From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

Winslow sophomore Jasmine Jackson and Atlantic County Tech junior Brianna Growalt were among the top qualifiers in the first round of the 100-meter hurdles Saturday at West Philly Nationals in Franklin Field.

Jackson ran 13.48 and was the 2^nd-fastest qualifier for the semifinals on Sunday, and Growalt ran 13.59 and was 4^th-fastest. Jackson’s time in the second heat was legal with a 0.2 headwind. Growalt’s 13.59 in the sixth heat was wind-aided at 2.2.

The 24-fastest in the first round advance to the semifinals at 4:19 p.m. Saturday. The final is scheduled for 11:43 a.m. Sunday.

Jackson set the South Jersey record of 13.28 with legal wind when she won the Meet of Champions at Pennsauken earlier this month. Growalt’s 13.59 is her fastest time, although her wind-legal PR remains 13.62 from the Meet of Champions.

Growalt already earned All-America honors this week with a 5^th place in the 400-meter hurdles in 59.97.

Jackson and Growalt are No. 3 and No. 8 in New Jersey history and No. 1 and 2 all-time South Jersey.

Clayton graduate and Alabama rising sophomore Alexander Osayemi ran a 400 PR and placed 4^th at U.S. Under-20 Nationals Friday night at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Osayemi dropped his PR from 45.59, which he ran in the SEC prelims last month in Auburn, Ala., to 45.46 and with a top-four place qualified for consideration for 4-by-4 duty on the U.S. National team that will compete at the World Under-20 Championships back at Hayward Field in August.

Osayemi’s 45.46 moved him up from 5^th to 4^th on the all-time South Jersey alumni list. He trails only Olympic gold medalists Lamont Smith [44.30] and Dennis Mitchell [45.26] as well as Gabriel Moronta [45.01], who just won the Dominican national title over 400 meters.

With his 45.46, Osayemi passed Darrell Bush of Woodbury, who ran 45.49 in Tucson in 2015, and became the fastest quarter-miler ever from Gloucester County.

44.30 … Lamont Smith [Willingboro], June 19, 1996, Atlanta

45.26 … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], April 12, 1986, Tampa, Fla.
45.01 … Gabriel Moronta [Pleasantville], May 30, 2025, Jacksonville
45.46 … Alexander Osayemi [Clayton], June 19, 2026, Eugene

45.49 … Darrell Bush [Woodbury], April 11, 2015, Tucson, Ariz.

Natalie Dumas became the first South Jersey woman in 40 years to win a national Under-20 championship on Friday when she out-raced a loaded field in the 400-meter hurdles at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Dumas ran 56.13 – just 14-100ths of a second off her PR of 55.99 from last year’s West Philly Nationals – and finished eight meters in front of 2^nd-place Tatum Lynn, a Big Ten medalist this past spring as an Ohio State freshman.

Lynn went into the race as the top-ranked Under-20 intermediate hurdler in the world with her 56.57 at the NCAA East Region Prelims in Lexington, Ky., last month.

With her top-two finish along with the world Under-20 championships standard of 1:00.75, Dumas will represent the U.S. at the World Under-20 Championships back at Hayward Field Aug. 5-9.

The Under-20 Championships, first held in 1972, were known as the U.S. Junior Championships through 2017. The meet is open to athletes who are 19 or younger on New Year’s Eve.

Dumas’s time ranks 27^th among all U.S. women this year and she bumps Lynn as the fastest Under-20 intermediate hurdler in the world.

Dumas is the first South Jersey woman to win a U.S. junior title since Kingsway sprinter Denise Liles won the 100 at the 1984 meet at L.A. Coliseum in 11.84.

She’s the 4^th New Jersey woman to win an Under-20 title in the 400-meter hurdles, following Tracy Nelson of Plainfield in 1980 and 1981, Tawana Watkins of Paterson Kennedy in 2003 and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin in 2016.

