From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Audubon senior Riley Fayer, Ocean City sophomore Riley Tolson and Paul VI junior Grace Gutowski ran three of the six-fastest 1,600s in South Jersey this year Monday night at the Ott Center.

Fayer won the race in 5:04.68, an indoor PR, Tolson was 2nd in a lifetiem-best 5:06.40 and Gutowski took 3rd in 5:07.27, a season-best.

They now rank 3rd, 4th and 6th in South Jersey this year.

Fayer ran negative splits of 2:34.37 and 2:30.31, closing in 73.26. Tolson also negatived, out in 2:34.55 and 2:31.85, as did Gutowski, who split 2:34.35 and 2:32.92.

Fayer is No. 2 in New Jersey Group 1 and fastest South Jersey Group 1 miler since Haddonfield Olympian Erin Donohue ran 4:51.15 in Landover, Md., in March 2001.

Tolson is now No. 8 on the all-time Cape May County indoor list, which is also the all-time Ocean City list.

Also under 5:20 were Mainland, who ran a PR 5:11.48 for 4th, Cherokee senior Sofia Recinto PR’d at 5:15.57, closing in 35.45 and 74.59, and Cherokee senior Maya Kumar, who also PR’d with a 5:19.96.

All-Time Cape May County List
4:49.11 … Renee Tomlin [Ocean City], 2005
4:51.57y … Maeve Smith [Ocean City], 2025
4:54.71 … Megan Hartman [Ocean City], 1994
4:55.41 … Brittany Sedberry [Ocean City], 2004
5:02.43y… Bridgett Flynn [Ocean City], 2014
5:03.57y … Devon Grisbaum [Ocean City], 2015
5:04.40 … Carly Godfrey [Ocean City], 2026
5:06.40 … Riley Tolson [Ocean City], 2026
5:08.37 … Chloe Care [Ocean City], 2025

Gutowski is already 9th-fastest in Camden County history with her 5:03.00 from Virginia Beach Nationals last March.

All-Time Camden County List
4:49.46y … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2001
4:51.60 … Briana Gess [Haddonfield], 2016
4:52.11y … Dylan Hosty [Haddonfield], 2026
4:52.90 … Shaelan McNally [Paul VI], 2024
4:55.04y … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2010
4:56.87 … Macy Huber [Paul VI], 2025
5:01.96 … Grace Wassell [Highland], 2022
5:02.21 … Shelby Cain [Haddonfield], 2014
5:03.00 … Grace Gutowski [Paul VI], 2025
5:03.82 … Allison Colflesh [Haddonfield], 2020

Floyd Whitaker was listed as a senior last year when he placed 2nd in the triple jump at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, so we assumed his college career was over. But he’s back at Oklahoma and has taken his rightful spot once again among the top collegiate triple jumpers and top American jumpers.

Whitaker, a Highland graduate and Minnesota transfer, has jumped at least 53-8 in three of his four meets so far, including an indoor PR 53-9 ¾ in a meet in Norman, Olka.

That makes him No. 13 in the world this year and tied for No. 1 among Americans with teammate and 2024 outdoor NCAA champion Brandon Green, who jumped 53-9 ¾ in the same meet Whitaker did.

The 53-9 ¾ is an indoor PR for Whitaker, topping his previous mark of 52-3 ¼, which he hit in Lubbock in February 2024 and again last January in Norman.

It’s also just half an inch from his lifetime-best 53-10 ¼ from his 2nd-place finish at NCAAs in June.

He finished 2nd at nationals to Green, who has the indoor school record with his 55-3 ½ at SECs last February in College Station.

Whitaker competed indoors in 2022 for Minnesota and in 2023, 2024 and 2025 for Oklahoma, but he only competed in one indoor meet as a true freshman – the Jack Johnson Classic, which he won at 51-5 ½ – and he’s listed as competing unattatched in that meet, so that apparently gave him this year of indoor eligibiity.

Whitaker competed outdoors in 2022 for Minnesota but did not compete at all outdoors in 2023 before resurfacing in Norman for 2024 indoors. So it looks like he used outdoor eligibility seasons in 2022, 2024 and 2025, which should afford him one more year outdoors this spring.

