Going into the South Jersey Invitational, Jonathan Taylor’s 100-meter dash PR was 11.15. Not bad. Especially for a sophomore. Taylor ran that last spring in the trials of the South Jersey Group 1 at Egg Harbor, then ran 11.21 for fifth in the final.

Unfortunately, that was the end of Taylor’s season. He false started at states and that 11.15 stood as his PR coming into this season. Certainly, 11.15 isn’t too shabby for a sophomore. Taylor was the No. 9 soph at 100 meters in New Jersey last year and No. 5 among South Jersey sprinters.

Then came Thursday night and a performance that made you say … “WHAT?????”

Taylor ran a massive PR of 10.79 in the trials at the South Jersey Invitational — a PR by .36 of a second — and then won the final in 10.73, which means in the span of an hour on the Delsea track, the Salem junior lowered his PR from 11.15 to 10.73.

Or nearly half a second.

That just doesn’t happen.

For the record, the Salem County record is a hand-timed 10.4 set in 1981 by Mike Parker. That converts to a 10.64 with FAT timing. Taylor has the FAT record.

Incredibly, his time in the final made him the No. 6 performer in the history of a meet that’s 24 years old and has featured most of the top South Jersey sprinters of the last quarter century.

Here’s the South Jersey Invitational all-time 100-meter dash performance list, including hand-timed marks converted to fat

100-METER DASH
10.57 … Damiere Byrd (Timber Creek) 2010
10.61 …….. Byrd, 2011
10.62q …… Byrd, 2011
10.64 … Jeremy Cooper (Kingsway), 1997
10.64h … Dennis Sturdivant (Vineland), 1994
10.67 … Fabian Santiago (Oakcrest), 2011
10.68 …….. Santiago, 2012
10.71 … Albert Newkirk (Camden), 1997
10.73 … Jonathan Taylor (Salem), 2016
10.74h … Steve Harper (Atlantic City), 1993
10.74h … Bobby Orro (Pemberton), 1994
10.74h … Ansel Martin (Buena), 1994
10.74h, q .. Rodney Jenkins (Pemberton), 1994
10.75 … Jamaal Harris (Palmyra), 2002
10.77q …….. Santiago, 2012
10.78 … Jamil Benjamin (Cumberland Reg.), 2006
10.79 …….. Santiago, 2010
10.79q …….. Taylor, 2016
10.80 … Darnell Charles (Oakcrest), 2012
10.81 … Anthony Averett (Woodbury), 2012

And here’s a list of all the 100 winners in meet history, going back to the meet’s inception at Eastern Regional in 1993:

100-METER DASH
2016: Jonathan Taylor (Salem), 10.73
2015: Sterling Pierce (Rancocas Valley), 11.21
2014: Kashif Miller (Haddon Heights), 10.82
2013: Curtis Fitzpatrick (Egg Harbor Twp.), 10.94
2012: Fabian Santiago (Oakcrest), 10.68
2011: Damiere Byrd (Timber Creek), 10.61
2010: Damiere Byrd (Timber Creek), 10.57
2009: Shawney Kersey (Woodbury), 10.95
2008: Geoff Navarro (Absegami), 11.10
2007: Chris Church (Millville), 11.00
2006: Jamil Benjamin (Cumberland), 10.78
2005: Not Held
2004: Sherron Bullock (Camden), 11.10
2003: James Townsend (Holy Cross), 10.6
2003: James Townsend (Holy Cross), 10.6
2002: Jamaal Harris (Palmyra), 10.75
2001: James Townsend (Holy Cross), 10.9
2000: Purvis Coley (Pemberton), 11.08
1999: Tim Athill (Pleasantville), 10.9
1998: Marc Maccario (Sterling), 11.36
1997: Jeremy Cooper (Kingsway), 10.64
1996: Kevin Doughty (Oakcrest), 10.6
1995: Jeremy Cooper (Kingsway), 10.8
1994: Dennis Sturdivant (Vineland), 10.4
1993: Steve Harper (Atlantic City), 10.5
1992: Curt McIntyre (Bridgeton), 10.6

Taylor is the first Salem winner in meet history. Where does he stack up against the best sprinters in South Jersey history? We were hoping you would ask!