Here’s a look at all the U.S

1972

None

1973

Randy Mimm [Willingboro], 10,000-meter walk [55:45.1]

1974

None

1975

Manny Silverio [North Bergen], Hammer Throw [180-0]

Doreen Ennis [Metuchen], 1,500-Meter Run [4:23.1

1976

Boys – None

Girls – Can’t find results yet …

1977

Vince Reilly [Metuchen], Decathlon [7,070]

Sam Summerville [Holy Spirit], 800-Meter Run [1:47.62]

Renaldo Nehemiah [Scotch Plains-Fanwood], 110-Meter Hurdles [13.89]

Helene Connell [Jackson], Discus [159-4]

1978

Chris Person [Plainfield], 400-Meter Hurdles [51.0]

Carol Lewis [Willingboro], Long Jump [20-5 ½]

1979

Carol Lewis [Willingboro], Long Jump [20-7 ¼ ]

Michelle Glover [Willingboro], 100-Meter Dash [11.6]

1980

Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 100-Meter Dash [10.16]

Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 200-Meter Dash [20.66]

Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 100-Meter Hurdles [14.20]

Michelle Glover [Willingboro], 200-Meter Dash [23.93]

Joetta Clark [Columbia], 800-Meter Run [2:04.52]

Tracy Nelson [Plainfield], 400-Meter Hurdles [59.46]

1981

John Marshall [Plainfield], 800-Meter Run [1:48.65]

Tracy Nelson [Plainfield], 400-Meter Hurdles [58.56]

Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 100-Meter Hurdles [13.89]

Carol Lewis [Willingboro], Long Jump [20-11 ¾]

Michelle Glover [Willingboro], 100-Meter Dash [11.42]

Rena Antanelis [Randolph], Javelin [156-9]

*Willingboro [Kim Gallagher, Pam Young, Carol Lewis, Michelle Glover], 800 Medley Relay [1:42.91]

1982

John Marshall [Plainfield], 800-Meter Run [1:49.80]

1983

Wendy Vereen [Trenton], 100-Meter Dash [11.57]

Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1,500-Meter Run [4:20.05]

Willingboro Track Club [], 800-Meter Relay [1:44.12]

1984

Denise Liles [Kingsway], 100-Meter Dash [11.81]

1985

Andrew Valmon [Manchester Twp.], 400-Meter Dash [45.96]

Bob Amabile [Wall Township], Javelin [231-7]

Claire Connor [Rahway], 19-9 ½

*W’boro T.C. [Artrelia Turner, Lynn Pike, Andrea Conaway, Timi Crawford], 800 SMR [1:45.50]

1986

None

1987

Jasmin Jones [Hackensack], 800-Meter Run [2:09.01]

Dawn Bowles [Neptune], 100-Meter Hurdles [13.48]

1988

Jasmin Jones [Hackensack], 800-Meter Run [2:07.62]

Jasmin Jones [Hackensack], 1,500-Meter Run [4:28.16]

1989

None

1990

None

1991

None

1992

None

1993

None

1994

Dudley Dorival [Ewing], 110-Meter Hurdles [13.79]

Darius Pemberton [Hackensack], Long Jump [25-8 ¼]

1995

Hazel Clark [Columbia], 800-Meter Run [2:06.18]

1996

None

1997

Charmaine Walker [Plainfield], 100-Meter Hurdles [13.35]

1998

Todd Matthews [Notre Dame], 110-Meter Hurdles [13.75]

1999

Robert Jordan [Millville], High Jump [7-4 ¼]

2000

None

2001

Dwight Ruff [Camden], Turdles [50.37]

Bobby Smith [Hopatcong], Javelin [222-10]

2002

None

2003

Steve Slattery [Mount Olive], 3,000-Meter Steeplechase [8:23.58]

Tawana Watkins [Paterson Kennedy], 400-Meter Hurdles [58.38]

2004

Zach Pollinger [Mahwah], 10,000-Meter Walk [48:22.40]

2005

Reuben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 400-Meter Hurdles [50.69]

Zach Pollinger [Mahwah], 10,000-Meter Walk [45:29.10]

2006

Danielle Tauro [Southern Reg.], 1,500-Meter Run [4:24.53]

2007

None

2008

Eric Plummer [St. Joe’s-Metuchen], Shot Put [62-6 ½]

2009

None

2010

Nick Vena [Morristown], Shot Put [66-1]

