From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

The Camden County Showcase produced a wild 400-meter dash Saturday that saw Timber Creek junior Timothy Whitaker, Winslow Township senior Prince Owusu-Twum and Overbrook junior John Froehlich all finish within a 10^th of a second of each other with the three-fastest times in South Jersey this year.

Whitaker won the race in a lifetime-best 48.45, Owusu-Twum PR’d at 48.46 and Froehlich ran a PR of 48.55. Their times rank 7^th, 8^th and 9^th in New Jersey this year.

Whitaker’s previous PR was a 49.78 in a FAT-timed batch meet at Clearview last month. Owusu-Twum’s previoues best was 49.31 in Balitmore earlier this month. And Froehlich’s best time before Saturday was 49.26 at Cherokee last month.

Whitaker also PR’d in the 200 with a 21.77 for 3^rd and Froelich PR’d with a 22.01 for 5^th in that 200.

This is the first time ever that three Camden County quarter-milers have run sub-48.60 in the same year, much less the same race.

Cherry Hill East senior Tymir Gayle ran the 4^th-fastest time in Camden County history and fastest in 15 years, and Winslow’s Keyon Ali broke the South Jersey freshman record Saturday in the 100-meter dash at the Camden County Showcase at Haddon Township.

Gayle won the race in 10.57, dropping his PR from 10.85 from this meet last year. His time is fastest by a Camden County sprinter since Damiere Byrd of Timber Creek, who spent eight years in the NFL and was just inducted into the South Jersey Track Hall of Fame this year, ran 10.36 at 2011 South Jersey Group 3 Sectionals at Egg Harbor.

Gayle’s time – made into a 1.6 meters-per-second headwind – is fastest in New Jersey so far this year.

Meanwhile, Ali placed 2^nd in 10.69, breaking the South Jersey freshman record of 10.76 set in 2021 by Malachi James – then at Willingboro – at the 2021 Meet of Champions in South Plainfield with a legal 0.8 tailwind.

The fastest time recorded by a New Jersey freshman is 10.41 by Jevon Ledgister of St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City at last year’s Meet of Champions at Pennsauken. Ledgister’s fastest wind-legal time as a freshman was a 10.46 at the Parochial A meet in Galloway Township, so that remains the state freshman record.

Ali’s time is 4^th-fastest in New Jersey this year and fastest among all Group 3 runners.

Also under 11 seconds were Winslow senior Quayd Hendryx [10.77], Timber Creek junior Timothy Whitaker [10.89] and Pennsauken juniors Zion Long [PR 10.90] and Michael Lawrence [PR 10.93].