Here’s the all-time South Jersey list:

100-METER DASH
10.35 … Jamar Ervin [Camden], 2000
10.36 … Damiere Byrd [Timber Creek], 2010
10.44h .. Bill Gaines [Clearview], 1966
10.44h .. Dennis Mitchell [Edgewood], 1983
10.45 … James Townsend [Holy Cross], 2003
10.47 … James Brown [Glassboro], 2009
10.53 … Todd Dutch [Washington Twp.], 2001
10.54 … Fabian Santiago [Oakrest], 2010
10.55 … Todd Dutch [Washington Twp.], 2002
10.57 … Jamil Benjamin [Cumberland Regional], 2006
10.57 … Geoff Navaro [Absegami], 2008
10.58 … Anthony Miles [Winslow Twp.], 2003
10.60 … Robert Page [Kingsway], 2008
10.60 … Marquis Bonds [Millville], 2007
10.60 … Shawney Kersey [Woodbury], 2009
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
10.64h … Israel Cook [Cumberland Reg.], 1981
10.64h … Mike Parker [Salem], 1981
10.64h … Flipper Anderson [Paulsboro], 1983
10.64h … Chuck Carter [Eastern], 1985
10.65 … Dominique Irons [Haddon Heights], 2013
10.65 … Rocco Orville [St. Joe’s-Hammonton], 2015
10.65 … Dorian Bryant [Kingsway], 2003
10.66 … Bobby Orro [Pemberton], 1993
10.66 … Bruce Owens [Deptford], 2004
10.67 … Antraye Miles [Winslow Twp.], 2003
10.67 … T.J. Johnson [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2009
10.67 … Kashif Miller [Haddon Heights], 2014
10.68 … Marquis Bonds [Bridgeton], 2007
10.69 … Robert Darby [Pennsauken], 2006
10.69 … Darnell Charles [Oakcrest], 2012
10.71 … Albert Newkirk [Camden], 1997
10.72 … Reggie Morton [Oakcrest], 2012
10.72 … Sterling Pierce [Rancocas Valley], 2015
10.73 … Franklin Dallas [Woodrow Wilson], 1986
10.73 … Sean McPherson [Delsea}, 2010
10.73 … Jonathan Taylor [Salem], 2016
10.74 … Adonis Jennings [Timber Creek], 2014
10.74 … Brian Reagan [Cherry Hill East], 2012
10.74h … Carl Lewis [Willingboro], 1979
10.74h … Clem Leslie [Vineland], 1981
10.74h … Kevin Jones [Pleasantville], 1982
10.74h … Tony Jones  [Edgewood], 1982
10.74h … Carl Brown [Eastern], 1983
10.74h … Kenny Reynolds [Willingboro], 1986
10.74h … Don Brooks [Pleasantville], 1988

I have a hunch we’ll be editing that last list fairly often when Jonathan Taylor steps on the track!

What a day for Holy Spirit junior Cade Antonucci, who nearly became the first athlete in 13 years to TRIPLE at the South Jersey Invitational.

Antonucci came within inches of a rare throws triple, recorded two personal bests and nearly a third and posted the top shot put mark in South Jersey this year during a busy run at the 24th annual South Jersey Invitational at Delsea.

Let’s take a detailed look at Antonucci’s historic day:

SHOT PUT: Extended his PR from 55-1 3/4 at the Woodbury Relays to 56-11, best by an Atlantic County athlete since James Plummer of Egg Harbor threw 58-0 at states three years ago. It’s also No. 1 in South Jersey this year and No. 6 in New Jersey, No. 2 by an underclassman. His throw is also No. 10 in meet history. Antonucci won by over a foot from Jaehlan Joyner of Burlington Township, whose 55-9 was a crazy five-foot PR of his own.

