in South Jersey history and fastest by a New Jersey Group 1 runner in 12 years. More on Riley’s race soon!

All-Time Meet of Champions Performance List
4:35.71 … Paige Sheppard [Union Catholic], 2026 [1]
4:37.60 … Sophia Thompson [Union Catholic], 2026 [2]
4:45.38 …….. Sheppard, 2025 [1]
4:47.83 … Sophia Thompson [Union Catholic], 2025 [2]
4:48.23 … Jill Smith [Southern Regional], 2009 [1]
4:48.5h … Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1983 [1]
4:49.53 … Emma Zawatski [Freehold Twp.], 2023 [1]
4:50.85 … Christina Rancan [West Windsor-Plainsboro South], 2016 [1]
4:51.18 … Ciara Roche [Freehold Twp.], 2016 [2]
4:51.58 … Dylan Hosty [Haddonfield], 2026 [3]
4:51.60 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2016 [3]
4;51.71 … Lilly Shapiro [Colts Neck], 2022 [1]
4:52.10 … Jennifer Friedman [Ridge], 2026 [4]
4:52.96 … Julia Scrudato [Montgomery], 2023 [2]
4:53.17 … Kylene Cochrane [West Morris Central], 2014 [1]
4:53.36 … Lindsey Kane [Washington Twp.], 2014 [2]
4:53.39 … Christina Allen [River Dell], 2022 [2]
4:53.84 … Jessica Abbott [Manalapan], 2025 [3]
4;53.83 … Cate DeSousa [Red Bank Catholic], 2022 [3]
4:53.96 … Keira Monagle [Columbia], 2026 [5]
4:53.98 …….. Smith, 2007 [1]
4:54.15 … Marin Warner [Holmdel], 2014 [3]
4:54.41 … Molly McNamara [Red Bank Catholic], 2011 [1]
4:54.58 … Celine Mazzi [Delsea], 2014 [4]
4:54.85 … Ivy Slavinski [Point Pleasant Borough], 2025 [4]
4:55.21 … Amanda Marino [Jackson], 2006 [1]
4:55.33 … Katherine Keating [Ridgewood], 2025 [5]
4:55.39 …….. Allen, 2023 [3]
4:55.55 … Kayla Devine [Union Catholic], 2026 [6]
4:55.66 … Riley Fayer [Audubon], 2026 [7]
4:55.7h …….. Rowen, 1982 [1]
4:56.08 … Jenn Ennis [Roxbury], 2006 [2]
4:56.0h … Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro], 1985 [1]
4:56.32 …….. Zawatski, 2022 [4]
4:56.32 … Kayla Devine [Union Catholic], 2025 [6]
4:56.87 … Macy Huber [Paul VI], 2025 [7]
4:56.96 … Madison Brand [Middletown South], 2018 [1]
4:57.12 … Megan Quimby [Lenape], 2016 [4]
4:57.12 … Addison Hansen [Bergen County Tech], 2026 [8]
4:57.13 … Caroline Schleif [Metuchen], 2022 [5]
4:57.15 … Katie Hamilton [Westfield], 2020 [1]
4:57.90 … Danielle Tauro [Southern Regional], 2005 [1]
4:57.95 … Lily Oliver [Toms River South], 2022 [6]
4:57.8h … Karen Ahearn [Bernards], 1985 [2]
4:58.07 … Remy Dubac [Clifton], 2023 [4]
4:58.26 …….. Ahearn, 1986 [1]
4:58.23 … Katie Watson [Summit], 2011 [2]
4:58.38 … Liana Marzano [Red Bank Catholic], 2012 [1]
4:58.42 … Leah Brogan [Monsignor Donovan], 2005 [2]
4:58.46 … Jillian Turner [New Providence], 2016 [5]
4:58.47 … Haley Mahn [Hopewell Valley], 2014 [5]
4:58.53 … Ajee’ Wilson [Neptune], 2010 [1]
4:58.72 … Nora Eberle [Toms River North], 2026 [9]
4:58.79 … McNamara [Red Bank Catholic], 2009 [2]
4:58.81 … Kelsey Ramsey, [Ramapo], 2007
4:58.88 …….. Rancan, 2015 [1]
4:59.04 …….. Gess, 2017 [1]
4:59.05 … Elena DiMarcello [North Hunterdon], 2017 [2]
4:59.06 …….. Shapiro, 2020 [2]
4:59.07 … Claudia DiSomma [Sparta], 2010 [2]
4:59.15 …….. Lockbaum, 1986 [2]
4:59.22 … Liz Wellman [Randolph], 2014 [6]
4:59.26 … Jerika Lufrano [Union Catholic], 2019 [1]
4:59.35 … Addison Weiss [Cherry Hill East], 2026 [10]
4:59.42 … Emma McGill [Voorhees], 2020 [3]
4:59.46 … Sadie Honig [Manalapan], 2025 [8]
4:59.59 … Jacqueline Gottuso [Rumson-Fair Haven], 2014 [7]
4:59.60 … Paige Boyce [North Hunterdon], 2023 [5]
4:59.67 … Julia Guerra [Indian Hills], 2014 [8]
4:59.73 … Camryn Wennersten [Ridgewood], 2019 [2]
4:59.74 … Abby Loveys [Randolph], 2018 [2]
4:59.74 … Kaylee Finnegan [Ramey], 2026 [11]
4:59.82 … Sara Khiri [Dickinson], 2023 [6]