Whitaker’s 53-10 ¼ is the best jump ever by South Jersey athlete, topping a 53-6 ½ by Shawnee graduate Greg Foster Sr. in Flagstaff, Ariz., in May 1988. It’ 3rd among New Jersey jumpers, behind Norm Tate of East Orange, who jumped 54-9 ½ in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1970, and Piscataways Eric Bethea, who jumped 54-7 ½ in Austin in 2019.

Burlington Township senior Laila Fairweather raced into the all-time Burlington County top 10, and Ocean City junior Carly Godfrey broke the Cape May County record in a hot 400-meter dash Monday evening at the SJTCA Meet at the Ott Center.

Fairweather won the race in 57.36 and Godfrey was just behind in 57.58. Fairweather’s time is No. 9 in Burlington County history indoors and a school record. Godfrey broke the Cape May County record of 57.80 set by Ocean City’s Sophia Curtis at 2024 South Jersey Group 3 Sectionals at the Bubble.

Their times are No. 14 and 18 in New Jersey this year and No. 5 and 8 in South Jersey.

Fairweather ran 57.12 outdoors last year when she won the Central Jersey Group 3 sectional race in Jackson. Godfrey had only run one previous 400, a 60.74 a year ago this week at the Bubble. She has PRs of 2:11.08 and 5:04.33 and ran 19:39 at Holmdel. She also owns the Cape May County indoor 800 record with her 2:14.13 at Ocean Breeze last month. Crazy range!

Also under 60 were Haddonfield senior Riley Austin, who was 3rd in 58.81, and Rancocas Valley senior Rhyann Roseboro, who ran 59.41.

Here’s a look at the all-time Burlington County indoor 400 top-10 list:

54.24 … Okechi Ogbuokiri [Willingboro], 2003
55.19 … Michelle Brown [Seneca], 2008
55.21 … Aliyah Taylor [Rancocas Valley], 2017
55.52 … Nester Wea [Willingboro], 2025
56.76 … Simone Thomas [Willingboro], 2003
56.85 … Emily Duffey [Lenape], 2012
57.14 … Danielle Myricks [Willingboro], 2001
57.36 … Shakirah Rutherford [Willingboro], 1999
57.36 … Laila Fairweather [Burlington Twp.], 2026
57.37 … Courtney Foster [Cherokee], 2013

St. Joe’s Crystal Benito is the 2^nd-fastest freshman 400 runner ni the Atlantic 10 after her indoor PR 57.19 Sunday at the Ott Center.

Benito placed 5^th in the 400 at the Penn Invitational in the same race that Washington Township graduate Dylan Giloley ran 56.30 to break the Rider indoor 400 record.

Benito never ran indoor track in high school. She ran 61.91 at the Ott early last month in her first lifetime indoor race, then dropped to 59.09 again at the Ott in her 2^nd indoor race. So that 57.19 was a nearly two-second indoor PR for Benito.

Reagan Garibaldi of Rhode Island leads the Atlantic 10 with a 56.10 from Boston University last month, and she’s the only faster feshman in the conference. Overall, Benito is 8^th-fastest in the A-10 this year.

According to St. Joe’s web site, that 57.19 is 5^th-fastest in St. Joe’s history and fastest in seven years, since Caroline Duffy of Methacton High in Worcester Township, Montgomery County, Pa., set the school-record 54.86 at 2019 ECACs at Boston University.

Benito ran within 2-100ths of a second of the St. Joe’s freshman record of 57.17 set at Ocean Breeze in 2016 by Kelly Liebel of Ephrata, Pa.

Benito ran her outdoor PR 56.50 at Delsea this past May. She won the County Open, placed 2^nd in South Jersey Group 1 Sectionals at Pennsauken and 3^rd at states in Somerest. Benito also ran 2:18.87 at Maple Shade, but she hasn’t run a college 800 yet.

Barone VanKline, a Georgian Court freshman from Florence, ran the 3^rd-fastest 60 in school history Saturday at the PLEX Shootout at Alvernia College in Reading.

After a 7.16 in the prelims, VanKline ran 7.05 in the final, lowering his PR from 7.09, which he initially ran at Ocean Breeze in his first collegiate meet and matched last month in a meet in Lancaster, Pa.