DISCUS: Threw 158-2, a season-best by more than 10 feet and a PR by over four feet from his 154-0 at this meet last year. Adam Hunt of Collingswood, another junior, threw 158-11 to win for a second straight year. Antonucci’s throw is No. 4 in South Jersey this year and No. 2 by a Parochial B thrower, behind only Andrew Huisman of St. Rose in Belmar, who threw 161-8 at the Big Blue Classic on Staten Island last month.

JAVELIN: Won by five inches over Robert Marks of Rancocas Valley  — 184-8 to 184-3. His PR is 187-9 from this year’s Bridgeton Relays, so he missed that by only three feet. He moved into the No. 12 spot in meet history. Marks (190-4 at Woodbury) rank No. 1 and 2 in South Jersey this year and No. 1 and 3 statewide. Antonucci’s 187-9 at Bridgeton is the best by an Atlantic County thrower in eight years, since Javier Garcia of Pleasantville threw 187-11 at Group 2 states in 2009.

The only athlete to record a triple in South Jersey Open history is legendary Mike Morrison of Willingboro. In 2003, he won the 200 in 21.8, the 400 in 48.4 and the high jump at 7-0. Of course he could have won the long jump if he wanted to.

The last athlete to win the javelin at the SJI and also win another event was Royce Reed some 21 years ago. The amazing Reed won the javelin in 1995 with a 207-1 and also the 400 at 48.4. He came within 2-100ths of a second of tripling, running 10.89 in the 100 behind a 10.87 by Jeremy Cooper of Kingsway.

Here’s a look at everybody who’s thrown 56 feet in meet history:

Shot Put
62-10 ¾ … Ron Dayne (Overbrook), 1996
61- 7 ¼ … Braheme Days Jr. (Bridgeton), 2011
61- 4 ….. Kofi Yamoah (Egg Harbor Twp.), 2013
61- 1 ¾ … Ray Wilks (Bridgeton), 1995
61- 1 ………. Dayne, 1995
59-10 ¾ … Jon Kalnas (Paulsboro), 1998
59- 3 ¼ … Matthew Huckabee (Timber Creek), 2010
58-10 ………. Wilks, 1994
58- 2 ….. Josh Awotunde (Delsea), 2013
57- 3 ½ … Dontaye Rivera (Pleasantville), 2012
57- 1 ¼ … Ell Ash (Willingboro), 2004
56-11 ….. Cade Antonucci (Holy Spirit), 2016
56-10 ….. Nick Pulli (Delsea), 2012
56- 7 ¼ … Ryan Addlesberger (Cinnaminson), 2015
56- 6 ….. Kofi Yamoah (Egg Harbor Twp.), 2012

And the 180-foot javelin list:

Javelin
216- 6 … Chris Mirabelli (Holy Cross), 2014
216- 5 … Curtis Thompson (Florence), 2014
207- 1 … Royce Reed (Bridgeton), 1995
194- 1 … Stephen Benigno (Cherry Hill East), 2014
190-11 … Jon Griffin (Bridgeton), 1993
189-11 … Ian Meneswisch (Highland), 2003
187-11 … Carnelius Cruz (Oakcrest), 1994
187-10 … Mark Peterson (Delsea), 1996
187- 2 … John Zimmatore (Bishop Eustace), 2007
187- 6 … Dan Frame (Triton), 2002
185- 1 … Brent Tyson (Highland), 2000
184- 8 … Cade Antonucci (Holy Spirit), 2016
184- 3 … Robert Marks (Rancocas Valley), 2016
183- 9 … Jason Cowden (Rancocas Valley), 1999
183- 7 … Brian Kennedy (Eastern), 1992
183- 5 … Jose Ramos (Vineland), 2008
183- 4 … Griffin (Bridgeton), 1992
183- 2 … Mike Harte (Bishop Eustace), 1997
182- 8 …….. Mirabelli (Holy Cross), 2012
182- 1 … Mike Roberts (Kingsway), 2001
181-11 …….. Reed, 1994
181-10 … Randy Sayers (Pennsville), 2000
181- 4 … Tony DeFeo (Oakcrest), 2004
181- 0 … Atkinson (Cinnaminson), 1992
180- 1 … Tony Butch (Maple Shade), 2002

Antonucci is a ways down on the all-time meet discus list, but, hey, we have it, so we’ll post it. It’s incredible to see somebody make the all-time top-25 in three events in one meet!