All-Time South Jersey 100-Meter Dash List
10.28 … Malachi James [Burlington City], 2024
10.32 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024
10.35 … Jamar Ervin [Camden], 2000
10.36 … Damiere Byrd [Timber Creek], 2010
10.45 … James Townsend [Holy Cross], 2003
10.47 … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
10.47 … James Brown [Glassboro], 2009
10.49 … Jonathan Taylor [Salem], 2017
10.53 … Todd Dutch [Washington Twp.], 2001
10.54 … Fabian Santiago [Oakrest], 2010
10.55 … Todd Dutch [Washington Twp.], 2002
10.55 … Donte Davis [Burlington City], 2025
10.56 … Julian Onesti [St. Augustine], 2025
10.57 … Jamil Benjamin [Cumberland Regional], 2006
10.57 … Tymir Gayle [Cherry Hill East], 2026
10.57 … Yashahya Brown [Washington Twp.], 2024
10.57 … Geoff Navaro [Absegami], 2008
10.58 … Anthony Miles [Winslow Twp.], 2003
10.58 … James Burris [Moorestown], 2022
10.58 … Jaylen Day [Atlantic City], 2026
10.60 … Robert Page [Kingsway], 2008
10.60 … Marquis Bonds [Millville], 2007
10.60 … Shawney Kersey [Woodbury], 2009
10.60 … Thomas Hampton [Clayton], 2019
10.61 … Quayd Hendryx [Burlington Twp.], 2025
10.62 … Kashif Moore [Burlington Twp.], 2007
10.63 … John Stone [Mainland Reg.], 1997
10.63 … Sabli Gonnet [Eastern], 2007
10.64 … Jeremy Cooper [Mainland Reg.], 1997
10.65 … Dominique Irons [Haddon Heights], 2013
10.65 … Rocco Ordille [St. Joe’s-Hammonton], 2015
10.65 … Dorian Bryant [Kingsway], 2003
10.65 … Mar-quel Davis [Deptford], 2017
10.66 … Bobby Orro [Pemberton], 1993
10.66 … Bruce Owens [Deptford], 2004
10.66 … Julian Conigliaro [Delsea], 2024
10.67 … Antraye Miles [Winslow Twp.], 2003
10.67 … T.J. Johnson [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2009
10.67 … Kashif Miller [Haddon Heights], 2014
10.67 … Martin Booker [Pennsauken], 2017
10.68 … Marquis Bonds [Bridgeton], 2007
10.68 … Tim Athill [Pleasantville], 1998
10.68 … Antonio Tarantino [Paul VI], 2017
10.69 … Robert Darby [Pennsauken], 2006
10.69 … Charles Fields [Wildwood Catholic], 2018
10.69 … Darnell Charles [Oakcrest], 2012
10.69 … Jayden Poteat [Winslow Twp.], 2024
10.69 … Xavier Sabb [Glassboro], 2025
10.69 … Keyon Ali [Winslow Twp.], 2026

Haddonfield’s Dylan Hosty ran the 3^rd-fastest 800 in South Jersey history and broke her own South Jersey freshman record Saturday at the Camden County Showcase at Haddon Township.

Hosty lowered her PR from 2:09.27 at Haddonfield Distance Night last week to 2:08.12, which trails only Eastern’s Natalie Dumas last June and Haddonfield’s Marielle Hall in 2009 on the all-time South Jersey list.

Hosty’s 2:08.12 is 2^nd on the New Jersey freshman list behind Union Catholic’s Abigail Robisky, a New York State resident who ran 2:06.41 earlier this month.

So Hosty’s 2:08.12 is fastest ever by a New Jersey freshman that actually lives in New Jersey. It’s also No. 2 this year among U.S. freshmen, according to the MileSplit database.

Her time is also No. 4 on the 2026 U.S. Under-18 list.

Hosty also ran a 56.72 anchor split on Haddonfield’s winning 1,600-meter relay team, which also included junior Saya Sood, junior Molly Mills and senior Edith Green and ran 4:01.62.

2:00.11 … Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 2025
2:07.33 … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2009
2:08.12 … Dylan Hosty [Haddonfield], 2026
2:08.87 … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2001
2:09.2h … Katrina Sye [Buena], 1999
2:09.50 … Renee Tomlin [Ocean City], 2005
2:09.84 … Rachel Stremme [Ocean City], 2014
2:10.1h … Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1982
2;10.44 … Kadence Dumas [Eastern], 2023
2:10.55 … Shelby Whetstone [Lenape], 2019
2:10.57 … Nijgia Snapp [Oakcrest], 2009
2:10.79 … Krista Ferrara [Vineland], 1991
2:10.9h … Ruth Lockbaum [Glassboro], 1985