All-Time South Jersey 1,600 List
4:41.52y … Michelle Rowen [Wash. Twp.], 1983
4:49.46y … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2001
4:50.44y … Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 2025
4:51.58 … Dylan Hosty [Haddonfield], 2026
4:51.60 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2016
4:52.34 … Rachel Vick [Kingsway], 2017
4:52.90 … Shaelan McNally [Paul VI], 2024
4:53.36 … Lindsey Kane [Washington Twp.], 2014
4:53.85 … Nicole Clifford [Cherokee], 2022
4:54.58 … Celine Mazzi [Delsea], 2014
4:55.04y … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2010
4:55.66 … Riley Fayer [Audubon], 2026 [7]
4:56.1h,y … Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro], 1985
4:56.87 … Macy Huber [Paul VI], 2025
4:57.12 … Megan Quimby [Lenape], 2015
4:57.72 … Caitlin Orr [Lenape], 2010
4:57.77y … Aubrey Pierontoni [Kingsway], 2022
4:58.48 … Natalia Ocasio [Lenape], 2010
4:58.54 … Kerry O’Day [Cherokee], 2024
4:59.28 … Grace Wassell [Highland], 2022
4:59.29 … Julia Despirito [Shawnee], 2014
4:59.39 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2012

Senior Mason Henry became Deptford’s 1^st individual indoor Meet of Champions winner Sunday when he cleared 15-0 on his 1^stattempt at Ocean Breeze.

Henry, New Jersey’s top vaulter with his 15-6 from Easterns at the Armory last month, has lost only once this yaer, at the Nike Elite at the Ott Center in January to Delsea senior Mason Murray on fewer misses at 13-6.

Deptford has had two Meet of Champions winners outdoors – Ken Manahan in the discus in 1976 and Bruce Owens in the 100 in 2004.

Henry is the 4^th South Jersey vaulter to win the indoor Meet of Champions, joining Ocean City’s John Oberg in 2006, West Deptford’s Daniel Batdorf in 2008 and Oakcrest’s Ryan Merlino in 2024.

Henry passed through 13-0, then cleared 13-6, 14-0, 14-6 and 15-0 on his 1^st attempt before taking three jumps at 15-7, which would have been the highest clearance any South Jersey vaulter has ever cleared at the Meet of Champions.

The last Deptford boy to place in the top three in an individual event at the indoor MoC was Owens, who ran 6.59 for 2^nd place to Union’s Latif Brewer in the 2005 meet at Princeton’s  Jadwin Gym.

Murray, who has cleared 14-6 this year, cleared 13-6 on his 3^rd attempt and wound up 7^th on misses.

Woodstown senior Josh Crawford ran the 6^th-fastest 800 in South Jersey history and placed 3^rd Sunday in the Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze.

Crawford dropped his indoor PR from 1:54.94 at the Armory in January to 1:53.50, lowering his own Salem County record. He’s the first Woodstown boy to ever medal in any event at an indoor Meet of Champions.

Crawford got out fast, coming through 400 in 55.70 and then closed in 29.91 amd 27.89.  His 3^rd place and his time are both best for a Group 1 half-miler at the Meet of Champions since 2020, when Kyle Reers of Delaware Valley Regional of Alexandria Township, Hunterdon County, ran 1:52.81 and placed 3^rd, also at Ocean Breeze.

Crawford’s time is 5^th-fastest ever by a South Jersey 800 runner at the Meet of Champions and fastest since Pleasantville’s Gabriel Moronta – now the Dominic Republic 600-meter national record holder – ran 1:52.46 to win the 2020 race.

Woodstown was the top seed in the 3,200-meter relay but scratched because apparently one of their other runners was either injured or unable to be at Ocean Breeze Sunday.