Discus
185- 7 … Matthew Huckabee (Timber Creek), 2010
185- 5 … Ron Dayne (Overbrook), 1996
182- 6 … Ray Wilks (Bridgeton), 1995
181- 0 … Josh Awotunde (Delsea), 2013
178-10 …….. Wilks, 1994
178-10 … Braheeme Days Jr. (Bridgeton), 2011
177- 5 … James Plummer (Egg Harbor Twp.) 2013
174- 4 … Dennis Norman (Cherokee), 1997
170- 7 …….. Awotunde, 2012
168- 0 …….. Plummer, 2012
166-11 … Nick Pulli (West Deptford), 2014
165-10 …….. Pulli, 2013
165-10 … Anthony Robertson (Penns Grove), 2014
164-10 … Ray Stinsman (Lenape), 2010
164- 7 …….. Huckabee, 2009
164- 4 … John Clark (Pennsville), 2007
164- 1 … Terrin Walker (Bridgeton), 1997
162- 8 …….. Wilks, 1993
162- 6 … Howard Clarke (Pennsauken), 1998
161- 0 … Alex Lewis (Delran), 2000
160- 0 …….. Dayne, 1995
159-11 … Russell Eaddy (Overbrook), 2001
159-10 …….. Wilks, 1992
159- 0 … Bryson (Highland), 1992
159- 0 … Will Cioffi (Pitman), 2013
158-11 … Adam Hunt (Collingswood), 2016
158- 8 …….. Hunt, 2015
158- 4 … Bodine (Bridgeton), 1994
158- 2 … Cade Antonucci (Holy Spirit), 2016
158- 1 … Anthony Witter (Bridgeton), 2002

 

Vineland sophomore Najeaya Singleton registered not just one but two impressive breakthroughs at the West Deptford Relays, posting new South Jersey #1 marks and PRs in both the shot put and the discus.

Which is her best event?

We’ll let time sort that one out. Right now, she’s pretty deadly in both.

Singleton won the shot at West Deptford with a 43-10 1/2, adding nine inches to her PR of 43-1 1/2 from Woodbury. But her huge breakthrough came in the discus, where she threw 139-8, a nearly 16-foot PR from her 123-11 at the Rowland Relays.

Singleton moved into the No. 2 spot in New Jersey in the discus and No. 5 in the shot. She is No. 7 nationally among sophomores in the discus and No. 3 nationally in the shot.

With her historic double, Singleton became only the second girl in South Jersey history to reach 43 and 139 by the end of her sophomore year. The first was Jessica Woodard of Cherokee, who threw 44-9 and 142-5 as a 10th-grader in 2011 and is now an All-America at Oklahoma.

Now check out where Singleton ranks on both all-time lists. It’s pretty amazing, considering she’s only halfway through her sophomore season:

SHOT PUT
47-1 1/4 … Jessica Woodard (Cherokee), 2013
46-4 ……… Janiece Rose (Delsea), 2011
46-1 1/2 … Nacole Moore (Bridgeton), 2000
45-7 1/2 … Ronetta Hunter (Burlington Twp.), 2015
45-5 ……… Sylvia Galarza (Millville), 2004
44-9 ……… Kim Warren (Atlantic City), 2006
44-9 ……… Lola Agabalogun (Egg Harbor), 2013
44-5 1/4 …. Melinda Boykin (Bridgeton), 1998
44-5 ……… Jamine Moton (Delsea), 1997
44-4 1/4 …. Dana White (Camden), 2000
44-3 1/2i …. Jocelyn White (Delsea), 2004
44-2 1/2 …. Typhanie Bates (Williamstown), 1995
44-0 3/4 …. Mercedes Hicks (Atlantic City), 2006
43-10 1/2 … Najeaya Singleton (Vineland), 2016
43-9 1/2 …. Jude Misko (Cherry Hill East), 2015
43-8 3/4 …. Janet Morris (Kingsway), 1991
43-7 …..… Shamire Rothmiller (Glassboro), 2008
43-6 3/4 … Angela Solomon (Overbook), 1989
43-6 3/4 … Talita Silva (Bridgeton), 2003
43- 4 1/2 … Rose Perry (Riveride), 2003
43- 2 1/2 … Lacole Fields (Camden), 1996

DISCUS
172- 2 … Jocelyn White (Delsea), 2004
168-10 … Jessica Woodard (Cherokee), 2013
161- 1 … Jamine Moton (Delsea), 1997
153- 2 … Sylvia Galarza (Millville), 2004
149- 3 … Tara Daniels (Kingsway) 2013
146- 5 … Kim Warren (Atlantic City), 2006
143- 6 … Tisha Kerrin (Eastern), 1989
143- 3 … Mercedes Hicks (Atlantic City), 2006
140- 6 … Typhanie Bates (Williamstown), 1995
140- 1 … Melinda Holm (Bridgeton), 1997
140- 0 … Geri Rilley (Millville), 1987
139- 8 … Najeaya Singleton (Vineland), 2016
139- 5 … Taylor Johnson (Kingsway), 2011
139- 1 … Erica Davis (Northern Burlington), 2003
138-11 … Jen Frank (Delsea), 2006
137- 1 … Melinda Boykin (Bridgeton), 1998
136-11 … Betsy Kennedy (Delran), 2000
136- 3 … Ashleigh Weems (Millville), 2013
136- 2 … Erica Davis (Northern Burlington), 2003
136- 0 … Cindy Wilks (Bridgeton), 2000
135- 4 … Veronica Myricks (Willingboro), 2005

So she’s No. 14 on the all-time South Jersey shot put list and No. 12 on the all-time S.J discus list. She’s already one of only seven girls to throw at least 43-6 and 139, and she’s really just getting started.

Singleton will throw at the Rowan Invitational this weekend in Glassboro.

The amazing Gabrielle Farquharson keeps getting faster, and as long as she keeps getting faster, we’re going to keep writing about her!

The former Williamstown High School star, now a high-flying senior at Rutgers, won the Penn Relays college 100-meter dash in a personal-best 11.36, breaking her own school record of 11.39 that she set in March at a meet in Tampa.

She’s the first Rutgers woman to win the 100 at Penn and the first South Jersey native to win the event as well, although Trenton’s Wenda Vereen won it for Morgan State in 1988.

“It feels great to win,” she said. “I knew I was going to be in the mix, but winning, of course, was a goal. Knowing the people I was going against, it was a little nerve-racking.”

Farquharson, running into a 1.0-meters-per-second headwind, won by a whopping 18-100ths of a second over Shimayra Williams of UTech in Kingston, Jamaica.

Her time places her No. 55 on the IAAF world list and No. 30 on this year’s U.S. list.

“I knew I needed a clean start,” she said. “I’m working on my start a little bit more, so I knew if I had a clean start I would definitely be in the mix from the beginning and I would put up a fight.”

Farquharson also teamed up with Phyllis Gordon, Alayna Famble and Bria Saunders, anchoring Rutgers’ 800-meter relay team, which placed third in the Championship of America in 1:34.37.

That ranks the Scarlet Knights No. 13 in the world and No. 8 among all-American college teams in the non-NCAA event.

Farquharson focused on sprints at Penn and didn’t long jump, but the versatile Monroe Township native is ranked No. 7 in NCAA Division 1 with a 21-5 1/2 last month in Tallahassee.