Ajee Wilson [Neptune], 800-Meter Run [2:05.75]

2011

None

2012

Ajee Wilson [Neptune], 800-Meter Run [2:04.86]

2013

Stephen Mozia [Hackensack], Shot Put [66-3 ¼]

2014

Keturah Orji [Mount Olive], Triple Jump [44-1 ½]
Braheme Days Jr. [Bridgeton], Shot Put [65-5 ½]

Curtis Thompson [Florence], Javelin [216-0]

2015

Curtis Thompson [Florence], Javelin [237-4]

2016

Sydney McLaughlin [Union Catholic], 400-Meter Hurdles [54.54]

Alyssa Wilson [Donovan Catholic], Shot Put [52-7 ¼]

2017
Alyssa Wilson [Donovan Catholic], Hammer Throw [185-11]

2018

Cory Poole [East Orange], 110-Meter Hurdles [13.34]

Cory Poole [East Orange], 400-Meter Hurdles [49.71]

Alyssa Wilson [Donovan Catholic], Shot Put [55-1 ½]

Alyssa Wilson [Donovan Catholic], Hammer Throw [217-7 ½]

2019

Athing Mu [Trenton], 800-Meter Run [2:05.59]

2020

Not held

2021

Not held

2022

Ryan Allen [Kingsway], 10,000-Meter Racewalk [49:53.14]

2023

Nathaniel Rayan [Scotch Plains-Fanwood], 110-Meter Hurdles [13.40]

Ryan Allen [Kingsway], 10,000-Meter Racewalk [46:17.65]

2024
None

2025
Bibe

2026
Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 400-meter hurdles [56.13]

* – Not from same high school

Curtis Thompson recorded his best throw this year, the 3^rd-best throw in the world this year and his 6^th-best throw ever Friday at the Doha Diamond League meet at Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium in Qatar.

Thompson, a 2014 Florence graduate and five-time U.S. champion, hit 282-1 on his 1^st throw of the competition. It’s the fourth straight meet that he’s had his best throw on his 1^st throw. It’s his best 1^st throw since a 284-4 at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.

Thompson finished 3^rd, behind World Championship finalist Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage of Sri Lanka [290-11] and two-time world champion and 2024 Olympic bronze medalist Andersen Peters of Grenada [283-4]. Thompson and Peters were teammates at Mississippi State.

Neeraj Chopra of India was 4th with a 281-1. This was Thompson’s 3rd career win over the 2021 Olympic gold medalist.

Thompson, a two-time Olympian and 2025 World Championships bronze medalist, ranks 3rd in U.S. history with his PR 287-11 at last year’s Texas Relays in Austin. That’s the best throw by an American since Breaux Greer’s 299-6 in Indianapolis in 2007.