He’s Georgian Court’s fastest sprinter in six years, since Noah Roach from St. Joe’s Metuchen set the school record of 6.86 at the Armory in 2020. The only other sprinter ahead of Vankline on the all-time Georgian Court list is Charles Wolef-Fields from Wildwood Catholic, who ran 6.91 at the Armory in 2019.

TFRRS does not have a Coastal Athletic Conference performance list, but VanKline’s 7.05 ranks 24^th in NCAA Division 2 East Region. But only 5-100ths of a second out of the top 10.

VanKline was Central Jersey Group 1 champ in both the 100 and 200 last spring. He had a high school PR of 7.15 from 2024 Armory Nationals. He also long jumped 20-1 ½ in high school but hasn’t jumped yet at Georgian Court.

I didn’t realize this until just now, but when Cherry Hill East sophomore Addison Weiss ran 5:07.20 at the South Jersey Elite at the Ott Center two weeks ago, she broke a 20-year-old indoor school record.

Weiss ran 5:07.20 and placed 2^nd to Ocean City’s Carly Godfrey, who won the race in 5:04.40.

Weiss broke the school record of 5:07.47 set by Theresa Cattuna when she placed 3^rd behind Danielle Tauro of Southern Regional and Amanda Marino of Jackson at the 2006 state Group 4 meet at Princeton’s Jadwin Gym.

Cattuna holds the Cherry Hill East outdoor record of 4:59.27 from her 6^th-place finish at the 2005 Meet of Champions in South Plainfield.

Another Cherry Hill East runner, junior Ryleigh Budsock, isn’t far behind Weiss. She ran 5:11.14 in the same race at the Ott Center last month that Weiss ran 5:07.20. Weiss and Budsock are currently 3^rd and 7^th in South Jersey this year.

Weiss and Budsock will both be running the 3,200 Monday evening at the Ott Center.

Deptford senior Mason Henry cleared 15-0 for the second time this year Saturday at Ocean Breeze and is New Jersey’s top pole vaulter heading into sectionals.

Henry first cleared 15-0 at Ocean Breeze on Jan. 12 and did it again Saturday to win the Ocean Breeze Invitational. He cleared 13-0, 13-6, 14-0, 14-6 and 15-0 on his 1^st attempts before taking three jumps at 15-2.

Henry is tied for No. 7 in South Jersey history, and tied for No. 6 in Gloucester County history. Of the 10 South Jersey vaulters to clear 15-0 indoors, only three are from outside Gloucester County.

This has been quite a breakthrough season for Henry, who cleared 13-6 once indoors last year, when he placed 4^th at the state Group 3 meet at the Bubble, and then cleared 13-6 twice last spring, both times at Delsea.

He PR’d at the Millrose Trials last month with a 13-9 and then had his 1^st 15-0 clearance on Jan. 12 in a SJTCA meet at Ocean Breeze.

Marcus Hood holds the Deptford school record with a 15-6 at the Bubble this past February and jumped 15-9 outdoors at West Philly Nationals in June.

Henry also PR’d in the high jump with a 6-0 at the state relays, where he teamed with senior Kaden Roane to place 4^th. He’s 10^th in South Jersey in the high jump.

16-0 … Marco Morales [Delsea], 2020
16-0 … Ryan Merlino [Oakcrest], 2024
15-6 … Dan Batdorf [West Deptford], 2008
15-6 … Nico Morales [Delsea Reg.], 2019
15-6 … Marcus Hood [Deptford], 2026
15-1 … Dylan Altland [Kingsway], 2014
15-0 … Mike Rivard [Haddonfield], 2009
15-0 … Noah Kriesman [Cherry Hill East], 2021
15-0 … Henry Cifaloglio [Delsea], 2025
15-0 … Mason Henry [Deptford], 2026

16-0 … Bob Green [Haddon Heights], 1992 [o]
16-0 … Marco Morales [Delsea], 2020 [i]
16-0 … Ryan Merlino [Oakcrest], 2024 [i]
15-7 … Brandon Kurtz [Absegami], 1991 [o]
15-7 … Nico Morales [Delsea Reg.], 2019 [o]
15-6 … Dylan Altland [Kingsway], 2014 [o]
15-5 … Mike Davis [Haddonfield], 2004 [o]
15-5 … Devon Purves [Haddonfield], 2006 [o]
15-4 … Jason King [Lenape], 1993 [o]
15-3 ¼ … Dan Lamp [Willingboro], 1977 [o]
15-6 … Dan Batdorf [West Deptford], 2008 [i]
15-0 ¼ … Mike Hulme [Eastern], 2003 [o]
15-0 … Mason Henry [Deptford], 2026

Haddonfield senior Benjamin Andrus ran the 9^th-fastest 1,600 in South Jersey history Saturday at Ocean Breeze.