2:00.11 … Natalie Dumas [Eastern], 2025
2:00.91 … Ajee’ Wilson [Neptune], 2012
2:01.17 … Athing Mu [Trenton], 2019
2;01.50 … Paige Sheppard [Union Catholic], 2026
2:03.54 … Joetta Clark [Columbia], 1979
2:04.67 … Jill Smith [Southern Reg.], 2009
2:04.76 … Clemmie Lilley [Rumson-Fair Haven], 2025
2:05.15 … Victoria Vanriele [Governor Livingston], 2019
2:05.47 … Reagan Moore [Oak Knoll], 2025
2:05.50 … Hazel Clark [Columbia], 1995
2:05.80 … Corrine Myers [Westwood], 2014
2:06.01 … Olivia Baker [Columbia], 2014
2:06.06 … Janine Davis [Queen of Peace], 2005
2:06.41 … Giselle Harris [Shabazz], 1986
2:06.41 … Abigail Robisky [Union Catholic], 2026
2:06.42 … Peyton Hollis [Union Catholic], 2022
2:06.69 … Reese Reynolds Malone [Rumson-Fair Haven], 2025
2:07.33 … Marielle Hall [Haddonfield], 2009
2:08.12 … Dylan Hosty [Haddonfield], 2026
2:08.2h … Jasmin Jones [Hackensack], 1987
2:08.3h … Bobbie McGee [West Side], 1982
2:08.87 … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2001
2:09.0h … Kim Sannito [Caldwell], 1982
2:09.1h … Jodi Bilotta [North Hunterdon], 1988
2:09.21 …. Danielle Tauro [Southern Reg.], 2007
2:09.2h … Katrina Sye [Buena], 1999
2:09.4h … Gail Bryant [Columbia], 1981
2:09.50 … Renee Tomlin [Ocean City], 2005
2:09.84 … Rachel Stremme [Ocean City], 2014
2:09.85 … Chelsea Cox [Southern Reg.], 2008
2:09.82 … Emily Carrollo [Pope John], 2008

Winslow senior Quayd Hendryx ran the 8^th-fastest wind-legal 200 in South Jersey history Saturday at the Camden County Championships at Haddon Township.

Hendryx ran 21.37, 2^nd-fastest in New Jersey this year and fastest by a South Jersey sprinter. Eastern senior Ashton Gage finished second with a 21.44, equalling his PR, which he ran in the Olympic Conference meet last month. That’s No. 9 in Camden County history and No. 3 in the state this year. The race was run with a legal 1.8 headwind, and thank you for having a functional wind gauge operating.

Hendryx’s previous PR was a 21.47 in last year’s Meet of Champions at Pennsauken as a Burlington Township junior. He’s Winslow’s fastest at 200 meters since Reuben McCoy ran 21.14 at the 2004 state meet at Egg Harbor.

All-Time South Jersey 200-Meter Dash List
(legal wind)
20.86 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024
21.06 … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
21.07 … Antonio Tarantino [Paul VI], 2018
21.08 … Malachi James [Burlington City], 2024
21.14 … Reuben McCoy [Winslow Twp.], 2004
21.30 … Jahmir Beasley [Sterling], 2019
21.33 … Thomas Howard [Rancocas Valley], 2024
21.37 … Quayd Hendryx [Winslow Twp.], 2026
21.39 … Martin Booker Jr. [Pennsauken], 2017
21.40 … Lamont Smith [Willingboro], 1991
21.40 … Rob Gary [Lenape], 1998
21.40 … Todd Dutch [Washington Twp.], 2001
21.40 … Jamaad Muse [Timber Creek], 2012
21.41 … Dorian Bryant [Kingsway], 2002
21.41 … T.J. Johnson [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2010
21.43 … Barry Cephas [Winslow Twp.], 2008
21.43 … Alex Osayemi [Clayton], 2025
21.44 … Ashton Gage [Eastern], 2026
21.46 … Brondon Jenkins [Delran], 1994
21.46 … Sabli Gonnet [Eastern], 2007
21.47 … Curtis McIntyre [Bridgeton], 1992
21.47 … Ajani Dwyer [Washington Twp.], 2024
21.48 … Jayden Poteat [Winslow Twp.], 2026

21.47 2.0 MoC

Julia Flanagan didn’t just break the Burlington County Open 3,200 record Saturday morning.

She annihilated it.

Flanagan cruised to an outdoor PR 10:29.53 at Lenape, breaking the meet record of nearly half a minute.

At the 1995 County Open at Maple Shade, Northern Burlington’s Colleen Sunderland set a meet record of 10:56.3 that stood for 31 years. The closest anyone has gotten to that record since is 10:58.97 by Lenape’s Megan Quimby at the 2015 meet.