Curtis Thompson All-Time 270-Foot Throws
287-11 … Texas Relays, Austin, Texas, March 28, 2025 [2^nd throw]
287-9 … American JavFest, East Stroudsburg [Pa.] South High School, July 9, 2022 [2^ndthrow]
286-2 … NACAC, Freeport Stadium, Grand Bahamas, Freeport, Bahamas, Aug. 17, 2025 [2^nd throw]
284-4 … World Championships, Tokyo, Sept. 18, 2025 [1^st throw]
282-8 … NACAC, Freeport Stadium, Grand Bahamas, Bahamas, Aug. 20, 2025 [3^rd throw]
282-1 … Doha Diamond League, Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar, June 19, 2026 [1^st throw]
279-11 … Oklahoma Throws Series World Invitational, Ramona, Okla., April 10, 2026 [1^stthrow]
279-10 … World Championships, Tokyo, Sept. 18, 2025 [3^rd throw]
277-11 … World Championships qualifying, Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 17, 2025 [2^nd throw]
278-6 … Lone Star Grand Prix, Bryan-College Station, Texas, June 6, 2026 [1^st throw]
277-8 … Drake Relays, Drake Stadium, Des Moines, Idaho, April 23, 2026 [5^th throw]
276-11 … Texas Relays, Austin, Texas, March 28, 2025 [3^rd throw]
276-4 … NACAC, Freeport Stadium, Grand Bahamas, Bahamas, Aug. 20, 2022 [3^rd throw]
275-2 … USATF Championships, Eugene, Ore., July 31, 2025 [4^th throw]
275-2 … Golden Gala Pietro Mennea Diamond Disciplien, Stadio Olimpico, Rome, June 4, 2026 [1st throw]
275-1 … Lone Star Grand Prix, Bryan-College Station, Texas, June 6, 2026 [6^th throw]
274-11 … Athletissima, La Pontaise, Lausanne, Switzerland, Aug. 26, 2022 [1^st throw]
273-4 … American JavFest, East Stroudsburg [Pa.] South High School, July 9, 2022 [1^stthrow]
272-5 … Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, June 23, 2024 [1^st throw]
272-4 … Doha Diamond League, Doha, Qatar, June 19, 2026 [4^th throw]
272-1 … USATF Throws Festival, Roy P. Drachman Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., May 23, 2026 [1^st throw]
272-1 … Golden Gala Pietro Mennea Diamond Disciplien, Stadio Olimpico, Rome, June 4, 2026  [2nd throw] 271-11… Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, July 4, 2016 [1^st throw]
271-10 … Spitzen Leichtathletik, Luzern, Switzerland, Aug. 30, 2022 [3^rd throw]
271-9 … Texas Relays, Austin, Texas, March 28, 2025 [4^th throw]
271-7 … Olympic Trials, Hayward Field, Eugene, June 21, 2021 [6th throw]
271-0 … American JavFest, East Stroudsburg [Pa.] South High School, July 13, 2024 [1st throw]
270-6 … USATF Championships, Eugene, Ore., July 31, 2025 [6th throw]
270-5 … Golden Gala Pietro Mennea Diamond Disciplien, Stadio Olimpico, Rome, June 4, 2026  [5th throw] 270-3 … Kamila Skolimowska Memorial Invitational, Silesian Stadium, Chorzów, Poland, Aug. 6, 2022 [2nd throw]

Sianni Wynn and the Pennsauken girls won the 800-meter relay and destroyed the state record Friday afternoon at West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field.

Junior Summer Schaffer, senior Sanaya Dupree, sophomore Hope Edwards and Wynn ran 1:35.21, breaking the state record of 1:35.89 set at this meet last year by Union Catholic.

Pennsauken broke the South Jersey record of 1:36.63 that Pennsauken ran at the Woodbury Relays in April.

Pennsauken was only the 3^rd seed but out-raced the field, winning by nearly a second over Monteverde (Fla.) Academy, who finished 2^nd in 1:36.10.

Wynn ran after winning the 100-meter dash and Edwards raced only 45 minutes after placing 3^rd in the 400-meter hurdles.

Pennsauken’s time is 5^th-fastest on the 2026 U.S. list in the World Athletics database. All four runners have to be American to qualify for that list. Pennsauken is 10^th-fastest in the world this year.

Kingsway placed 14th overall in 1:40.67, 3rd-fastest on the all-time Gloucester County list. Sophomore Talia Griscom, junior Kenya Nobles, junior Norah Brown and sophomore Noemi Haller ran for Kingsway.

All-Time South Jersey 800-Meter Relay List
1:35.21 … Pennsauken, 2026
1:37.96 … Willingboro, 2025
1:38.43 … Winslow Twp., 2018
1:38.55 … Winslow Twp., 2025
1:39.21 … Eastern, 2003
1:39.59 … Winslow Twp., 2012
1:39.65 … Pennsauken, 2025
1:39.67 … Winslow Twp., 2019
1:39.67 … Timber Creek, 2023
1:39.78 … Willingboro, 2024
1:39.99 … Kingsway, 2026
1:40.10 … Timber Creek, 2024
1:40.25 … Rancocas Valley, 2019
1:40.30 … Winslow Twp., 2017
1:40.45 … Kingsway, 2025
1:40.46 … Eastern, 2019
1:40.62 … Winslow Twp., 2003
1:40.72 … Egg Harbor Twp., 2018
1:40.5h … Woodrow Wilson, 2006
1:40.67 … Kingsway, 2026
1:40.91 … Winslow Twp., 2004