Andrus ran 4:14.39 for a full mile at the 11^th annual Ocean Breeze Invitational, and that converts to 4:12.91 for 1,600 meters.

(The event is listed in the schedule and on the heat sheets as a mile but the splits are shown in 200-meter increments, which indicates a 1,600, so I’m not sure exactly how far they ran, but I’m going to assume it’s a full mile and the distances on the splits are incorrect. Correct me if I’m wrong!)

Andrus was out in 65.04 and 64.24 but came back in 62.79 and 60.70 for crazy negative 880 splits of 2:10.91 and 2:03.49. Bobby Franklin of La Salle College High in Springfield, Montgomery County, won the race in 4:13.25.

Andrus’s time is 9^th-fastest in South Jersey history and 3^rd-fastest all-time from Haddonfield, behind Luke Andresen’s 4:10.82 at the Meet of Champions, also at Ocean Breeze, and Greg Pelose’s 4:11.93 converted mile from 2016 Armory Nationals.

It’s fastest in New Jersey this year, just ahead of Kennan Byers of Randolph, who ran 4:14.72 full mile at the Armory last month.

Andrus has an outdoor PR of 4:13.60 from this past June in Lincroft. His previous indoor PR was 4:17.48 from last year’s Meet of Champions, also at Ocean Breeze.

In the same race, Haddonfield senior Peter Simpson ran placed 4^th in 4:18.49, closing in 63.16. That converts to 4:16.99.

All-Time South Jersey Indoor Sub-4:20 list
4:09.37 … Matthew Littlehales [Delsea], 2025
4:09.96y … Miles Schoedler [Ocean City], 2011
4:09.99y … Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 2024
4:10.82 … Luke Andresen [Haddonfield], 2025
4:11.03y … Brett Johnson [Ocean City], 2009
4:11.89y … Luke Petela [Haddon Twp.], 2015
4:11.93y … Greg Pelose [Haddonfield], 2016
4:12.55 … Kyle Rakitis [Kingsway], 2022
4:12.91y … Benjamin Andrus [Haddonfield], 2026 [4:14.39]
4:13.68y … Marc Pelerin [Cherokee], 2002
4:13.87y … Stone Caraccio [Kingsway], 2020
4:14.1y … Marty Ludwikowski [Cherry Hill West], 1975
4:14.92 … Jack Tindall [Cherokee], 2025
4:15.26 … Nick Kuenkel [Cherokee], 2024
4:15.34 … Bobby Poplau [Cherokee], 2024
4:15.2y … Jim Smith [Haddonfield], 1980
4:15.74 … Brody Bogos [Cherry Hill East], 2025
4:16.02 … Erik Johnson [Ocean City], 2011
4:16.0y … Greg Stremmel [Gateway], 1974
4:16.02 … Erik Johnson [Ocean City], 2012
4:16.10 … Bennett Wright [Haddonfield], 2025
4:16.3y … Rich Caton [Woodbury], 1979
4:16.61y … Jon Anderson [Cinnaminson], 2004
4:16.62 … Bill Dolan [Clearview], 2014
4:16.71y … Dave Forward [Shawnee], 2009
4:16.85 … Ben Potts [Haddonfield], 2011
4:16.99 … Peter Simpson [Haddonfield], 2026 [4:18.49]
4:16.9y … Bob Marino [Williamstown], 1974
4:17.1y … Mike Mantini [Gateway], 1978
4:17.33y … Carmen Cavella [Washington Twp.], 2004
4;17.42 … Peyton Shute [Woodbury], 2024
4:17.46 … Ty Blackman [Glassboro], 2025
4:17.51y … Connor Melko [Bishop Eustace], 2019
4:17.57 … Tobias Janssen [Haddonfield], 2021
4:17.67 … Derek Gess [Haddonfield], 2018
4:17.67y … Sebastien Reed [Pitman], 2020
4:17.72 … George Andrus [Haddonfield], 2023
4:17.87 … Bennett Wright [Haddonfield], 2024
4;17.98 … Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], 2022
4:18.21y … Xavier Fraction [Washington Twp.], 2009
4:18.22 … Jacob Clark [Pleasantville], 2013
4:18.28 … Alexander Boyko [Cinnaminson], 2023
4:18.48 … Justin Kelly [Cherokee], 2018
4:18.50 … Shawn Wilson [Cherokee], 2013
4:18.53y … Chris Platt [Haddonfield], 2001
4:18.4y … Al Harden [Millville], 1979
4:18.4h … Mike Myers [Eastern], 2001
4:18.62 … Brady Shute [Woodbury], 2021
4:18.70y … Ethan Wechsler [Cherokee], 2019
4:18.73 … Jacob Cobb [West Deptford], 2022
4:18.80y … Austin Gabay [Cinnaminson], 2020
4:18.83 … Tyler Jackson [Cherokee], 2020
4:19.02 … Jack Bolling [Haddon Heights], 2023
4:19.03 … Noah Culbreath [Kingsway, 2014
4:19.40 … Justin Branco [Delsea], 2015
4:19.7y … Chris Hageman [Paul VI], 1985
4:19.96 … Robert Rawls [Triton], 2011
4:19.97 … Steve Burkholder [Cherokee], 2010

