Clayton junior Tiaija Hampton did something at states this weekend that no Clayton girl had done in nearly two decades.

She won.

Hampton won the Group 1 55-meter dash in 7.30 to edge Rebecca Kneppel of Butler, who had posted the fastest qualifying time in the trials. Kneppel ran 7.34 in the trials to Hampton’s 7.38.

The Clayton girls won the 1,600-meter relay at states in 2003 and the 400-meter relay at states last year with the team of Catherine Copeland, Gabrielle Dillard, Hampton and Hannah Halikman.

But Hampton is Clayton’s first individual state track champion indoors or outdoors in 19 years, since Jackie Nicholson won the intermediate hurdles in 1:05.02 at the 1999 state Group 1 meet in South Plainfield.

Hampton, a first-year indoor runner, has lowered her PR from 7.66 in December to 7.46 in January to her personal-best and school-record 7.27 in February, which she ran at sectionals.

 

Williamstown grad Devin Bradham, a junior at Penn State, PR’d in the high jump Saturday, clearing 6-11 1/2 to win the Penn State Tune-Up at the Ashenfelter track on campus in State College.

Bradham cleared 6-6 1/4 and 6-8 1/4 on his first attempt and then set a PR of 6-10 1/4 on his second attempt. He and teammate Chisom Ifedi were the only jumpers left at 6-11 1/2, which Bradham cleared on his second attempt and Ifedi missed three tries. It appears from the meet results that Bradham did not continue jumping.

Bradham’s collegiate best before Saturday was 6-9, which he had cleared three times, twice outdoors and again last month in another meet at Penn State.

Bradham cleared 6-10 several times in high school, including at states as a junior outdoors and Meet of Champions as a senior in 2015 and indoors at Easterns, in a memorable battle with Ameer Banks of neighboring Delsea. Banks won on fewer misses over his Gloucester County rival.

For the 13th time in school history, the Willingboro boys are state indoor champions.

The Chimeras moved within two of Asbury Park for most state titles by a public school in New Jersey indoor track history.

Only Christian Brothers of Lincroft (21) and Asbury Park (15) have more titles than the Boro. St. Benedict’s of Newark also has 13. Asbury Park hasn’t won a state title since 1996 though.

The Willingboro boys have also won 12 state titles outdoors. The Willingboro girls have won five state titles indoors and four outdoors. At the state relays, the boys have won 14 titles and the girls nine.

So today’s state title was the 39th for the boys program and 57th for the Willingboro program in all. It was the Chimeras’ fourth in the last seven years and second in a row.

Going into the 1,600-meter relay at the Bennett Center in Toms River, Glen Rock had 32 points and Willingboro and McNair Academic were tied at 30 points, and those were the only three schools with a chance to win the team title.

Glen Rock then ran 3:37.87 in the third section of the 4-by-4, with Willingboro and McNair lining up in the final section alongside Shabazz, Whippany Park and Audubon.

Senior Onaje Howell, sophomore Reginald Jones and juniors Elijah Valme and Cristian Coot ran 3:32.82 to win the 4-by-4 for the Chimeras, with Shabazz second in 3:34.04 and McNair third in 3:34.48.

That gave Willingboro a 40-36 win over McNair. Glen Rock’s time stood up for sixth, giving them 33 points and third place.

Huge event for Willingboro was the high jump, where the Chimeras’ three sophomores — Nate Robertson, Zaire Clement and Kameron Smith — all cleared 6-0 to place second, third and fourth. That was good for 18 team points — enough in that one event to place fifth in the final team standings!

Willingboro’s Rayshawn Johnson, a rare first-year senior, had a huge triumph in the 55-meter hurdles, PR’ing with a 7.41 and edging Burlington County rival Sam Aviles, a Palmyra junior, who ran 7.96 for second place.

The Chimeras also scored two points in the 400, where junior Christian Coot ran 53.13.

A quick note on the hurdles:

Johnson is the second consecutive Willingboro boy to win the state indoor hurdles title. Jahaad Beckford ran 7.83 to finish first last year, with Aviles second in that race as well.