All-Time New Jersey 800-Meter Relay List
1:35.21 … Pennsauken, 2026
1:35.89 … Union Catholic, 2025
1:37.53 … Union Catholic, 2017
1:37.75 … Union Catholic, 2024
1:37.77 … Franklin Twp., 2003
1:37.89 … Union Catholic, 2023
1:37.96 … Willingboro, 2025
1:38.11 … Union Catholic, 2019
1:38.42 … Franklin Twp., 2001
1:38.43 … Winslow Twp., 2018
1:38.55 … Winslow Twp., 2025
1:38.98 … Union Catholic, 2022
1:39.04h … Montclair, 1980
1:39.21 … Eastern, 2003
1:39.54h … Montclair, 1981
1:39.59 … Winslow Twp., 2012
1:39.65 … Pennsauken, 2025 ***
1:39.67 … Winslow Twp., 2019
1:39.67 … Timber Creek, 2023
1:39.76 … Neptune, 2015
1:39.78 … Willingboro, 2024
1:39.79 … Columbia, 2010
1:39.86 … Summit, 2017
1:39.94 … Piscataway, 2011
1:39.99 … Kingsway

Separated by just 1-100^th of a second, Deptford and Camden both earned All-America honors in the 800-meter relay Friday at West Philly Nationals with two of the fastest 800-meter relays in state history.

Camden ran 1:26.61 in the 3^rd of five sections, only for Deptford to run 1-100^th of a second faster in the 4^th race. They finished 5^th and 6^th. Bergen Catholic of Oradell won the event in 1:23.50, breaking the state record of 1:24.49 set by Winslow Township’s Reuben McCoy, Anthony Miles, Albert Harris and Antraye Miles at 2003 Raleigh Nationals.

For Deptford, senior Johan Hernandez, Xavion Holmes, Liam Brown and Kareem Brown ran 1:26.60, 4^th-fastest in South Jersey history and 11^th-fastest on the all-time state list. Deptford broke the Gloucester County record of 1:27.29 set by Delsea at a meet at East Brunswick in 2024. Deptford’s previous-best time was a 1:27.47 in April at the Woodbury Relays.

It was the 2nd All-America honor of the day for Kareem Brown, who placed 5th in the 400-meter hurdles about an hour earlier.

Camden, with Jawan Brownlee, Christian Braxton, Wasi Muhammad and Jaiden Steele, ran the 5^th-fastest time in South Jersey history and 12^th-fastest on the all-time New Jersey list.

Their times are fastest by South Jersey schools in more than 20 years, since Camden ran 1:24.90 at Raleigh Nationals in 2004 with Sherron Bullock, Dwayne Lewis, Kevin Payton and Carl Smith.

Winslow also ran hot, finishing 13^th in 1:27.36, which is 11^th-fastest on the all-time South Jersey list. Junior Ka’Ron Ceaser, freshman Keyon Ali, junior Jayion Moss and senior Quayd Hendryx ran for Winslow.

So this race produced three of the 11-fastest times in South Jersey history and South Jersey took three of the top 13 spots in the country.

All-Time South Jersey 800-Meter Relay List
1:24.49 … Winslow Twp., 2003
1:24.90 … Camden, 2004
1:26.05 … Camden, 2000
1:26.60 … Deptford, 2026
1:26.61 … Camden, 2026
1:26.68 … Camden, 1997
1:26.76 … Rancocas Valley, 2024
1:26.74 … Pennsauken, 2023
1:27.19 … Delsea, 2024
1:27.22 … Winslow Twp., 2025
1:27.36 … Winslow Twp., 2026
1:27.38 … Paul VI, 2016
1:27.47 … Deptford, 2026
1:27.52 … Woodrow Wilson, 1996
1:27.66 … Oakcrest, 2011
1:27.68 … Pennsauken, 2016
1:27.69 … Oakcrest, 2012
1:27.74 … Pleasantville, 1994
1:27.74 … Camden, 2026
1:27.75 … Willingboro, 2007
1:27.80 … Pleasantville, 1999
1:27.84 … Winslow Twp., 2002
1:27.90 … Winslow Twp., 2008
1:27.96 … Williamstown, 2015
1:27.98 … Camden, 2002