Flanagan has run slightly faster indoors – 10:29.07 at the Meet of Champions at Ocean Breeze in March – but her previous outdoor PR was 10:33.44 in Holmdel two weeks ago.

Flanagan had already built a 30-meter lead on the field after 400 meters and she came through 800 in 2:32.11 and 1,600 meters in 5:11.76 before closing in 75.47 and winning by about 200 meters.

Her time is No. 4 in New Jersey this year and No. 1 in South Jersey by more than 20 seconds. She’s No. 9 on the all-time South Jersey outdoor list and No. 3 in Burlington County.

Cherokee sophomore Erin Healy ran 11:09.59 for 2nd place, just a fraction off her PR of 11:09.25 from last month at Cherokee.

All-Time South Jersey Outdoor 3,200 List
10:12.8h … Michelle Rowen [Washington Twp.], 1983
10:18.93 … Shaelan McNally [Paul VI], 2024
10:19.31 … Chelsea Ley [Kingsway], 2009
10:22.02 … Megan Lacy [Cherokee], 2012
10:22.20 … Liliah Gordon [Northern Bu;rlington], 2024
10:27.44 … Alyssa Aldridge [Mainland Reg.], 2017
10:28.6y … Erin Donohue [Haddonfield], 2001
10:29.28y … Rachel Vick [Kingsway], 2017
10:29.53 … Julia Flanagan [Holy Cross], 2026
10:30.57 … Dina Iacone [Washington Twp.], 2012
10:32.54 … Maeve Smith [Ocean City], 2025
10:32.4y….. Mindy Rowand [Sterling], 1985
10:33.22 … Holly Bischof [Bishop Eustace], 2012
10:33.25 … Megan Venables [Highland], 2011
10:33.85 … Sarah Naticchia [Haddonfield], 2021
10:34.79 … Theresa Cattuna [Cherry Hill East], 2007
10:35.59 … Amanda Goetschius [Delsea], 2007

Washington Township sophomore Nia’Leila Cuascut, who PR’d at 14.34 just two days ago at the Tri-County Conference Meet at Delsea [with no wind gauge], lowered her 100-meter hurdles PR to 14.17 Friday at the Gloucester County Showcase at Deptford [without a wind gauge].

Her time would be No. 2 in Gloucester County history if it had a legal wind, but once again with no wind gauge in use her time is not eligible for record and all-time performance lists.

The only faster time in any conditions by a Gloucester County hurdler is a 14.05 by Kingsway’s Jasmine Waddell when she won the 2011 state Group 3 meet in South Plainfield.

Meet directors and timing companies, you need to make sure you’ve got a working wind gauge at the sprints and horizontal jumps. If you don’t, you’re denying our best athletes from possible records and elite performances that they’ve earned.

All-Time South Jersey Hurdles List
(all wind conditions)
13.39 … Jasmine Jackson [Winslow], 2026
13.65 … Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 2006
13.67 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2019
13.72 … Nichole Hill [Oakcrest], 1997
13.79 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow Twp.], 2012
13.84 … Lenaami Morton [Camden], 2017
13.85 … Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1980
13.85 … Sherese Price [Pleasantville], 1998
13.87 … Brianna Growalt [Atlantic County Tech]
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
14.02 … Jailya Ash [Eastern], 2021
14.04 … Jasmine Staten [Lenape], 2016
14.05 … Jasmine Waddell [Kingsway], 2011
14.09 … Nichole Belcher [Wilson], 1992
14.15 … Aliya Rae Garozzo [Paul VI], 2019
14.17 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2006
14.17 … Samantha Sharper [Wilson], 2008
14.17 … Andrea Olsen [Buena], 2013
14.17 … Nia’Leila Cuascut [Washington Twp.], 2026

Glassboro’s Zacchaeus Harrigan ran the fastest 800 by a New Jersey sophomore this year Friday at the Gloucester County Showcase at Deptford.

Harrigan lowered his PR from 1:59.55, which he ran indoors at the Ott Center in January, down to 1:56.49 and won the county title.

He bumps Deptford’s John Collier, whose 1:56.52 at the Tri-County Conference Meet last week at Delsea had been the No. 1 sophomore time in New Jersey. Collier did not run the 800 Friday.