All-Time Meet of Champions 800-Meter Run List
1:50.90 … Colin Boler [Delbarton], 2023 [1]
1:51.62 … Ryan Daly [Westfield], 2025 [1]
1:51.72 … Isaac Clark [Pleasantville], 2013 [1]
1:51.80 … Derrell Manhertz [Kingsway], 2013 [2]
1:52.09 … Taysaun Wilson [Toms River North], 2025 [2]
1:52.15 … Jacob Clark [Pleasantville], 2013 [3]
1:52.18 … Rey Rivera [Old Bridge], 2017 [1]
1:52.24 … Allen Eke [Union Catholic], 2012 [1]
1:52.46 … Gabriel Moronta [Pleasantville], 2020 [1]
1:52.58 … Keandre Kelly [Union Catholic], 2026 [1]
1:52.66 … Brody Watt [Bernards], 2025 [3]
1:52.67 … A.J. Chavez [West Windsor-Plainsboro-South], 2012 [2]
1:52.70….Charlie Stock [Westfield], 2022 [1]
1:52.76 … Nicholas Medeiros [Old Bridge], 2020 [2]
1:52.81 … Kyle Reers [Delaware Valley], 2020 [3]
1:52.89 … Luke Schagelin [Morris Knolls], 2023 [2]
1:52.92 …Ciaran Brosnan [Union Catholic], 2026 [2]
1:52.93 … Adam Petitjean [Chatham], 2025 [4]
1:53.26 … Elijah Brown [Union Catholic], 2020 [4]
1:53.33 … Jared Mason [West Orange], 2012 [3]
1:53.50 … Josh Crawford [Woodstown], 2026 [3]
1:53.59 … Christian Napoli [Paul VI], 2025 [5]
1:53.68 … Ishmael Muhammad [Oakcrest], 2013 [4]
1:53.70 … Michael Card [Howell], 2025 [6]
1:53.72 … Jalen Ridgeway [Toms River North], 2020 [5]
1:53.77 … Dylan Decambre [Bergen County Vo-Tech], 2023 [3]
1:53.7h … Jean Destine [Elizabeth], 1991 [1]
1:53.90 … James Buser [Mahwah], 2013 [5]
1:53.95 … Joe White [DePaul], 2014 [1]
1:53.95 … Blaik Slavinski [Point Pleasant Boro], 2023 [4[
1:53.98 … Elijah Brown [Union Catholic], 2019 [1]

All-Time South Jersey Indoor 800-Meter Run List
1:51.52 … Jacob Clark [Pleasantville], 2013
1:51.72 … Isaac Clark [Pleasantville], 2013
1:51.80 … Derrell Manhertz [Kingsway], 2013
1:52.46 … Gabriel Moronta [Pleasantville], 2020
1:52.74 … Bobby Poplau [Cherokee], 2024
1:53.50 … Josh Crawford [Woodstown], 2026
1:53.51 … Alan Laws [Pleasantville], 2007
1:53.59 … Christian Napoli [Paul VI], 2025
1:53.68 … Ishmael Muhammad [Oakcrest], 2013
1:54.05 … Dominic Bassey [Winslow Twp.], 2025
1:54.34 … Matthew Littlehales [Delsea], 2026
1:54.53 … Stone Caraccio [Kingsway], 2020
1:54.73 … Chris Manzo [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2024
1:54.80 … Marvin Lewis [Willingboro], 2001
1:54.81 … Bill Dolan [Clearview], 2013
1:54.82 … Xavier Fraction [Washington Twp.], 2009
1:55.00 … Steve Butenewicz [Delsea], 2011
1:55.11 … Quintin Clemons [Union Transfer], 2026 [4]
1:55.14 … Shannon Sherrer [Vineland], 2002
1:55.14 … Zach McBride [Lenape], 2002
1:55.16 … Joe Lewis [Pleasantville], 1998
1:55.16 … Tivo Rivera [Kingsway], 2009
1:55.19 … Isaiah Curbelo [Rancocas Valley], 2016
1:55.19 … Jayden Greene [Washington Twp.], 2020
1:55.42 … Kevin Cianfarino [West Deptford], 2014
1:55.3h … Tony Uzdavines [Williamstown], 1976
1:55.77 … Carmen Cavella [Washington Twp.], 2004
1:55.84 … Matt Poskus [Cinnaminson], 2007
1:55.85 … Karson Chew [Woodstown], 2026
1:55.92 … Bryce Tucker [Pennsauken], 2023
1:55.93 … Derek Gess [Haddonfield], 2017

Winslow senior Leeya Joseph, seeded only 10^th, jumped a season-best by nearly a foot and won the long jump at the Meet of Champions with a PR and a meet record at Ocean Breeze.