Zavian Bell placed second in the Group 1 hurdles in 2015 and in Group 2 in 2016, with a 7.86 and a 7.84, so that’s four straight years the Chimeras have had a hurdler place either first or second at indoor states.

Here’s a full list of all the Willingboro high hurdles to win indoor state titles:

2018 – Rayshawn Johnson, 7.91 [Group 1]
2017 – Jahaad Beckford, 7.83 [Group 1]
2012 – Isaac Williams, 7.41 [Group 2]
1991 – Gerard Reynolds, 7.41 [Group 4]
1990 – Gerard Reynolds, 7.62 [Group 3]
1988 – Doug Newman, 7.63 [Group 3]
1985 – Eric Frieson, 7.6 [Group 3]
1979 – Mark Dickerson, 7.4 [Group 4]

Zyra Thomas won her fourth state shot put title this weekend, putting the shot 43-4 1/2 to win by more than five feet over sophomore Cydney Thomas of Collingswood at the Bennett Center in Toms River.

Cyndi Thomas threw 38-2 3/4 for second place. Collingswood senior Precious Ayeni took third in 37-9 for a 1-2-3 South Jersey sweep.

Zyra Thomas is undefeated since a season-opening loss on a second-best throw tiebreaker to Cyndi Thomas at a South Jersey Track Coaches Association meet in December.

Zyra Thomas has won the last two state Group 1 shot put titles outdoors and also last year’s indoor title in Group 1. She’s the first Schalick girl to win consecutive indoor state titles in the same event since sprinter Candyce DeLoatch in 1995 and 1996.

She just missed her PR of 44-2 3/4, set earlier this year in another meet at the Bennett Center. She ranks No. 1 among South Jersey throwers and No. 3 in the state.

Zara Thomas is the top-ranked thrower in South Jersey history from outside Cumberland County. The top three are from Cumberland County. Zyra is the indoor Salem County record holder with her 44-2 3/4.

Here’s the all-time South Jersey girls indoor shot put list:

46-1 1/2 … Najeaya Singleton [Vineland], 2017
45-3 … Nacole Moore [Bridgeton], 2000
44-6 1/2 … Sylvia Galarza [Millville], 2004
44-2 3/4 … Zyra Thomas [Schalick], 2018
44-3 1/2 … Jocelyn White [Delsea], 2004
44-0 1/2 … Melinda Boykin [Bridgeton], 1996
43-11 3/4 … Stephanie Scaramella [Bishop Eustace], 2007
43-10 1/4 … Mercedes Hicks [Atlantic City], 2006
43-10 … Rosetta Hunter [Burlington Twp.], 2015
43-4 3/4 … Jessica Woodard [Cherokee], 2012
43-4 1/2 … Victoria Imbesi [Our Lady of Mercy], 2009
43-3 … Janice Rose [Delsea], 2011
42-7 3/4 … Typhanie Bates [Williamstown], 1995
42-5 1/2 … Genevieve Tybicki [Our Lady of Mercy], 2007
42-4 … Sophia Coleburn [Haddon Heights], 2007
42-0 1/2 … Lisa Stuto [Winslow Twp.], 2009
42-0 1/4 … Lola Agabalogun [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2013
41-10 … Lillian Rivera [Pemberton], 1984

Atlantic City junior Claudine Smith continued her hot hurdling Saturday morning when she won the 55-meter hurdles at the state Group 4 meet in 8.19, just 2-100ths of a second off her personal best. Smith ran 8.17 at sectionals last weekend.

Smith is the only South Jersey hurdler to go under 8.20 FAT this year and one of only two in the state. Amaya Chadwick of Union Catholic has run 8.05.

Smith, who is also an 18-foot long jumper, hadn’t run faster than 8.29 until sectionals but now finds herself No. 13 in South Jersey history.

Smith was a medalist at both the Meet of Champs and Easterns last winter. She was state Group 4 champ outdoors last spring in both the long jump and 100-meter highs.