Harrigan broke the Glassboro record of 1:57.27 set by Lamere Buchanan at the 2009 state Group 1 meet at South Plainfield.

Harrigan’s time is 3^rd-fastest among all New Jersey Group 1 runners behind Woodstown teammates Josh Crawford [1:54.09] and Karson Chew [1:54.84] at Haddonfield Distance Night last week.

By the way, this has nothing to do with the 800 but there were some great sprint and hurdle times at this meet but once again no wind gauge. This is really starting to bother me! If you’re going to run a track meet, do it the right way.

Georgian Court freshman Daizhae’ Brown from Cedar Creek surpassed the 19-foot plateau for the first time Friday and won the long jump at the Larry James Twilight Invitational in Galloway Township.

Brown won the long jump with a 19-2, which puts her at No. 39 in NCAA Division 2. She jumped with a legal wind at minus-1.8.

Brown’s previous PR was an 18-10 ½ from her win at the Coastal Athletic Conference Championships a week ago. Before that, she jumped 18-8 ½ at indoor ECACs in February at Ocean Breeze.

Brown’s mark is No. 3 in Georgian Court history behind Aniyah Russell from Jackson Liberty [20-2 ½ in 2023] and Charisma Bosley from Ewing [19-2 ¾ in 2021].

Brown technically PR’d twice in the meet. She opened with a 19-0 into a 1.3 headwind before hitting the 19-2 ½ on her 2^nd jump. She added two more 18-plus jumps, an 18-4 ½ and an 18-3 ¼. Brown was also 2nd in the 200 in 25.66.

Stockton sophomore Elaina Styer, a heptathlon All-America, placed 2^nd with a 17-8 ¼.

Aniyah Russell 6.16m (20-2.50) 2023

2 Charisma Bosley 5.86m (19-2.75) 2021

3 Octavia Booker 5.80m (19-0.50) 2014

4 Daizhae’ Brown 5.75m (18-10.50) 2026

5 Samantha Osadacz 5.56m (18-3.00) 2012

We just went through this in 2024, when Malachi James and Ajani Dwyer were running historic sprint times in meets that didn’t have wind gauges. Because of that, their fastest times could be used for record or performance-list purposes … even though they may not have been wind-aided.

Jame ran 10.18 in the South Jersey Group 1 Sectionals and Dwyer ran 10.21 in Group 4 the same day at Pennsauken. James’ legal PR was 10.28 and Dwyer’s was 10.32. But it wasn’t just that meet. Most meets don’t use a wind gauge and so many elite marks are invalid because of it.

On Thursday night, Rancocas Valley’s Angelina Brown jumped 20-6 at the Burlington County Open, which would have been the 3rd-longest jump in state history. But since there was no wind gauge at the jumps, it doesn’t count.

So this is a message to timing companies and meet directors of championship meets. Get a freaking wind gauge.  We’re all short-changing the kids when we don’t have the necessary equipment to run a track meet the way it’s supposed to be run. Really, I’d like to see the NJSIAA require wind gauges for conference, county, sectional and state meets. All invitationals should have them as well.

The worst words a jumper or sprinter can hear are “wind-aided.” And without a wind gauge, every performance is wind-aided. And I don’t want to hear they’re too expensive. Just look at the entry fees meets charge. The money is there.

It’s time to run championship meets like they’re championship meets. And one other note to timing companies: Post live results. Real-time results. Two timing companies in the past week never posted results on the first night of a major meet. This is unacceptable. It’s 2026. Do your job.

Willingboro senior Christopher Jones recorded the best long jump at the Burlington County Open in 37 years Thursday at Rancocas valley and the No. 2 mark in New Jersey this year, but unfortunately there was no wind gauge at Rancocas Valley and the performance is not eligible for all-time records.

Jones leaped 23-9 ½ to win the event by more than a foot. Had the jump been made with legal wind it would have been No. 8 in Burlington County history and best by a Willingboro jumper since South Jersey Track Hall of Famer Mike Morrison jumped 24-5 at the Willingboro Relay Invitational in 2003.