Joseph beat New Jersey No.1 and three-time Meet of Champions long jump winner Morgan Holley of Union Catholic by half an inch with a 19-1 ½ on her final jump. She broke Holley’s meet-record 18-10 ¼ from last year.  Holley and Randolph senior Seannah Parsons both surpassed the previous meet record, Holley with a 19-1 on her final jump and Parsons with a 19-0 on her 3^rd jump that had her in the lead until the final round.

Joseph’s 19-1 ½ is No. 16 in state history and No. 7 on the all-time South Jersey indoor list. Joseph is Winslow’s 1^stindividual indoor Meet of Champions winner since 2020, when Nylah Perry won the 400 in 56.19.

Joseph’s best previous jump this year was an 18-2 at the Ott Center last month. She jumped a wind-legal 19-0 last year at the outdoor Meet of Champions at Pennsauken, where she placed 6^th.

The long jump was just added to the Meet of Champions in 2019. There was no meet in 2021,so this was the 7^th time it was contested. Joseph is the first South Jersey girl to win it.

Joseph had four legal jumps and they were all over 18 feet – 18-5, 18-4, 18-4 ½ and then the 19-1 ½. Her previous indoor PR was 18-8 last year at Easterns at the Armory, where she was 2^nd to Nya Tbomas of North Rockland High in Thiells, Rockland County, N.Y.

Rancocas Valley senior Angelina Brown jumped 18-0 on her 1^st attempt and finished 6^th.

All-Time Meet of Champions Long Jump List
19-1 ½ … Leeya Joeph [Winslow Twp., 2026 [1]
19-1 … Morgan Holley [Union Catholic], 2026 [2]
19-0 … Seannah Parsons [Randolph], 2026 [3]
18-10 ¼ … Morgan Holley [Union Catholic], 2025 [1]
18-7 ½ … Nakaja Weaver [North Brunswick], 2019 [1]
18-7 ½ … Jordan Bowers-Strickland [West Side], 2025 [2]
18-7 ¼ … A’Liyah Thomas [Union Catholic], 2020 [1]
18-6 ½ … Tionna Tobias [Winslow Twp.], 2019 [2]
18-5 … Kathryn Brown [Kinnelon], 2019 [3]
18-4 ¼ … Jaidah Garrett [Absegami], 2025 [3]
18-4 … Isabella Alvarez [Pleasantville], 2025 [4]
18-2 ¾ … Bridget McNally [Pope Paul XXIII], 2020 [2]
18-2 ½ … Gabrielle Gorman [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2020 [3]
18-2 ¼ … Karissa Watson [Williamstown], 2020 [4]
18-1 ½ … Lia Malave [Toms River North], 2023 [1]
18-1 ½ … Erin Finley [Randolph], 2022 [1]
18-0 ½ … Emma Cunningham [Ramsey], 2020 [5]
18-0 ½ … Ma’Syiah Brawner [Winslow Twp.], 2025 [5]
18-0 … Alexandra Bonn [Union Catholic], 2023 [2]
18-0 … Leah Ellis [Millville], 2022 [2]
18-0 … Chloe Montgomery [Hillsborough], 2025 [6]

 All-Time New Jersey Indoor Long Jump List
21-7 ½ … Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1981
20-8 ¾ … Keturah Orji [Mount Olive], 2014
20-7 ¾ … Sydney McLaughlin [Union Catholic], 2017
19-11 ¾ … Claire Connor [Rahway], 1984
19-8 ¼ … Tionna Tobias [Winslow], 2016
19-8 ……. Celeste Holder [Parsippany], 2006
19-8 ……. Cidae’a Woods [Winslow], 2014
19-7 ½ … Helen Wilks [Bridgeton], 1993
19-6 …….. Iana Amsterdam [Newark Tech], 2013
19-6 … …..Morgan Holley [Union Catholic], 2026
19-5 ¾ … Kayla Richardson [Columbia], 2014
19-4 ¾ … Celine-Jada Brown [Plainfield], 2022
19-3 ½ … Ma’syiah Brawner [Winslow Twp.], 2024
19-3 …….. Leah Ellis [Millville], 2019
19-2 ¾ … Kaitlin Salisbury [Hawthorne], 2016
19-1 ½ … Carlene Cummings [Englewood], 1998
19-1 ½ … Leeya Joseph [Winslow Twp.], 2026
19-1 ¼  … Kelsey Vieira [Hillsborough], 2016
19-1 ¼ … Kayla Richardson [Columbia], 2014
19-0 ½ … Natalia Hinton [Newark Tech], 2013
19-0 ¼ … Saniyah Evans [Rahway], 2024
19-0 …….. Tatiana Sanders [Paramus Catholic], 2013
19-0 … Saniyah Evans [Rahway], 2024
19-0 … Seannah Parsons [Randolph], 2026