In the final Saturday, Smith out-hurdled Bloomfield’s Kaela Edwards, who was second in a personal-best 8.31.

Here’s the all-time South Jersey list:
7.89 … Ste’yce McNeil [Winslow Twp.], 2012
7.89 … Nia Ali [Pleasantville], 2006
7.92 … Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1981
7.94 … Lenaami Morton [Camden], 2017
7.98 … Nichole Belcher [Woodrow Wilson], 1992
8.01 … Samantha Sharper [Woodrow Wilson], 2008
8.03 … Alethia Jenkins [Pennsauken], 2000
8.04 … Zonya Cross [Edgewood], 1983
8.05 … Sherese Price [Pleasantville], 1998
8.06 … Krystal Cantey [Winslow Twp.], 2006
8.10 … Nichole Hill [Oakcrest], 1997
8.11 … Cidae’a Woods [Winslow Twp.], 2014
8.17 … Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2018
8.17 … Torie Robinson [Winslow Twp.], 2014
8.18 … Gabrielle Bennett [Winslow Twp.], 2015
8.19 … Brittany Preston [Winslow Twp,], 2016
8.22 … Tionna Tobias [Winslow Twp.] 2018
8.22 … Jamillah Nock [Wilson], 2004

Aliyah Taylor ran 57.54 Saturday morning to win her second straight state Group 4 title at 400 meters. The Rancocas Valley senior won in 56.76 last year.

A total of nine runners from the last two sections broke 60 seconds in the race. Portia Jones of Watchung Hills, a Meet of Champions 400 finalist last spring, was second in 58.29.

Taylor is the first Rancocas Valley girl to win a state title in consecutive years indoors or outdoors in 30 years, since Tonya Lee won the 100-meter hurdles in Group 3 in both 1987 and 1988. Lee went on to become a finalist in the Olympic Trials 400-meter hurdles in 1996.

Taylor, who will run the 55 later Saturday, has a 400 PR of 55.21, which she ran in winning the Easterns title at the Armory last winter. She’s run as fast as 7.01 for the 55.

 

Sterling senior Aliya Harrison had a stunning breakthrough in the 55-meter dash trials at the state Group 2 meet Friday with a 7.07 to lead all qualifiers into the final.

Harrison’s time is No. 12 in South Jersey history and was a massive PR, surpassing her 7.25 from the trials at sectionals.

It also broke the state Group 2 meet record of 7.11, set two years ago by Alliyah Taylor of Pemberton (now at Rancocas Valley).

Unfortunately, Harrison was DQ’d in the final and won’t be able to race at the Meet of Champions. However, she is eligible for Easterns and nationals coming up at the Armory.

Harrison’s time is No. 1 in the state and No. 12 in the U.S. this year.

Harrison has PRs of 11.91 and 24.72 outdoors for the 100 and 200 and has run as fast as 57.55 for the 400, although she rarely contests it.

Here’s the all-time South Jersey 55-meter dash list:

• • • 6.73 … Michelle Glover (Willingboro), 1981
    • 6.88 … Patti Dunlap (Camden), 1979
    • 6.91 … English Gardner (Eastern), 2010
    • 6.95 … Bria Mack (Williamstown), 2017
    • 6.95 … Torie Robinson (Winslow Twp.), 2014
    • 6.95 … Denise Mitchell (Edgewood), 1983
    • 7.00 … Amandi Rhett (Moorestown), 2000
    • 7.00 … Iyanli Kollock (Our Lady of Mercy), 2017
    • 7.01 … Aliyah Taylor (Rancocas Valley), 2017
    • 7.05 … Dana Burnett (Williamstown), 1996
    • 7.07 … Aliya Harrison (Sterling), 2018
    • 7.07 … Annie Johnson (Shawnee), 2012
    • 7.07 … Audrey Wilson (Deptford), 2009
    • 7.07 … Magenta Taylor (Willingboro), 1999
    • 7.07 … Angela Clyburn (Egg Harbor Twp.), 1991
    • 7.09 … Ste’yce McNeil (Winslow Twp.), 2012
    • 7.09 … Emily Carson (Haddonfield), 2013
    • 7.11 … Jamie Walker (Haddon Hts.), 2006
    • 7.12 … Assante Johnson (Camden), 2009
    • 7.14 … Shonda Burroughs (Vineland), 1999
    • 7.17 … Nia Lawrence (Pemberton), 2013
    • 7.17 … Kiara Lester (Deptford), 2014
    • 7.17 … Krystal Cantey (Winslow Twp.), 2006
    • 7.18 … Sherese Price (Pleasantville), 1997
    • 7.18 … Lauren Princz (Egg Harbor Twp.), 2018
    • 7.19 … Latoya Benson (Washington Twp.), 2001
    • 7.19 … Adia Starnes (Timber Creek), 2017
    • 7.20 … Medina Salaam (Camden), 1974
    • 7.20 … Nia Ali (Pleasantville), 2006
    • 7.20 … Fametta Lewis (Wilson), 2007
    • 7.20 … Tacquaya Tobias (Our Lady of Mercy), 2010
    • 7.20 … Cidae’a Woods (Winslow Twp.), 2013
    • 7.20 … Gabrielle Farquharson (Williamstown), 2011
    • 7.20 … Dennisha Page (Woodrow Wilson), 2018

Delsea scored 24 of its 36 points in the field. Deptford scored 28 of its points in the sprints and hurdles. When all was said and done, Delsea and Deptford were both state Group 2 champs!

Delsea and Deptford, two Gloucester County schools located about 15 miles apart, will share the 2018 state Group 2 team championships after both scored 36 points at the state meet at the Bennett Center in Toms River.

Deptford’s only other state indoor team title came in 1970 in Group 3. That’s 48 years ago!

Delsea’s only other boys indoor state championship came in Group 2 in 2011 as part of a Delsea boy/girl sweep.

It’s the first tie for a team title at the indoor state boys meet since 2008, when Camden and Irvington shared the Group 3 title. it’s the first tie in Group 2 since 1999, when Cape-Atlantic rivals Pleasantville and Bridgeton were co-champions.

Delsea had four second-place finishers, accounting for all but four of its points. Senior Michael Szwed ran 50.40 for second in the 400, senior Keon Grady cleared 6-0 for second in the high jump, sophomore Nico Morales cleared 14-0 for second in the pole vault and Bill Goldsborough threw the shot 56-7 for second place.

Senior Tymir Kizee added two points with a fifth-place finish in the 55-meter high hurdles in 7.86, and Delsea’s 1,600-meter relay team, running in an unseeded heat, placed fifth in 3:32.13 with the team of Szwed, junior Jimmy Vargo and sophomores Shaky Hannah and Damir Lomax.

Deptford did all its scoring in four events. Juniors Naseem Smith and Javon Sanders ran second and third in the high hurdles in 7.73 and 7.79 for 14 huge points, sophomore Khion Smith ran 6.61 for second in the 55-meter dash, juniors Marcel Washington (6-0) and Tyrece Brown (5-10) placed third and fifth in the high jump and the 4-by-4 of Smith, Brown, señor Hasan Hamilton and Sanders ran 3:28.55 for third place.

Junior Dennisha Page of Wilson ran a big PR of 7.20 to win the state Group 3 title at 55 meters Friday evening at the Bennett Center in Toms River.

Page’s previous PR was a 7.27 to win sectionals last weekend, but before that she hadn’t run faster than 7.46. Last year at states she placed 20th in 7.68.

But this year, Page won handily over senior Nicole Vadon of Pascack Hills, the North 1 sectional champion, who was second in 7.34, about one meter back.

Page’s time is third-fastest by a South Jersey girl this year and it looks like it matches the Woodrow Wilson FAT school record. Fametta Lewis also ran 7.20 early in the 2008 season. Artrelia Turner ran a hand-timed 7.1 back in 1986.

 

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.