The only New Jersey jumper to go farther this year is Ayo Sagoe of Monroe Township, who hit 24-7 last weekend at South Plainfield.

Jones’ previous PR was 23-5 ½ at the Woodbury Relays. There was a wind gauge at the Woodbury long jump, but from the live results it looks like no reading was taken for his fourth and final jump.

On Thursday, Jones had a monster series, following a 21-2 opener with jumps of 22-4, 23-2 ¼, 23-3 ½ and 23-9 ½ for an average jump of 22-6.

Rancocas Valley Daniel Rivers-King also had a big series, including a 22-0 ¼ and a PR 22-5. Also over 20 feet were Shawnee senior Matthew McIlhenny [two-foot PR 21-10], Willingboro sophomore Brandon Cox [PR 21-1] and R.V. senior Rudolph Glover [20-11], Florence senior Leaire Williams [20-5] and Willingboro junior Ryan Patrick [PR 20-5].

McIlhenny’s 21-10 is the best by a Shawnee jumper in 34 years, since Ed Loges jumped 23-6 ½ in 1993, and best at the County Open since legendary Gerard Reynolds set the meet record of 24-1 ½ in 1989.

26-8 ¼ … Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1979
25-2 …….. Anthony Averett [Woodbury], 2012
25-1 ½ … Gerard Reynolds [Willingboro], 1990
25-0 …….. William Spearman [Woodrow Wilson], 1996
24-11 ¼ … Anthony Miles [Winslow Twp.], 2002
24-8 ….….. Isaac Samuels [Willingboro-Kennedy], 1983
24-5 ….….. Mike Morrison [Willingboro], 2003
24-4 ¼ ….. Ahmad Fogg [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2023
24-3 ¾ ….. Mikhail Micheaux [Eastern], 2013
24-1 ½ ….. Mike Boone [Burlington City], 1990
24-0 ½ ..… Kerry Vivett [Edgewood], 1984
23-11 ¾ ….. Rece Englehart [Moorestown], 2024
23-11 ½ ..… Syteek Farrington [Camden], 2009
23-11 ….….. Preston Beckley [Eastern], 1993
23-11 ……… Dave Klemic [Mainland Reg.], 1996
23-11 ….….. Nick Brown [Bridgeton], 1999
23-10 ¾ ….. Bob Schuenemann [Collingswood], 1932
23-10 ¼ ….. Ben Liles [Kingsway], 1992
23-10 …….. Jerry Mathis [Willingboro], 1985
23-10 …….. Steve Harper [Atlantic City], 1993
23-9 ½ … Christopher Jones [Willingboro], 2026
23-9 ……… Steve Parker [Salem], 2025
23-9 ……… Robert Jordan [Millville], 1999
23-8 ¾ … Jamir Brown [Riverside], 2024
23-8 ½ … Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
23-8 ½ … Bill Mobley [Eastern], 1990
23-8 ½ … Lamar Sturdivant [Woodbury], 1996
23-8 ½ … Sean McPherson [Delsea], 2010
23-8 ….….. Jamal Powell [Bridgeton], 1991
23-7 ¾ … Clem Jones [Vineland], 1968
23-7 ½ … Matt Rose [Bordentown], 1984
23-7 ¼ … Reginald Morton [Oakcrest], 2013
23-6 ¾ … Jamal Powell [Bridgeton], 1990
23-6 ½ … Ed Loges [Shawnee], 1992
23-6 ½ … Reggie Riggs [Pennsauken Tech], 1988
23-6 ¼ … Jamal Heard [Bridgeton], 1990
23-6 ½ … Termier Hill [Clayton], 2021
23-6 ½ … Floyd Whitaker [Highland], 2021
23-6 …….. Tyler Clybourn [Oakcrest], 2016
23-6 …….. Chris Gillis [Pennsauken], 2000
23-6 …….. Antwan Dickerson [Pennsauken], 2013
23-6 … Josiah Williams [Mainland Reg.], 2025