The state Group 3 girls championships weren’t 15 minutes old and Winslow Township had already scored 18 points.
Winslow opened the meet Friday afternoon at the Bennett Center in Toms River with a 1-3-5 finish in the 400, with senior Flora Ahiarakwe winning in 57.67, senior Shakira Dancy third with a season-best 58.55 and sophomore Janeya Hammond fifth with an indoor PR of 58.71.
Pennsauken freshman Jade Pope, a 5-6 high jumper, ran a big personal best 57.79 for second. Her previous PR was 59.22 at sectionals. Her time is fastest by a South Jersey freshman since 2007, when English Gardner of Eastern — who went on to win an Olympic gold medal in the 400-meter relay — ran 56.29 to win the Meet of Champions.
Winslow is seeking its eighth state indoor championship and fifth in the last seven years.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 