All-Time New Jersey 800-Meter Relay List
1:23.50 … Bergen Catholic, 2026
1:24.49 … Winslow Twp., 2003
1:24.69 … Bergen Catholic, 2025
1:24.90 … Camden, 2004
1:26.05 … Camden, 2000
1:26.0h … Somerville, 1973
1:26.3h … Weequahic, 1992
1:26.45 … Toms River North, 2025
1:26.59 … East Orange, 2018
1:26.59 … Seton Hall Prep, 2018
1:26.60 … Deptford, 2026
1:26.61 … Camden, 2026
1:26.66 … Irvington, 2005
1:26.68 … Camden, 1997
1:26.5h … Snyder, 1971
1:26.5h … Rahway, 1971
1:26.5h … Montclair, 1984
1:26.5h … Plainfield, 1998
1:26.74 … Pennsauken, 2023
1:26.76 … Rancocas Valley, 2024
1:26.78 … Teaneck, 2007
1:26.7h … Plainfield, 1980
1:26.93 … St. Peter’s, 2017
1:27.03 … Union Catholic, 2013
1:27.03 … Piscataway, 2025
1:27.12 … Bergen Catholic, 2026
1:27.18 … Bergen Catholic, 2023
1:27.18 … Union Catholic, 2014
1:27.19 … Delsea, 2024
1:27.20 … Hackensack, 2026
1:27.22 … Winslow Twp., 2025

Hope Edwards and Brianna Growalt ran huge 400-meter hurdles PRs Friday and both earned All-America honors at West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field.

Pennsauken’s Edwards placed 3^rd in 58.72, the 8^th-fastest time in state history and 3^rd-fastest by a sophomore, behind only four-time Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin, who ran 55.28 as a 10^th-grader at World Youth Trials in Lisle, Ill., and Eastern’s Natalie Dumas, who ran 58.32 as a soph when she won West Philly Nationals.

Edwards is the fastest sophomore in the U.S. this year and is now 3^rd-fastest in South Jersey history, behind Dumas [55.99 last year at West Philly Nationals] and Winslow’s Krystal Cantey [56.83 at 2005 Greensboro Nationals].

Edwards’ previous PR was 59.17 at the state Group 4 meet in Somerset, where she finished 2^nd to Dumas.

Growalt placed 5^th in 59.97, dropping her PR from 1:00.55 in that same state Group 4 race last month.  Her time is 7^th-fastest in South Jersey history and breaks her own Atlantic County record.

Including Dumas, that’s an unprecedented four South Jersey girls under 60 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles this year – Dumas, Edwards, Growalt and Winslow junior Cinniya Robinson, who ran 59.80 when she was 3^rd in the Meet of Champions. Robinson ran 1:00.85 Friday and placed 11^th overall. So three of the top 11 in the race were from South Jersey and that’s without the fastest 400-meter hurdler in the country, who is racing this week at the Under 20 Championships in Eugene.

53.82 … Sydney McLaughlin [Union Catholic], 2017
55.99 … Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 2025
56.83 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2005
57.48 … Tawana Watkins [Paterson Kennedy], 2000
58.06 … Sydney Chadwick [Union Catholic], 2026
58.44 … Amber Allen [Passaic County Tech], 2009
58.6h … Tracy Nelson [Plainfield], 1981
58.72 … Hope Edwards [Pennsauken], 2026
58.91 … Reanda Richards [West Essex], 2018
59.03 … Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 1988
59.16 … Leslie Njoku [McNair Academic], 2007
59.17 … Hope Edwards [Pennsauken], 2026
59.33 … Kim Duke [Mount Olive], 1984
59.35 … Ugonna Ndu [Union], 2009
59.48 … Angela Lee [Franklin Twp.], 1995
59.49 … Shana-Gaye Tracey [Manchester Twp.], 2007
59.56 … Torie Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 2013
59.63 … Morgan Harvey [North Hunterdon], 2013
59.66 … Mandie Dulin [Shawnee], 1997
59.69 … Shelley Mitchell [Lakewood], 1988
59.72 … Abigail Dennis [Old Tappan], 2024
59.73 … Nichole Candelaria [Newark Tech], 2012
59.78 … Siobhan Counts [Plainfield], 2002
59.80 … Sophia Curtis [Ocean City], 2024
59.81 … Erin Crawford [Hillsboro], 2002
59.97 … Brianna Growalt [Atlantic Tech], 2026

Deptford senior Kareem Brown earned All-America honors Friday with a 5^th-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles at West Philly Nationals at Franklin Field.