Ocean City’s Elaina Styer broke her own Stockton University hurdles record Sunday at the Ott Center.

Styer, who spent her freshman year at Cornell, first broke the school record when she ran 9.03 at Tufts University in Medford, Mass., last March. She tied the record with another 9.03 at Ocean Breeze in December and then lowered it to 8.93 at Ocean Breeze. After a near-record 8.95 in Lynchburg, Va., last weekend, she smashed the 8.93 by winning the Widener Schuyhill Showdown Sunday in 8.89.

Her time is No. 15 in NCAA Division 3 and fastest in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.

Styer, fom Estelle Manor, also placed 2^nd in the high jump with a 5-3 clearance and 2^nd in the long jump with a 17-6. She’s jumped 18-0 ½ this winter and has a high jump PR of 5-5 ¼ from her NJAC pentathlon win, also at the Ott Center, last February. She also has PRs of 15.41 in the 100-meter highs and 3.628 in the pentathlon.

8.89, 15^th Division 3
#1 in NJAC,

PR was 8.93, Ocean Breeze, Jan. 16, NYC Gotham Cup, 8.95 Liberty Open, Lynchburg, Jan. 23-24

school record 9.03 in 2025
also pentathlon, 3,628
SR indoor LJ 18-4 ¼, Jassina Surles, 2016
HJ indoor 5-6, Lisa Shepherd, 2008

outdoors
HH      14.45, Surles, 2016     [15.41]
LJ        Surles 19-1 ¼, 2016    [17-1 ¼]
HJ        Sheperd, 5-7 ¼, 2010 [—]

In her first full-effort race this winter, Eastern senior Natalie Dumas ran the 6^th-fastest 600 in U.S. scholastic history Sunday at the 118^th annual Millrose Games.

Dumas won the race in 1:28.10, which is 58.73 pace for 400 meters with an extra lap added on. Dumas won national titles in the 400, 800 and intermediate hurdles last year at West Philly Nationals.

The only faster time in New Jersey history is the national high school recordk, American record and world all-time No. 3 1:23.57 set by Olympic gold medalist Athing Mu of Trenton at Ocean Breeze in February 2019.

Dumas’s time is No. 9 in the world this year, according to the World Athletics international performance list and No. 2 among American women, behind U.S. 1,000 record holder Addison Wiley, who ran 1:27.33 in Indianapolis two weeks ago.

It’s fastest in the world among juniors (Under-20) and fastest by any Under-20 American since Sophia Gorriaran ran 1:27.51 at the Armory in 2023. It appears to be 7^th-fastest ever by a U.S. woman in the Under-20 category, although I could be missing one or two people. There is no all-time U.S. 600 junior list anywhere. Thanks for nothing, USATF!