Brown ran 52.37, just off his PR of 52.28 from his runner-up finish at the Meet of Champions at Pennsauken two weeks ago.

Brown ran in the 6^th and final section, taking 4^th in the race that produced five of the 6-fastest overall times.

Brown ranks 9^th in South Jersey with his 52.28 and 3^rd all-time by a Gloucester County runner.

Sianni Wynn won her 4^th national title Friday in the closest fashion imaginable.

Wynn, a Pennsauken senior, won the 100-meter dash at West Philly Nationals in 11.27, edging freshman Mya Arrendell by 6-1,000ths of a second.

Both were timed in 11.27, with Wynn at 11.264 and Arrendell at 11.270. The race was run with a legal 0.8 meters-per-second tailwind.

Wynn came within 1-100^th of a second of the meet record of 11.26 set in 2024 by Lisa Raye of West Warwick, R.I.

Wynn’s time is just off her PR of 11.25 from last year’s Meet of Champions But it’s a wind-legal PR, lowering her best legal time from 11.29 when she won West Philly Nationals last year.,

She’s 3^rd-fastest in state history behind Wendy Vereen of Trenton, who ran 11.17 in Colorado Springs in 1983, and Timber Creek’s Naylah Jones, who ran 11.23 at the state Group 3 Championships at Delsea in 2024.

Wynn won won the 60 and 200 at Boston Nationals this past indoor season as well as the 100 outdoors last year.

Wynn races in the first round of the 200 at 1:02 p.m. Saturday.

Holy Cross senior Julia Flanagan ran the 6^th-fastest 5,000-meter run in South Jersey history Thursday at West Philly Nationals.

Flanagan placed 12^th in 17:21.09, closing in 80.18 for her final 400 and 2:44.88 for her final 800.

It was Flanagan’s 1^st track 5,000 indoors or outdoors.

Flanagan was the state Parochial B champ in cross country and in the 3,200 indoors and outdoors. Her time is 19^th-fastest in state history.

The only faster girls from Burlington County are Northern Burlington’s Liliah Gordon, who ran 16:38.54 last June at the U.S. Under-20 Championships in Eugene, and Cherokee’s Megan Lacy, who ran 16:50.75 at a meet in Princeton in May of 2011.

All-Time New Jersey 5,000-Meter Run List
15:52.10 … Charlotte Bednar [The Lawrenceville School], 2021
16:34.66 … Alexa Westley [Warren Hills], 2019
16:38.27 … Allison Lee [Plainsboro], 2025
16:38.51 … Ashley Higginson [Colts Neck], 2007
16:38.54 … Liliah Gordon [Northern Burlington], 2025
16:45.86 … Megan Curham [Villa Walsh], 2013
16:50.75 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2011
16:58.19 … Carleen Jeffers [Ridgewood], 2015
17:03.13 … Grace Dwyer [Nottingham], 2013
17:03.36 … Cayleigh Kaiser [Union Catholic], 2026
17:05.30 … Monica Hebner [Northern Highlands], 2018
17:07.92 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2009
17:08.01 … Maeve Smith [Ocean City], 2025
17:08.55 … Holly Bischoff [Bishop Eustace], 2011
17:09.82 … Isabel Hebner [Northern Highlands], 2018
17:13.56 … Camryn Wennersten [Ridgewood], 2020
17:13.86 … Caroline Kellner [West Windsor-Plainsboro South], 2012
17:17.02 … Mackenzie Barry [Mendham], 2013
17:18.68 … Miranda Lorsbach [Kent Place], 2020
17:21.09 … Julia Flanagan [Holy Cross], 2026
17:27.49 … Megan Venables [Highland], 2010