Dumas was out in 27.51 and 29.78 so came through 400 in 57.28 and closed in 30.83. Jane Hickey of New Rochelle, N.Y., placed 2^nd in 1:28.26 with Ellie Barada of Bloomington, Ind., also under 1:29 at 1:28.35. Their times are 7th- and 8th-fastest in U.S. high school history.

Dumas slashed more than six  seconds off the South Jersey record of 1:34.50 set in 2002 by Willingboro’s Okechi Ogbuokiri at the 2003 Bishop Loughlin Games at the Armory.

This was the first career 600 for Dumas. She has PRs of 51.14 for 400 meters, 2:00.11 for 800 and 55.99 in the intermediate hurdles, all from West Philly Nationals in June.

All-Time U.S. High School 600-Meter List
1:23.57 … Athing Mu [Trenton], 2019
1:28.10 … Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 2026
1:27.02 … Sophia Gorriarian [Moses Brown School, Providence, R.I.], 2021
1:27.13 … Sammy Watson [Rush Henrietta Sperry, Henrietta, N.Y.], 2017
1:27.20 … Roisin Willis [Stevens Point, Wisc.], 2021
1:28.10 … Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 2026
1:28.26 … Jane Hickey [Ursuline School, New Rochelle, N.Y.], 2026
1:28.35 … Ellie Barada [Bloomington, Ind.], 2026
1:28.61 … Makenna Herbst [Carlsbad, S.D.], 2025
1:28.78 … Kamryn McIntosh [Suffern, N.Y.], 2015
1:28.90 … Sophia Oomen-Lochtfeld [Hingham, Mass.], 2017

All-Time U.S. Junior List
1:23.57… Athing Mu, New York, 2019
1:26.45 … Ajee’ Wilson, New York, 2013
1:27.02 … Sophia Gorriarian, Virginia Beach, 2021
1:27.13 … Samantha Watson, New York, 2017
1:27.20 … Roisin Willis, Virginia Beach, 2021
1:28.08 … Ziyah Holman, Bloomington, Ind., 2021
1:28.10 … Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 2026
1:28.26 … Jane Hickey [Ursuline School, New Rochelle, N.Y.], 2026
1:28.35 … Ellie Barada [Bloomington, Ind.], 2026

All-Time New Jersey 600 List
1:23.57 … Athing Mu [Trenton], 2019
1:28.10 … Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 2026
1:29.27 … Janine Davis [Queen of Peace], 2004
1:29.72 … Reagan Moore [Summit], 2026
1:30.36 … Ajee’ Wilson [Neptune], 2012
1:30.36 … Victoria Vanrielle [Governor Livingston], 2019
1:30.58 … Olivia Baker [Columbia], 2014
1:33.29 … Bridget Cannon [Ramapo], 2025
1:33.66 … Abigail Robisky [Union Catholic], 2026
1:33.90 … Corrine Myers [Westwood], 2014
1:34.07 … Leena Morant [Union Catholic], 2018
1:34.24 … Sharifa Trocard [Irvington], 2025
1:34.48 … Emily Carrollo [Pope John], 2008
1:34.50 … Okechi Ogbuokiri [Willingboro], 2003
1:34.66 … Amari Onque-Shabazz [Union Catholic], 2016
1:34.8h … Hazel Clark [Columbia], 1995

All-Time South Jersey 600 List
1:28.10 … Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 2026
1:34.50 … Okechi Ogbuokiri [Willingboro], 2003
1:36.37 … Taneshia Pittman [Woodrow Wilson], 2002
1:36.58 … Kimarra McDonald [Rancocas Valley], 2005
1:36.75 … Cierra Farquharson [Pleasantville], 2006
1:37.34 … Lindsey Kane [Washington Twp.], 2014
1:37.44 … Emily Duffey [Lenape], 2011
1:38.04 … Ariana Harrell [Pemberton], 2019
1:38.10 … Raelynne Miller [Millville], 2018
1:38.33 … Megan Quimby [Lenape], 2015
1:38.2h … Aishia Lawson [Camden], 1995